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Renshaw finished unbeaten on 114 while Labuschagne is 54 not out after Khawaja made 69 as Queensland reached 248 for 1 at stumps replying to Tasmania’s 379

Alex Malcolm05-Oct-2025Matt Renshaw put his name back in the Ashes discussion with an unbeaten century, Marnus Labuschagne pushed his case for a Test return with an unbeaten half-century, and Usman Khawaja tuned up with a half-century of his own as Queensland’s top three dominated Tasmania at Allan Border Field.After another Ashes hopeful Michael Neser took four wickets for Queensland to bowl Tasmania out for 379 before lunch on day two, Queensland’s top three made a case to be Australia’s top three for Perth piling up 248 for 1 to leave the home side just 131 runs behind Tasmania with nine wickets in hand.Renshaw, who has averaged 34 and 29 respectively in each of the last two Sheffield Shield seasons, cruised to his 24th first-class century to remind the selectors of his quality having tried to ignore the noise surrounding Australia’s openers in the Ashes.”It’s hard – you have to get rid of a lot of things, external noise, off your phone and stuff but I just want to try and go out there [and play],” Renshaw said post-play. “I know that when I’m doing my job for Queensland, opening the batting well, we’re generally winning games.”I had a good opportunity to get in this afternoon. It felt like it was going to be a good batting wicket for us. There were some tough periods, but a really good position for the team now.”There’s a lot of noise that people can and can’t deliver, but I just want to go out there and have fun and play like it. If you told 12-year-old Matt that he was going to score a Sheffield Shield hundred, he’d be pretty pumped.”He shared a 137-run stand with Khawaja, who made a fluent 69 in his first innings since the third Test against the West Indies back in July.After Khawaja fell, gloving an attempted pull shot through to keeper Jake Doran off Kieran Elliott from around the wicket, Labuschagne walked in and picked up where Khawaja had left out. He took a while to get off the mark before striking six boundaries and a six in his 80-ball unbeaten 54.Renshaw and Labuschagne added 111 late in the day and neither looked under any pressure. Earlier, Renshaw and Khawaja had to fight through a challenging new-ball spell from Jackson Bird but thereafter they looked untroubled as the sideways movement disappeared on the true batting surface under the Brisbane sun.Renshaw struck 14 fours and a six while Khawaja found the boundary 10 times. Khawaja would be disappointed to fall in the manner that he did with a big score on offer. Labuschagne showcased some of the technical improvements he had made over the winter but Tasmania’s tired attack that does not feature any real pace was in no position to test him.In the morning, Neser had picked up two of the last four wickets to help bowl Tasmania out having added only 80 to their overnight total. He had Nikhil Chaudhary caught behind for 14 and then produced another outstanding caught and bowled to dismiss Elliott. An offcutter caught the inside edge onto pad and it ballooned into the on side, Neser changed direction in his follow through and dived full stretch to take the catch having already plucked a stunning one-handed return to dismiss Jake Weatherald on day one.Doran made a valuable 66 before he was bowled by Mitchell Swepson and Bird contributed 25, 20 of which came in boundaries.

One Chelsea star has been critiqued for his performance in their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Robert Sanchez having more touches than him at Stamford Bridge.

In what was Chelsea’s final Premier League game ahead of the November international break, the Blues played host to a Wolves side who, after 10 games, were still without a win in the top flight.

Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to do much with the chances they generated in the first half against Wolves, frustrating the home support at Stamford Bridge. Soon after the half-time break, however, the Blues broke the deadlock.

Malo Gusto opened the scoring with what was his first-ever senior goal just minutes into the second half. This lead was doubled just after the hour mark when Joao Pedro smashed a deflected Estevao cross beyond Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The game was put beyond any doubt when, with less than 20 minutes to go, Pedro Neto scored against his former club. The win moved Chelsea to second in the table. However, one Blues player was slammed for his performance against the relegation-threatened side.

