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da gbg bet： Com encontro marcado para a próxima sexta-feira, o CRB, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, enfrenta o Criciúma na busca de continuar firme na briga por uma vaga na zona de acesso para a Série A. De acordo com Reginaldo Lopes, lateral do CRB, somente a vitória interessa a equipe alagoana.

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da betano casino：
– Vamos para uma verdadeira decisão para o grupo. Temos que ter o máximo de atenção para vencermos o Criciúma em casa. O elenco sabe da importância deste confronto e está se preparando para fazer uma grande apresentação. Um triunfo pode colocar o grupo ainda mais próximo do G4 – disse o lateral.

Segundo o lateral-direito, o grupo tem totais condições de executar grandes atuações nos jogos que restam para a conclusão da Série B do Brasileirão.

– Estamos trabalhando para que a equipe cresça nestas próximas semanas e possa continuar sonhando com o G4. Vamos lutar muito para que isso seja possível. Não vamos deixar de acreditar – finalizou Reginaldo.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Premier League as a product. Is modern football actually boring? Are teams now too reliant on set pieces to score goals? Are the mavericks and the willing protagonists being silenced just to preserve their manager's tactics? Have we gone too far in pursuit of sporting perfection?

These are some of the questions we'll be attempting to answer today. Football, as the world's most beloved sport, is supposed to be entertaining. That's why millions and billions tune in. It's not just about glory, but the winding, loop-filled road to it.

That's perhaps even truer in the Premier League, the supposed best competition in the world, the actual incarnation of the failed European Super League. Yet fans, supporters and viewers seem as disinterested as ever.

That's why we at GOAL felt it was imperative to both a) name and shame some of these anti-footballing culprits, and b) praise those who actually seem committed to keeping our attention. We've ranked the 20 top-flight teams based on their style of play, how much fun it usually is to watch them as a neutral, the flair and enjoyability of their best players, and the jeopardy they are constantly battling. You'll understand that last point a little later…

Getty Images Sport20Wolves

Unsurprisingly, the team that is currently bottom of the real Premier League table is also bottom of these rankings. Unless you're a West Brom fan hungry for a delicious hate-watch, who on this planet is tuning into Wolves games thinking 'ooh yeah that should be a fun one'?

Maybe new manager Rob Edwards will work some magic and get the side he used to play for firing again. Maybe Jorgen Strand Larsen will rediscover his shooting boots. Maybe one of their many South Americans will turn into Pele reincarnated. Don't count on it, though.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport19Burnley

Heading into and out of the season's third international break, Burnley sit above the relegation zone. Yeah, go and double-check if you want, it's a little hard to believe, but it's true. Scott Parker has a recent history of his teams getting slaughtered at the top level, yet he's somehow made the Clarets a fairly respectable outfit again in the Premier League. They at least have a chance of survival, unlike the newly-promoted teams of the last few seasons.

Nevertheless, this has come at a cost. Unlike Vincent Kompany's side who tumbled to relegation in 2023-24, this version of Burnley are much more compact. They will earn more points in the real world than style points in this ranking.

AFP18Leeds United

From the outside looking in, it would be very easy to assume that Daniel Farke has stuck to his high-octane principles which have served him so well as a Championship manager. However, in an attempt to keep his job in the Premier League, he's had to revert to a much stodgier brand of football.

Elland Road is home to one of the most intimidating crowds in the country, though the team that plays there could do with some more on-ball quality if they are to rise back up this list akin to the days of Marcelo Bielsa.

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Getty Images Sport17Fulham

You have to feel for Marco Silva. He's worked wonders with Fulham but seldom seems to receive the backing he needs in the transfer market to ever take them to that next level.

His sides are largely perceived as defensive – which is quite funny given he was seen as a hopeless, forward-thinking romantic at Hull City, Watford and Everton – but they still do possess some trickery in the form of Alex Iwobi and youth product Josh King. The squad has gone a bit stale, though that's hardly his fault.