Delap failed to make mark against Wolves

Signed in the summer from Ipswich Town, Liam Delap has endured a tough start to life at Chelsea. An injury saw him sidelined for weeks to open the 2025/26 campaign, missing almost two months. Upon his return, against Wolves in the Carabao Cup, Delap was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards after coming off the bench.

Delap, who reportedly signed a contract worth £100,000 per week, made his first start for Chelsea since returning from injury against the Old Gold, but failed to make an impact. Simon Johnson, who works for The Athletic, was critical of what the striker produced, noting that he did not appear at match fitness and said he was “struggling”.

As per SofaScore, within 64 minutes of football, Delap had just one shot on target. He was dispossessed on three occasions and by having just 15 touches in the game, had less time on the ball than Sanchez.

Delap is still a young player, one coming back from a relatively long set-back no less. His performance against Wolves, though, can simply not be the level that he consistently operates at going forward.

Chelsea weighing up move for England international

The atmosphere around West Ham United at the moment is starting to feel rather toxic.

Nuno Espírito Santo was able to earn a point and inspire an impressive fightback in his opening game away to Everton, but since then, things have gone from bad to worse.

A loss away to Arsenal is understandable, but the defeats to Brentford and Leeds United were diabolical, and some major changes are needed to inspire the side to Premier League survival this term.

Therefore, while it’s risky, Nuno should look to play a few of the club’s promising academy talents, including one who could develop into a future Mark Nobel-type figure for them.

The West Ham youngsters Nuno should give a chance

Now, it should be said that if West Ham were playing even remotely well this season, then bringing in a few youngsters would probably be a bad idea.

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However, as things stand, the East Londoners are the second-worst team in the league, so it’s probably worth throwing in some promising prospects, as at least they would give it everything and help address the side’s dire lack of athleticism.

One of those who should be given a go is 20-year-old Mohamadou Kanté, who just signed a new deal with the club.

The “colossal” French midfielder, as dubbed by one analyst, is a particularly promising talent and has even been compared to former Hammer “Mo Diame” for his “intelligent composed passing” and “long-ranging legs that eat up ground.”

On top of having that pace and power, which is severely lacking in Nuno’s squad, the youngster is also proving to be something of a goal threat for the junior sides.

For example, despite playing in central and defensive midfield, he has already scored and assisted two goals in nine appearances for the U21s this season.

Speaking of goalscoring prospects, with Niclas Füllkrug out and Callum Wilson simply not good enough, it might be time to give Josh Landers a go in the first team.

Appearances

6

Minutes

359′

Goals

5

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.83

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.8′

So far this season, the 18-year-old Scotsman has scored five goals in six appearances for the U21s, totalling just 359 minutes.

Finally, it might be time to give Preston Fearon a proper runout with the senior side.

The 18-year-old gem made an appearance during pre-season and has been described as a “special player” by Jarrod Bowen, who added that he’s “never seen someone nutmeg so many people in training.”

With all that said, there is another, slightly older academy graduate who has played for the first team, but should now be getting even more minutes, someone who could be a future Noble.

West Ham's future Noble

Now, while someone like Fearon could go on to emulate some of the best qualities of a Noble, he’s still only 18, and so it’s difficult to predict what sort of player he’ll become.

The same is not necessarily true of Freddie Potts.

There is still a long way to go in the 22-year-old’s career, but even so, there are already some key similarities between him and the West Ham legend.

Firstly, he is very much one of the Hammers’ own, as he spent his entire youth career with the East Londoners and has only played for other teams while out on loan.

Moreover, he is a fan of the club, and so when the supporters sang “Freddie Potts, he’s one of our own” away to Everton earlier this season, it was one of those rare occasions when that phrase is entirely true.

This is also why journalist Dan Woffenden said that, unlike some of the other players in the squad today, he “at least understands what it means to wear the shirt.”

On top of all this, the Barking-born ace is also positionally similar to the Irons legend, with his best position being in the middle of the park.

Furthermore, while he isn’t likely to go on any mazy runs or score wonder goals like some other midfielders, he looks to be a reliable, no-nonsense throwback of a footballer.

That’s not to say he cannot help out with attacking phases of play, though, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 22-year-old as someone blessed with an impressive “passing range and powerful carrying” ability.

Ultimately, Noble is a legend, and while West Ham aren’t going to find someone just like him, Potts looks like he could develop into the modern version of him for Nuno this season.

£40m West Ham flop is the biggest waste of money since Scamacca & Haller

The West Ham ace has been terrible for Nuno and Potter this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 27, 2025

U.S. international Josh Sargent provided a rare bright spot for Norwich City during their 3-2 defeat to Watford, finding the net with an 11th-minute header to temporarily put the Canaries ahead. The American forward's early strike marked a significant personal milestone, ending a frustrating 14-game goalless run in the Championship that had stretched across several months of the 2025 season.

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  Norwich City striker finds breakthrough with early goal

  The moment of relief came early for Sargent at Vicarage Road when he demonstrated his predatory instincts by stealing in front of Watford defender Marc Bola at the far post. The 25-year-old American international timed his run perfectly to meet Oscar Schwartau's precise left-wing cross, nodding the ball beyond Watford goalkeeper Nathan Baxter to give Norwich a 1-0 lead. His celebration showed visible emotion after finally breaking a scoring drought that had plagued him since mid-season.

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  Canaries unable to capitalize on Sargent's breakthrough

  Despite Sargent's early contribution, Norwich couldn't hold onto their advantage in a thrilling back-and-forth contest. The Hornets equalized through Luca Kjerrumgaard before Oscar Schwartau restored Norwich's lead just before halftime.

  However, the second half belonged to Watford, with Kjerrumgaard scoring again and substitute Tom Ince – netting his 100th Championship goal – completing the comeback for a 3-2 Watford victory. The defeat kept Norwich rooted in the Championship relegation zone, overshadowing Sargent's personal achievement.

• Back on track

  Sargent's goal against Watford continued a remarkable personal trend for the American forward, who has consistently performed well against this side. The striker's header marked his seventh goal in nine appearances against the Hornets and his third at Vicarage Road in 2025 alone.

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  Sargent's form gives Norwich hope

  As Norwich City continue their fight against relegation, Sargent's return to scoring form could prove crucial for Philippe Clement's struggling side. The Canaries will face Sheffield United next on Dec. 9 on the road before welcoming Southampton to Carrow Road on Dec. 12.

Not that it wasn’t before the short-lived return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, but the centre-forward berth has been an even bigger problem in the years since.

Indeed, the 2022/23 season saw Anthony Martial score just nine times in all competitions, including just six in the Premier League, while January arrival Wout Weghorst netted just twice following his surprise switch from Burnley.

The following campaign saw an injury-hit Martial score just twice himself in all competitions, while new man Rasmus Hojlund did fire 16 times, albeit with just ten of those coming in the league.

Hojlund then followed that up with ten goals across all fronts last term, with just four of those coming in the top-flight. £36.5m arrival Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, netted seven times, of which only three were in the league.

The fact of the matter is, United simply don’t have a proven goalscorer to rely upon, with the recent defeat to Everton highlighting why that man Zirkzee – who hasn’t scored a league goal for almost a year – just isn’t the solution.

The latest on Joshua Zirkzee's future

In the absence of Benjamin Sesko – who himself has scored only twice following his £74m switch from RB Leipzig – it was Zirkzee who got the nod against the Toffees, having featured for just 90 minutes in total all season prior to that.

Rusty or not on his first start of 2025/26, the Dutchman looked painfully out of his depth at times, so at odds with the rampant speed and physicality of Premier League football.

There were moments of quality, including two well-guided headers and an inviting cross across the box, but the 24-year-old was largely ineffective up against the wily James Tarkowski, notably losing the ball 12 times from just 35 touches.

Provided a rare opportunity to flourish, the former Bologna man showcased just why he has been a bystander to proceedings for much of the campaign so far, further throwing into doubt his long-term future at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the latest reports have suggested that the 6 foot 4 enigma might have already said yes to joining AS Roma on an initial loan deal in January, having previously been named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year back in 2023/24.