أعلن حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر الثاني، التشكيل الرسمي لمواجهة الجزائر، في المباراة الودية التي تقام بينهما اليوم الجمعة.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع الجزائر، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار الاستعدادات لبطولة كأس العرب المنتظر إقامتها في قطر، خلال شهر ديسمبر المقبل.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر والجزائر اليوم وديًا

منتخب مصر أوقعته قرعة كأس العرب في المجموعة الثالثة بجانب منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والفائز من المباراة التأهيلية بين الكويت وموريتانيا.

ويشهد تشكيل منتخب مصر الثاني، تواجد محمد النني أساسيًا بجوار أكرم توفيق وأفشة، ويقود هجوم الفراعنة الثلاثي محمد شريف ومصطفي سعد ميسي وإسلام عيسي. تشكيل منتخب مصر الثاني اليوم أمام الجزائر

حراسة المرمي: علي لطفي.

خط الدفاع: أحمد هاني، محمود حمدي الونش، عمر فايد ويحيي زكريا.

خط الوسط: محمد النني، أكرم توفيق ومحمد مجدي أفشة.

خط الهجوم: محمد شريف، مصطفي سعد ميسي وإسلام عيسي.

وكان اتحاد الكرة المصري، اتفق على إقامة مباراتين وديتن لـ منتخب مصر ضد الجزائر، خلال معسكر شهر نوفمبر الحالي، قبل المشاركة في كأس العرب، الأولى اليوم، والمباراة الثانية يوم الإثنين المقبل 17 نوفمبر.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued a worrying update on Declan Rice after he was forced off during the 2-1 victory over London rivals West Ham. Rice was forced off in the 79th minute of the match at the Emirates and will now be assessed by Gunners medical staff.

• Rice shone against Hammers

  A goal in each half from Rice and Bukayo Saka secured a 2-0 victory for Arsenal over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, a win which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table after seven matches. The home side dominated proceedings, with Rice scoring against his former club in the 38th minute, tucking home a rebound after Eberechi Eze's shot was saved by Alphonse Areola. Arsenal's dominance was further reflected in the match statistics, including their possession advantage, which was double the visitors'. Saka doubled Arsenal's lead midway through the second-half, converting a penalty after Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf. The penalty marked Saka's 100th Premier League goal involvement in his 200th appearance. 

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• AFP
  

  Injury woes mar comfortable win

  The only concerns for Arsenal were injury to Odegaard, who was forced off in the first half after a knee-on-knee collision and Rice, who asked to be substituted. Despite the injury, the victory saw Mikel Arteta celebrate his 300th game in charge of Arsenal with a comfortable win against a West Ham side that struggled to create opportunities and sit second-bottom of the table.

• Arteta reveals double-concern

  After the match, Arteta spoke about the circumstances surrounding Rice's substitution, he said: "Well, he's not alright because he asked me to come off, so that's a shame. So, he had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we'll have to assess him and see how he is." And there were worries for his captain Odegaard, too: "I think he had a clash knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable, I just spoke to him, he's not positive about it, he's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very unlucky with that either.

  "We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other, the shoulder twice and then this injury. So we have to wait and see the extent of that injury. We will find solutions but obviously our captain is a player who gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attack. Let's wait and hopefully it's not that bad."

  In terms of his side's win, he added: "The last two games have been very special. Newcastle, because we had a history there, a lot of scars and a lot of learnings to take, we put that right. Then we had West Ham, losing two games at home in the previous two seasons. I told them it was a big opportunity, we’ve had very difficult fixtures since the start of the season, and some very bad injuries as well not helping. Still, the team is performing, playing well, winning today with absolute dominance and without conceding a goal. So, good to get to the international break in this spirit."

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• AFP
  

  Will England rest Rice?