While United’s options in attack will be limited even further by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo’s upcoming AFCON commitments, it would not be a surprise for Zirkzee to depart upon their return in the New Year, with seven goals in 55 total games for the club making for grim reading for any centre-forward.

There is a talent in there, with his fleet of foot and silky touch sparking comparisons to a figure like Dimitar Berbatov, although in United’s current period of flux under Ruben Amorim, they desperately need an out-and-out goalscorer.

Thankfully, INEOS have already signed one.

Man Utd's "homegrown Osimhen" can replace Zirkzee

With Sesko and Matheus Cunha both sidelined, it was stark how little attacking depth United had in reserve, with Mason Mount the only real senior forward for Amorim to turn to on the bench.

Bryan Mbeumo

6

Casemiro

3

Bruno Fernandes

2

Benjamin Sesko

2

Harry Maguire

1

Matthijs de Ligt

1

Mason Mount

1

Amad

1

Matheus Cunha

1

While 18-year-old starlet Shea Lacey was featured in the matchday squad, there were eyebrows raised at the decision to overlook his academy colleague, Chido Obi, with Zirkzee ultimately playing the full 90 minutes.

Obi was parachuted into the first-team set-up as a drastic measure last season, amid United’s injury crisis, having made eight senior appearances in total 2024/25, albeit without scoring.

Frustratingly for the 17-year-old – who did score on the post-season tour against Hong Kong – he hasn’t been seen since in the senior set-up, with Amorim suggesting that he had been promoted “too soon” last term.

There’s no denying that Obi did look raw, not least on his solitary start against Brentford, but he also showed flashes of his undeniable talent, having come close to converting from the angle in the FA Cup clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.

Signed from Arsenal in the summer for 2024, the free-scoring forward has ripped it up at youth level in recent times, scoring 32 times in just 21 U18 games for the Gunners, as per Transfermarkt, while following that up with 12 goals in ten U18 games for United.

With five goals in 13 this term in the age group above, Obi is again showing just why he deserves a second chance under Amorim, with the teenager representing the orthodox centre-forward option that Zirkzee simply isn’t.

Described as a “homegrown Osimhen” by Arsenal content creator Will Balsam, the Danish youth international might be the perfect understudy to Sesko, rather than Zirkzee, with Amorim’s set-up demanding a more mobile, dynamic option to run the channels.

Of course, Amorim is wise to be careful with the development of such a talent, but at a time when a string of centre-forward signings haven’t worked out, why not dip into Carrington again?

Not Lammens: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a player who has massively failed to deliver at Old Trafford since his transfer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2025

It’s been a great week for Chelsea, and an even better one for Estevao.

Enzo Maresca handed the Brazilian a start in the club’s Champions League game against Barcelona, his third on the bounce in the competition, and to say he shone would be an understatement.

The Catalan side couldn’t live with him, and thanks to some brilliant close control, he was rewarded with a goal early in the second half.

The teenage sensation looks destined to be a world-beater, so fans should be excited about reports linking Chelsea with a striker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

Chelsea target a dream signing for Estevao

While he has been billed as one of the next big talents for over a year now, nobody would have expected Estevao to have had the start to the season he has.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Across all competitions so far, the youngster has made 17 appearances, totalling 740 minutes, in which he has scored five goals and provided one assist.

Moreover, three of those goals have come in the UCL, while his only Premier League goal came against Liverpool.

In other words, the Franca-born gem has already proven that he’s more than capable of performing in the biggest games for the Blues, and that might explain why the club are now targeting a striker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has claimed Chelsea are interested in Samu Aghehowa.

In fact, the report has revealed that the West Londoners are plotting to swoop for a couple of promising young stars in January, one of whom is the Porto star.

However, the Blues are not the only ones keen on the Spaniard, with reports from earlier this week linking Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur with a £79m move.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Samu’s immense ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’d be a dream teammate for Estevao.

Why Samu would be a dream signing for Estevao

The first reason, and the most crucial reason Samu would be an excellent signing for Estevao and Chelsea overall, is that he’s a proven and reliable output machine.

For example, across all competitions last season, the Spanish international made 45 appearances, totalling 3400 minutes, in which he scored 27 goals and provided three assists.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 113.33 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that it was his first campaign in Portugal.

Fortunately, that level of output does not look like an outlier, as so far this season, the Melilla-born monster has been even more dangerous.

For example, in 15 appearances, totalling 885 minutes, he has scored nine goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or more impressivley, every 88.5 minutes, which is a rate of return that lends to journalist Zach Lowy’s description of him as “one of the best STs in Europe.”

Appearances

45

15

Minutes

3,400′

885′

Goals

27

9

Assists

3

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

0.43

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113.33′

115.57′

Points per Game

1.67

2.53

Now, on top of utterly bossing it in Portugal, the 6 foot 4 titan has also got some decent experience in a top-five league, as he spent the 23/24 season on loan with Deportivo Alavés, where he made 34 appearances in La Liga, totalling 1924 minutes, in which he scored eight goals and provided one assist.

Finally, on top of being someone who could help bolster Estevao’s assist tally with his impressive finishing, the four-capped international is still relatively young at just 21 years old.

This means that he could develop alongside the Brazilian and, over the coming years, create a potentially game-changing partnership with him.

Ultimately, given his ability and potential, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Samu in January, as he’d make the team far more dangerous and could be a perfect teammate for Estevao.

Shades of Estevao: Chelsea have another "left-footed magician" out on loan

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca could have another Estevao-type talent on their hands next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 27, 2025

Eberechi Eze opened up to Adebayo Akinfenwa on the latest episode of the 'Beast Mode on Podcast', telling his former teammate that he deserved to be released as an academy player. Eze was first let go from Arsenal's youth setup as a 13-year-old, and failed to secure a professional contract with Millwall at the end of his scholarship with the south London club.

• Eze's long route back to Arsenal

  Eze reflected on his youth career with Akinfenwa on the latest episode of GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast. 

  Originally joining the Gunners as an eight-year-old, Eze was on the books with the north London club for the next five years. Following his release, he spent three seasons with Fulham, and a brief spell at Reading, before eventually signing a two-year apprenticeship with Millwall.

  When the young playmaker failed to make the grade at The Den, he got another chance with Championship side Queens Park Rangers, impressing technical director Chris Ramsey and winning a contract. After a loan spell alongside Akinfenwa at Wycombe Wanderers, Eze would go on to make 104 league appearances for the Hoops, eventually joining Crystal Palace in 2020 in a deal worth a reported £17 million.

  Five successful years at Selhurst Park, including scoring the winning goal in last year's FA Cup final, brought on a £60m switch back to his boyhood club earlier this year. 

  That transfer inevitably brought Eze's circuitous route back to the club into the spotlight. Despite many people telling him he never should have left the club in the first place, the playmaker was clear that he probably did deserve to be released, and that he did not feel an urgency over his career until he failed to make the grade at Millwall. 

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  Eze opens up to Akinfenwa on Millwall release

  Asked when he first realised he might not make it as a professional, Eze said: "Getting released from Millwall at 17. That's the one when I was like, ‘OK, this is real’ because everyone's got their pros [professional contracts] and my boys are working or coming out of college or whatever. It felt like real life at that point.

  "At the time it's like, ‘Oh, this is serious’. I need to find something now, not wait six months or wait a year, I’ve got to get something. It was probably the first time that I felt a bit… this is crunch time now, but again, as I said, the faith, the belief. Maybe I was a bit delusional. Maybe? I don't know.

  "That's always how I felt, man, regardless of the situation. As intense as it may have felt, kept going."

• Eze: 'I deserved to be released'

  Asked about getting released as a youngster, Eze said: "I feel like maybe I'm too understanding, in a sense. I'll speak to people now about getting released and they’ll be like: ‘you should’ve never got released’. But I'm thinking in my head, ‘Nah, I probably deserved to get released’.