  Rice has been a central figure for England, featuring prominently in their runs to the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. He captained England for the first time in March 2024 and was ever-present in their Euro 2024 campaign, where they finished as runners-up. His performances have consistently drawn praise, cementing his reputation as a world-class midfielder. But Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel may be tempted to rest Rice, with England on the verge of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. They need a maximum of five more points from their remaining three games, a win in their next qualifier away to Latvia on October 14, followed by a win at home against Serbia on November 13, would guarantee qualification by winning Group K. But, if England defeat Latvia and Serbia fail to beat Albania on October 11, England would also secure qualification.

The latest he can link up with RCB is on May 26 in Lucknow, a day prior to their final league fixture against LSG

Shashank Kishore22-May-2025Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have signed New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert as a temporary replacement for England’s Jacob Bethell. Seifert is currently playing for Karachi Kings in the PSL and his arrival into India will depend on how his team progresses. He’s available to be picked from May 24, the IPL said in a press release.Kings are set to play the PSL Eliminator against Lahore Qalandars on Thursday night, while the PSL final is slated for May 25 in Lahore. This means the latest he can link up with RCB is on May 26 in Lucknow, a day prior to their final league fixture against Lucknow Super Giants.Opening the innings with David Warner at Kings, Seifert has so far scored 226 runs in nine innings as an opener at a strike rate of 145.80 with a best of 47. Seifert has previously featured in the IPL, all too briefly, for Delhi Capitals (two matches in 2022) and Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL 2021).Related

RCB-SRH moved to Lucknow; IPL playoffs in Mullanpur and Ahmedabad

RCB bring in Muzarabani as Ngidi's temporary replacement

Seifert’s signing comes on the back of Bethell’s unavailability due to national commitments. Bethell is set to leave for England after Friday’s fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which was moved from Bengaluru to Lucknow owing to adverse weather conditions in south India.Bethell has so far featured in two matches for RCB in his maiden IPL season. Replacing an unwell Phil Salt in the line-up, Bethell struck a 33-ball 55 in his previous innings against Chennai Super Kings on May 3. That, incidentally, remains RCB’s most-recent outing in the tournament too; their home fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders upon IPL’s resumption following a ten-day break was abandoned in Bengaluru last Saturday.Bethell aside, RCB are uncertain over the availability of Australia quick Josh Hazlewood, who is currently in Brisbane at CA’s High-Performance Centre in preparation for next month’s World Test Championship final.Last Friday, RCB director Mo Bobat said they’d been in touch with CA over Hazlewood, but that they were adopting a wait-and-watch approach as he recovers from a shoulder niggle that he picked up ahead of RCB’s fixture against CSK.Meanwhile, South Africa quick Lungi Ngidi too will miss the playoffs for RCB as he prepares for the WTC final. Last week, Ngidi was replaced by Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani as a short-term replacement.RCB are currently chasing a top-two spot, having won eight out of their 11 matches in the league phase. They next play on Friday against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow before rounding off their league stages by playing Lucknow Super Giants.

Ahead of Stuart Broad’s 50th Test appearance, and 100th first-class game, he reflects on his career to date