  "I had talent, but were there other talented boys? Yes. Were people doing more than me? Maybe. So I didn't see it as like I'm like this chosen kid that should be here, but somehow got released.

  "I saw it as it's part of football, and as I grew up and as I've grown up, I've started to understand that a bit more. I'm not really trying to prove them wrong, because at the time they were right. They made the decisions that were correct and the year after, they weren't saying, ‘oh, you're so wrong’. It's only now that they started to talk about it."

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• Eze enjoys high expectations at Arsenal

  Eze spoke with real passion about his time back at the north London club, telling Akinfenwa about the "special environment" at the club while name checking his team-mate Jurrien Timber as an example of someone who exceeds the club's already high expectations. Those comments and Eze's reflections on his younger days, show a player that is relishing his second chance at his boyhood club and is a testament to the work ethic Eze  he clearly honed in the face of so much disappointment as a young player. 

MLB action continues on Saturday with a full slate of games.

If you're looking for a few bets to place for today's action, I have you covered. There are three games I'm targeting, including two underdogs, that I love as bets today, including the Milwaukee Brewers to take down the Los Angeles Dodgers. Let's dive into them.

Top MLB Picks Today

Padres -140 vs. NationalsRed Sox +125 vs. CubsBrewers +115 vs. DodgersPadres vs. Nationals Prediction

The Padres have a massive pitching advantage in this game. Yu Darvish is looking to find his footing in just his third start of the season, but Mitchell Parker gets the start for the Nationals, and he doesn't look like he's going to figure things out anytime soon. He has a 5.12 ERA on the year with a 5-10 record.

Things become even more lopsided once the bullpens come into play. The San Diego bullpen ranks second in the Majors in bullpen ERA at 3.22, while the Nationals rank dead last at 5.97. That's enough for me to take the Padres at -140.

Red Sox vs. Cubs Prediction

The Red Sox's 10-game win streak was snapped last night, but I think they're a great underdog to bounce back with a win tonight. They're close to an auto-bet when they take on a left-handed starting pitcher as their OPS improves from .744 against right-handed pitchers to .790 against left-handed pitchers, which is the third-best OPS against left-handed pitchers in the Majors.

Tonight, they'll face a left-handed starter in Shota Imanaga, who has allowed 2+ home runs in two of his last three starts. Boston should feel comfortable facing him tonight, so I'll take a shot on the Red Sox as +125 underdogs.

Brewers vs. Dodgers Prediction

The Brewers have now won four straight games against the Dodgers, and I'm going to bet on that streak continuing tonight. The Dodgers' offense has struggled significantly of late, ranking just 26th in the Majors in OPS over the past 30 days. The Brewers, on the other hand, come in at sixth in that stat in the same time frame at .791.

Freddy Peralta gets the start for the Brewers tonight. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Dodgers just a couple of short weeks ago. There's no reason to think he won't have a similar performance tonight.

More big names are expected to join Tom Brady at Birmingham, with Stephen Carr telling GOAL why marquee signings in the transfer market can be completed. The former Blues defender has also been discussing, in an exclusive interview, why plans for a new stadium – which could attract NFL games – and Premier League promotion dreams can come to fruition.

Winning mentality: Brady's role at Birmingham

Birmingham tumbled into League One during Brady’s first season as a minority stakeholder of the club. They did, however, bounce back in style when claiming the third tier title in record-breaking fashion last term.

With big-spending owners on board, the Blues are aiming high. They want to beat Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and Wrexham to the top tier, with both clubs generating plenty of noise away from the field – with documentary series opening up a window to the world.

Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady has helped Birmingham to spread their word, with the American football legend fully signed up to an exciting project in the West Midlands. He is helping to bring a winning mentality to St Andrew’s.

AdvertisementAmazon Prime VideoTransfer business: Birmingham backed to land big names

With the Blues’ mass appeal continuing to grow, Carr – speaking in association with – told GOAL when asked if more household names will head to Birmingham: “I think so. I think that’s what they are aiming for. The stadium that they just released, you can see what they are building – that is for the Premier League, that’s not for the Football League. That has to be a Premier League stadium.

“I know there is all the other stuff with it, the NFL and everything, but it is being geared up now where they want to go. Very ambitious. But there is a limit to what you can spend, it’s as simple as that. You see it at Newcastle as well – the richest club in the world but they can’t go out and buy whoever they want. That’s where they need plans.

“They do need a good few players. If they stay in the Championship, consolidate and then build. They need players coming in. It’s what they can bring in, what they are restricted with and what they can spend. They have always had a good academy there, they produce some good young players. But you see with the stadium and everything, they are very ambitious.

“It’s amazing for the area, it needs it. In the long-term, I think you will see top players. But they need to get into the Premier League to get those players because you are limited in what you can spend. They can’t go and throw money at trying to get to the Premier League. You need to get up, but it’s going to take a bit of time. It’s not simple. The Championship is getting harder and harder. You see it’s stacked at the moment.

“For the future, that’s the goal. The stadium shows how much money they will be spending. That stadium is only worth something if you are in the Premier League, it’s not for the Championship – with the costs and all that. You see Tottenham’s stadium and what they spent, they spent a fortune, but they are in the Premier League. That’s a Premier League stadium, so hopefully they do it and get up. I think you will see spending. I think it will be controlled, it won’t be stupid, but you will see bigger names coming back to Birmingham.”

NFL & Taylor Swift: Grand plans for Birmingham

Another former Blues star, Clinton Morrison, told GOAL recently when asked about NFL games and Taylor Swift concerts at Birmingham: “The city in its own right is the second city in the country behind London. It’s a massive city and a city that probably hasn’t had as much investment as others – like Manchester and others in the UK. There is a lot of scope for growth economically in the city.

“The owners have got big dreams of bringing this all-purpose stadium in. We have seen it with a couple of other stadiums around the country where they have managed to incorporate other events and generate revenue that way. I believe it is only a good thing what they are planning. Whether that materialises or not is another thing. I believe they have to have Premier League status in order to achieve and attract that magnitude of event.”

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Birmingham CityPromotion push: When will Birmingham reach the Premier League?

Birmingham, who continue to work under the guidance of manager Chris Davies, are very much in the Championship top-six picture this season. They sit eighth in the table at present, one point outside the play-off places and only five adrift of the second automatic promotion spot.

They will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Southampton. They have six more games through to the end of the calendar year, at which point another transfer window will open and more fresh faces could be welcomed through the doors.

Batting form is a major concern, yet his importance as a captain and bowler shines through on critical day four

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Jul-20252:16

Trescothick: It’s going to be an amazing final day

Nebulous sporting magic – or , if you will – is not unlike energy. Not created or destroyed, merely changed from one form to another.The quantity of such magic remains constant in an athlete’s lifetime. But the areas it influences shift, and given the nature of some pursuits – such as, say, being an allrounder who just happens to also be Test captain – often irrevocably.”Who else but Ben Stokes?” That clichéd sentiment passed through the minds and perhaps even the lips of the 26,569 spectators here at Lord’s, to cheer or bemoan his last-over dismissal of nightwatcher Akash Deep. The manner of it added fuel to the notion that games of cricket bend to Stokes’ whim. Even if this was merely a case of getting one to go down the slope to a bloke with a batting average of 8.09.Related