Interview by George Dobell16-Aug-20122005: The beginning
I had an offer from Durham University and a contract offer from Leicestershire. I took the contract home to my mum and we decided I should approach my cricket career as someone else might an apprenticeship in another profession, such as plumbing. University was a real temptation, but the decision worked well, and a year or so later I was playing for England.2006: England ODI debut
I had only played six List A games before my ODI debut, so the selectors took a bit of a gamble on me. But there are two ways to learn, aren’t there? You can spend years learning your trade in the county game, or you can be thrown in at the deep end. I feel very fortunate that they did that with me. It was an intense experience, but I learned quickly and feel it was hugely beneficial for me. I’m 26 now and most bowlers peak between 28 and 32.2007: Being hit for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh
It was a learning experience. I’d had a good summer but, it turned out, I didn’t have the variations required for that level of international cricket. When you’re growing up, you’re taught to bowl six balls in the same spot, but after that I learned pretty quickly that you have to mix it up. It was all part of the learning curve. The other thing was, at least that over didn’t cost us anything. We were already out of the competition and it was a dead game.2008: Leaving Leicestershire for Nottinghamshire
I developed through the system at Leicestershire and consider myself very fortunate to have done so. They were fantastic for me. A bigger, richer club wouldn’t have put me in the first team so soon but at Grace Road I had lots of opportunity. But, at the time, I wasn’t in the Test side and the view was that I needed to be playing Division One cricket. There’s a huge gap between the two divisions now. Nottinghamshire have been brilliant. Mick Newell is an amazing coach and man manager, the facilities are excellent, and it’s a big club playing in the top division. I’ve not looked back.2009: Man of the Match at The Oval as England beat Australia to reclaim the Ashes
That changed my life. I was only 23 and it had been a tough summer, but that spell turned it around. It was a special time. And the celebrations after the series were even more special. We became celebrities after that series. It was the biggest series I had played to date and, at the time, it was probably my career highlight.2011: Hat-trick against India at Trent Bridge
That’s what I see as my career highlight. It annoys me when people say India were rubbish in that series. It makes me think that they know nothing about cricket. India were a very strong side and, until then, they had us under real pressure. We were under the pump in that game. We had been bowled out cheaply in the first innings and they passed us with only four wickets down. But then I was able to put my hand up in a big game on my home ground and we bowled them out in about an hour. India were a good side, but we were fantastic in that series.Current workload
I’m not one to complain about playing cricket. We’re very lucky, aren’t we? I love playing cricket, and when you think about those people who have to get up on a cold morning and go to work on a building site, you realise pretty quickly no one wants to hear us moaning. It’s true that we’re away from home a lot, but a million people would swap positions with us in an instant. And you’re a long time retired.Yes, I play all three formats and yes I’d like to play IPL, but the priority is playing for England. It is with most guys. When you look back on your career, it is the memories you make playing for your country that are most special.The England set-up is very well managed now, too. Andrew Flintoff just played until he broke. That doesn’t happen anymore. Every ball we deliver, in the nets or in the middle, is monitored, and we are told when we need a break. We’re very well looked after.Bowling speeds this summer
I don’t think the speed guns should be trusted. We don’t really see the figures from those as players, anyway, but the way I understand it, the speeds have been down for the South Africa bowlers too. There’s no way Dale Steyn is bowling at 79mph, I promise you. We use Hawk-Eye data2012: South Africa at Lord’s
This Test against South Africa is huge. We have a good record at Lord’s and we are very excited by the challenge. It is a must-win game and we are up against one of the best sides we’ve played. It’s a huge challenge but one I absolutely believe we can overcome.Stuart Broad was speaking at West Bridgfordians CC. The club is one of three who have won the chance to take on the NatWest Legends in a one-off match to help boost their fundraising efforts. To find out more about the NatWest Locals vs Legends T20 Series and for more details about all three matches, visit natwest.com/cricket

da betway： West Brom are in a four-club battle to complete the signing of an “unbelievable” Premier League youngster before the end of the summer transfer window.

Mason delighted after West Brom win

da esoccer bet： The Baggies have made a perfect start to their 2025/26 Championship campaign, winning their opening two matches, including last Saturday’s 3-2 win away to Wrexham.

Ryan Mason has shone in his early months in charge, suggesting West Brom have a top manager to spearhead their promotion push, and he was delighted with what he saw against Wrexham.

“I thought we were excellent. We deserved to win the game and it’s been a hell of a long time since we won away from home in this league. It’s very nice to get that feeling inside the changing room. We came here with the right mindset and willingness to get a victory. We stood up as a team and as a squad.”

It’s now a case of West Brom potentially adding to their squad between now and the end of the current transfer window, and they have been linked with a move for an exciting player who could be an inspired signing.

West Brom battling to sign "unbelievable" Liverpool ace

The Athletic now report that West Brom are among the “suitors” for Liverpool midfielder James McConnell, with a loan move for the 20-year-old mooted. The Baggies are far from alone in showing an interest, however, with Oxford United, Hull City and Sturm Graz also in the race to snap him up over the next couple of weeks.

McConnell could be a fantastic loan addition for West Brom this summer, considering he has held his own in a Liverpool shirt when required, making 13 appearances and chipping in with one assist for the reigning Premier League champions.

The England Under-20 international has been hailed as an “unbelievable” player by former Reds coach Barry Lewtas, while Jurgen Klopp has lauded him, too, which speaks volumes about his ability.

“James in the six is just a joy to watch, the boy never played in that position before, we put him there and he throws his heart on the pitch.”

McConnell would add immediate quality in midfield areas for West Brom, and his versatility allows him to thrive in various roles, from a more disciplined berth in front of the midfield, to a player who can create in the attacking third, having scored 13 goals for Liverpool’s Under-21s and Under-18s combined, in a total of 78 appearances.

The youngster may struggle to have a long-term future at Anfield, given how hard it is for youth products to fully make the grade there, and a strong season on loan with the Baggies could hopefully lead to a permanent move becoming a possibility.

Punjab Kings, meanwhile, are much better placed for playoffs contention and had defended 111 against KKR ten days ago

Sreshth Shah25-Apr-20253:35

Finch: KKR need a reshuffle to function as a proper middle order

Big picture: Punjab Kings among frontrunners for playoffsKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a golden opportunity just ten days ago to steer their IPL 2025 campaign in the right direction. Chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), two points were there for the taking along with a potential net run rate boost. But in a stunning collapse, KKR folded for just 95. That blow was compounded by another heavy defeat, to Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday. Both losses illustrated how out-of-form their middle and lower-middle order has been, and that has left their title defence hanging by a thread. Five wins in their remaining six games is their equation to be realistic playoff contenders.For PBKS, that dramatic win over KKR may have been the turning point of their season. With points shared in their home-and-away clashes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), PBKS have five wins in eight games and now find themselves among the frontrunners in the race for the playoffs.Related

Can KKR find a way out of their middle-order mess?

Wadhera is making waves by being a T20 floater

PBKS need at least three wins from their remaining six fixtures to breathe easy. But history looms large: the playoffs have eluded them since 2014. The only thing missing in their game is middle-order stability, and that could be the difference between qualification, a top-four finish and a top-two push.The last two games between PBKS and KKR have seen the former produce the highest successful IPL chase and the lowest successful target defence. KKR, in contrast, are a side searching for answers. Eight players from their championship-winning squad still make up the core, but the spark that once defined them feels distant. Having enjoyed a 71% success at home in IPL 2024, their record at Eden Gardens is only 25% in 2025. On current form, PBKS hold the edge as their batting is in form, their bowlers have rhythm, something KKR are lacking, big time.Form guideKolkata Knight Riders LLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Punjab Kings LWWLWIn the spotlight: Venkatesh Iyer and Yuzvendra ChahalKKR have stood firmly behind Venkatesh Iyer ever since his breakout season. They retained him ahead of Shubman Gill before IPL 2022 and invested heavily in him at the IPL 2025 auction. But so far this season, Venkatesh’s three single-digit scores in six innings and a sluggish 14 off 19 against GT have highlighted his struggles. On Saturday, he faces another stern test in Marco Jansen, who has dismissed him three times in four innings, conceding just 14 runs at an average of 4.67. Can he push past a poor campaign and deliver when it matters most?Yuzvendra Chahal was the hero when PBKS had stunned KKR•BCCI