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With that final ball of day four, Stokes has put England on a level footing going into Monday, in front of a sold-out Lord’s. It was a statement clonk that took him to nine wickets in the series at 32.33.It is the most he has taken in 11 previous series, the result of a new left knee and a more robust recovery after a second tear of his right hamstring. The last time he took more wickets was his ten against South Africa in 2022, his second series as captain, in the early stages of his emergence as one of the most astute leaders England have ever had.Beyond his ability to lift those around him as a talisman, however, is Stokes’ acumen in the field that can, at times, feel like throwing leg slips at the wall and seeing what sticks. And yet, at moments such as the final throes of Sunday’s play, his feel for the game deserves praise, eclipsing those of previous England captains of the modern era.Granted, he might have been better served opening with Brydon Carse instead of Chris Woakes. But the decision, in the day’s final half-an-hour, to bring Carse and himself on to replace Woakes and Jofra Archer, came with an extra tick when Stokes chose to put Carse on from the Pavilion End.It was from the Nursery End that Jasprit Bumrah had unearthed a patch of uneven bounce. Yet, the three wickets that England claimed with this double-change – two to Carse in a stirring spell of 4-1-11-2 – highlighted Stokes’ sharp reading of the contest. The slope – left to right from the Pavilion End – suited Carse’s methods better, rather than the vague promise of some variations up-and-down. Let’s not forget, Bumrah took more of Crawley’s fingers than wickets.Ben Stokes was knocked over by Washington Sundar•Getty ImagesWith Stokes’ bowling trending back towards his previous heights circa 2019, and his captaincy remaining steadily impressive, perhaps it is no surprise his batting seems to have lost that spark. There is only so much juju to go around.What was confronting about Stokes’ innings today was that the situation seemed primed for the latest volume in his “who writes his scripts?” anthology. He was England’s last hope – and their last recognised batter – in a quest for an iron-clad winning score, yet he was bowled by a broadly innocuous offspinning delivery from Washington Sundar. An attempt at a visceral slog-sweep ended in an apologetic whimper.The slog-sweep is a familiar club in Stokes’ bag. Not quite a calling card, more of an easter egg amid his epics. Here in 2019, for instance, batting at the same end from which he was dismissed on Sunday, he dumped Trent Boult over midwicket at the critical juncture – 15 needed off four balls – of the World Cup final. That same side was peppered four years later in a hellacious 155 against Australia. Now, the shot is an appropriate sherpa down through Stokes’ batting decline. He boasted a scoreline of 111 for 2 from 32 attempts at the shot in Test cricket between the start of the 2019 up to the 2022 summer. Ever since the start of Bazball, however, he has tried it 26 further times, scoring just 59 for the loss of six.Ben Stokes struck on the last ball of the day•Getty ImagesThe nature of this most recent dismissal also gave a new twist on the Stokes meme machine. His knack for making good balls look great – wide-eyed and open mouthed, stunned at a delivery that probably just seamed a bit – is rich online fodder. Now, however, the decent balls are being played badly.As it was in 2022, when he charged out of the blocks in his first series to show his teammates that flying close to the sun was cool, Stokes’ third second-innings 33 of the series – this one the slowest, from 96 balls – felt like an extension of England’s second-innings approach. Stunted, a lot of huff and a little confused.Their run rate across the whole match – 3.31 – is now England’s slowest in a home Test in the Bazball era, knocking the very first match of the McCullum-Stokes axis – also at Lord’s, against New Zealand – off top spot. Being an inspiring figure works both ways.It is important, however, not to simply attribute Stokes’ average of 24.57 from four Tests this summer – including one against Zimbabwe – as a loss of magic. To do so simplifies the issue, which is that he has just not batted enough.1:20

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Sunday’s knock was his seventh of the year. He could have had more, either for Durham in the County Championship, or for England Lions in the lead-up to the series, when he had fully recovered from the hamstring tear sustained at the end of the New Zealand tour in December.Of course, there are only so many hours in the day, and so much a body can take, even after such tailored reinforcement. Stokes maintains, at the age of the 34, that recovery is his biggest focus around Test matches.Thus, it seems batting is now third on his list of priorities. Even though Stokes has vociferously hit back at the suggestion, his numbers against spin bowling – which requires the most work behind the scenes to improve – paint a clear picture. Since the start of 2024, his average of 19.11 is the second lowest, after R Ashwin’s 16.50, for batters who have faced more than 300 deliveries of spin.Whether that eventually means a slide down the order remains to be seen. It likely won’t, given the England management are impressed with how comfortable Jamie Smith has been at No.7.Even though Stokes’ lack of runs might have cost England a shot at resting easier overnight, they will arrive on day five with a 2-1 lead in their grasp, thanks in no small part to his bowling and captaincy. And that is how it is likely to be for what remains of his career.