Yuzvendra Chahal has rediscovered his rhythm after a slow start to IPL 2025, claiming seven wickets in his last three outings. His standout performance came against KKR where he tore through their middle order with a decisive four-wicket haul. The key to Chahal’s resurgence has been a return to his strengths: tossing the ball up, using flight and dip, and trusting his variations to deceive batters. His revival has added real bite to the PBKS middle-overs attack.Team news and probable XIIsKKR’s bench strength is not strong, therefore no clear replacement is expected despite their two defeats in a row. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to keep his place as opener, and the only question will be Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje for the fourth overseas spot.Kolkata Knight Riders 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav Arora.3:13

Finch: Hard for Shreyas to be consistent with high-risk starts

None of Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell or Josh Inglis has been among the runs for PBKS. All three have had their chances and not impressed, but Maxwell’s offspin could make him a candidate to return to the XI in place of Stoinis with KKR enjoying a left-hander-heavy line-up.Punjab Kings 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Marcus Stoinis/Glenn Maxwell, 7 Shashank Singh, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Xavier Bartlett, 12 Yuzvendra ChahalThe big questionKKR have the poorest average (19) for the first wicket in IPL 2025. With time running out, is it time to replace Narine at the top as well?Pitch and conditionsAlthough conditions in Kolkata favour the chasing team with dew expected, their game against GT showed no such signs with Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore finding turn. This game will be played on the same pitch, and the team winning the toss could be tempted to bat first.Stats and trivia Both teams have middle-order (Nos. 4 to 7) woes. While KKR’s average for those positions is the worst (20.47), PBKS are not too far at 23.90. Shreyas Iyer has had contrasting home and away campaigns this season. In four games apiece, Shreyas has averaged 119 at away venues but only 6.25 at home. Similarly, PBKS’ powerplay performances with bat and ball are vastly different. Thanks to Prabhsimran and Arya, their powerplay run rate of 10.67 is the best of all teams, however, their ten wickets with the ball in the first six overs is the joint-lowest. Since IPL 2022, KKR have lost all seven games when their spinners Narine and Varun have gone wicketless together. There were three such games in 2022, one in 2023 and three in 2025.Quotes”Yes definitely (we can make playoffs). If you look at history, even Mumbai had a bad start and now they’ve won four in a row and they’re flying. We need to have that same mindset. We’re halfway through, we have to win most of our games”
“If you look at Shreyas’ contribution since the Champions Trophy, not only has he become consistent against spin bowling but against fast bowling as well. He has shown the hunger and is ready to accept every challenge he comes across. He has done some hard work behind the scenes and that is showing.”

Newcastle United could be ready to turn their long-standing interest into a bid this summer, with one star now certain to leave his current club.

Bruno Guimaraes' future up in the air

The future of Newcastle's star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes remains unclear heading into the summer transfer window, a fact which will cause concern among the Newcastle fanbase. Eddie Howe is desperate to keep the Brazilian, but has made no promises should offers come in.

“My intention would be to keep Bruno for as long as we possibly can because I can,” Howe said. “But I can never make guarantees because that would be absolutely foolish of me.

"I’ve been in football long enough to know you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. But he’s an integral part of the team and playing really well at the moment. A lot will depend on our ambitions and where the club is going in the foreseeable future. We need to show we’re moving forward.”

Guimaraes has a release clause believed to be set at £100m, and is attracting interest from across the Premier League, with recent reports claiming that a fee of around £80m will be enough to see him leave Tyneside with PSG, Manchester City and Arsenal all interested.

Report: Newcastle eyeing bargain move for “outstanding” striker this summer

He has also been linked with a move by Liverpool.

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 22, 2024

It is believed that Newcastle need to bring in up to £50m to comply with the Premier League's financial fair play rules, but the sale of Bruno for a £55m profit would allow them to spend more this summer. And they appear to have already identified a replacement.

"Priceless" player set to be sold

That comes in the form of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, who is set to be sold by the Blues this summer. Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea, and Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino also wants him to stay, having utilised him a lot this season.

"I think he is a player with a great commitment to the team," said the Chelsea manager after their win at Selhurst Park in February.

"He is always trying to compensate in every situation, in offensive and defensive situations. It's priceless to have a player like him."

However, he is out of contract next season and is yet to agree fresh terms on his current £50,000 a week deal, while his homegrown status makes him a more valuable asset for Chelsea to offload as they look to comply with their own financial fair play issues.

Because of this, Football Insider claim that he will "definitely" be sold this summer and have added Newcastle to the list of suitors chasing his signature alongside Tottenham. The Magpies have previously seen efforts to lure him out of Stamford Bridge fail but are now "weighing up" a move once more in a bid to bolster their midfield ranks.

It remains to be seen whether they firm up their interest into a formal bid, but given their longstanding interest in the midfielder, it is not an unlikely outcome.

The Railways ditched and the queues were long, but Kent and Surrey’s fans enjoyed the cricket and dealt with all the inconveniences with humour

Stuart Croll27-Jun-2011Choice of game
A progressive and wise move by Kent CC to play this derby in Beckenham as there can’t be a better ground closer to the border of both counties. What the board of Kent CC could not have envisaged when making their decision was that the South Eastern Railways would decide today was the day to close the line to Beckenham for engineering works. But despite this inconvenience a healthy crowd was in attendance.Key performer
How I wished the key performer would be Robert Key. Alas the cricket-comedy gods did not want to play along so the Kent captain contributed just one run. The dismissal of Key and fellow opener Joe Denly brought together Azhar Mahmood and Martin van Jaarsveld whose big-hitting and astute running set up Kent’s victory. van Jaarsveld edges it as key performer, thanks to his higher score.One thing I’d change
The queues. There were lengthy queues to enter the ground, queues at the bar and queues for the toilets – yes even the gents toilets. Now the British love to queue but these queues were at times so lengthy there were times when we thought we had been transported to Glastonbury rather than watching the cricket.Interplay I enjoyed
After the opening four overs of the chase, Kent were struggling with two wickets down. One fan was so annoyed he shouted: “Come on, Kent, this is like watching Geoffrey Boycott.” Another fan replied: “Oi, this is Kent, show some respect. It’s like watching Chris Tavare.” Much hilarity ensued, and by the time it had subsided, Kent were ahead of the run-rate.Wow moment
The heatwave. With so many Twenty20 games falling foul of the weather, this season it was just great to enjoy a game knowing it would reach its natural conclusion.The “you-can’t-be-serious” moment
Considering it is the middle of Wimbledon fortnight, the John McEnroe moment was when, in between overs, the PA announcer broadcast congratulations to a couple from South Carolina who were spending their honeymoon at the cricket. The entire crowd was aghast wondering why this couple would rather spend their honeymoon in Beckenham watching Twenty20 cricket than holidaying in Hawaii, Mauritius, Las Vegas or any other place on the planet.Shot of the day
A six from Mahmood was so huge it would have disrupted the train-service into Beckenham Junction had they been running today.Player watch
Despite being on the losing side, Tom Maynard again showed his class in this form of the game. Surrey have lost a few players to England this summer, and many are predicting Jason Roy to be next, but Maynard continues to impress and may just overtake the youngster in England’s plans.Crowd meter
There was good-natured fun between both sets of fans, which, considering the queues and the heatwave, was better than should have been expected. As one wag in the public bar said: “Remember today – this is our summer.”Marks out of 10
Kent won quite easily, but for a while this was a close-fought encounter. Also, it was played in front of a big crowd under lovely sunshine – so eight out of ten.Overall
On the plus side, it was a good Twenty20 game with plenty of sixes. Also, Kent CC should be congratulated for moving the game from Canterbury to Beckenham. It’s such a shame that National Rail closed the line in and out of Beckenham Junction on the very day the game was arranged. Is it too much to ask for a bit of common sense to be shown? That aside, an enjoyable day out, and a good game.