Hard-hitting Bouchier puts side on course for imposing victory
ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2022Southern Vipers 155 for 5 (Bouchier 41) beat Lightning 124 for 8 (K Bryce 54, Bell 3-12) by 31 runsLauren Bell underlined her England credentials with a spell-binding three for 12 as Southern Vipers swatted Lightning aside by 31 runs in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Towering right-arm swing bowler Bell is considered among the favourites to replace the internationally retired Anya Shrubsole and make her debut for Lisa Keightley’s team this summer. She put on a new-ball clinic to claim two for two from her first two overs, before she returned her career-best T20 bowling figures.Maia Bouchier continued her fine start to the season with a mighty 41 as Vipers garnered 155 for five, before Lightning spluttered to 124 for eight after Bell’s antics – with skipper Kathryn Bryce top-scoring with 54.Vipers are now two comprehensive victories from two in this year’s tournament, while Lightning are still yet to secure a point across two seasons.Bell has a metronomic run-up which springs into an explosion of a high front arm and high-to-low action which naturally brings prodigious in-swing. Marie Kelly attempted to negate this by walking down the pitch, but got cramped by a cross-seam delivery to sky to keeper Carla Rudd.Sarah Bryce tried the opposite and stayed still for as long as possible. The Scotland international got stuck on her crease as an in-ducker knocked over her off pole, via a deflection off the thigh pad.Bell’s sights were now on England opener Tammy Beaumont. She drew a leading-edge, only for it to fall agonisingly short of mid-on, but criminology student Bell got her high-profile victim in the following over when she yorked her. She should have pouched a four-for only for Rudd to spill Teresa Graves – who lived a charmed life with Nancy Harman also dropping her.Vipers simply kept it tight from then on, allowing the required rate to rocket. Kathryn Bryce’s battling 47-ball half-century aside, no Lightning batter past 17. Charlie Dean claimed three for 23 and Georgia Elwiss two for 18 to complete the simply triumph.Earlier, Vipers were stuck in and despite losing Georgia Adams to a simple deep square boundary catch, Danni Wyatt and Bouchier used their textbook power to contribute a quickfire 43 for the second wicket before the former was caught on the ring.Bouchier, who began the campaign with an unbeaten 48, found the middle of her bat for the sweetest of sixes over midwicket before advancing and pumping Lucy Higham back over her head for another maximum.Vipers, and Bouchier, were slowed by a brilliant 13th to 16th over fight back. Vipers appeared on course for a huge total at 100 for two but slumped to 110 for five – with a wicket falling in each over.First Elwiss top-edged straight up off Piepa Cleary, then Kirstie Gordon bowled Bouchier through the gate with a wonderful arm ball before Paige Scholfield advanced and hoicked to extra cover.Freya Kemp and Dean added 45 in the last five overs to swing the momentum back Vipers’ way, and the barometer never moved back after Bell dislodged the visitors’ top order.
Desire Doue is having a sensational debut season at the Parc des Princes with PSG, but he could have been signed by Barcelona last summer.
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Barca turned down chance to sign Doue last summerCatalans wanted to sign Nico Williams but failedClub sporting director Deco in hot pursuit of Premier League superstarFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
A new report from the Catalan publication SPORT has unveiled the reasons behind Barcelona's decision to reject PSG wonderkid Désiré Doué last summer, while he was still under contract with Rennes. Barcelona endured a protracted transfer saga with Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams following Euro 2024, but ultimately failed to secure his signature, opting instead to sign Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig.
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Barcelona reportedly considered signing the 19-year-old Frenchman last summer, with Deco receiving positive reports on the then-Rennes talent, who was regarded as having a "Barca profile." However, due to financial constraints and a concurrent pursuit of Williams from Bilbao, Barcelona couldn't finalise a deal. Doue ultimately joined PSG, where he has impressed despite not being a regular starter under Luis Enrique.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Catalans will look to sign a left winger once again, but this time, Williams is not expected to be a candidate to bolster the attack. Instead, sporting director Deco has turned his attention to Liverpool's Luis Diaz and is eager to secure the transfer, following reports of the Colombian's uncertain future and a contract impasse with the Reds.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Hansi Flick has done a terrific job in his debut season as Barca head coach, guiding them to the Champions League quarter-finals, Copa del Rey semi-finals, and currently atop the LaLiga standings. He also helped the club secure the Spanish Super Cup in January, where they beat rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in the final.
Barcelona's next fixture is the rescheduled game against Osasuna next Thursday, March 27, followed by a Catalan derby against Girona next weekend.
Six Pakistan players were in action for their counties this week. Here’s how they got on
Osman Samiuddin18-Apr-2022The second round of the 2022 County Championship concluded on Sunday, with another strong showing from the Pakistan representatives. Here we take a look at how they got on.Division OneMohammad Abbas As good as Hampshire looked in the first round against Somerset, so they looked ordinary in the second; an innings win followed by an innings defeat. Mohammad Abbas took six cheap wickets in that win; he took zero in this defeat. He was still very Abbas though, tidy as ever (economy rate of 2.16) and forever probing around those areas batters feel least comfortable with. There were chances, one edge falling short of slip – an Abbas leitmotif – and another that went through second slip’s hand, but no tangible reward.Hasan Ali If anyone of Pakistan’s vast contingent in county cricket needs a bit of a reset and a refresh, it is Hasan Ali. For most of 2021, he was second only to Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan’s best bowler. But since the T20 World Cup – and admittedly mostly in white-ball cricket – he has seemed out of sorts. An injury picked up in the PSL, allied to a range of flat pitches, meant he was quiet in the Tests against Australia and immediately questions began to surface about his position in the side. Hasan has always been a bowler of streaks: irresistible when he’s on a good one, ordinary when he’s on a bad one. Match figures of 5 for 94 in a 10-wicket thumping of Kent is a good sign for the county, and a better sign for his country. Most pleasing will be reports that his in-dipper was in good working order: he is a different bowler when he’s getting the ball to move about. The bonus is that he may come out of it having learnt something from the maestro himself, Jimmy Anderson. He’s keen to, not least the wobble-seam (a nice full circle that one, given Anderson picked it up watching Mohammad Asif in 2010).Haris Rauf Of all Pakistani hook-ups with county cricket, none is more intriguing than Haris Rauf at Yorkshire, and that’s not even considering the off-field significance of a Pakistani Muslim player at Headingley. Rauf is due to play six first-class games, which means that if he plays them all, he will have played more first-class games this season for Yorkshire than in his entire career before arriving here. And though he was part of Pakistan’s Test squad against Australia, this is really the first time he’s going to be seen as a long-form bowler. First impressions? It’s going to be a ride. He was quick through the game on a slow surface in Bristol – the quickest in the game, hitting James Bracey twice with bouncers. He was expensive too, going at over five an over in the first innings and 3.55 in the second. Three wickets in each innings played a part in a six-wicket win, but he was also box-office viewing. On the first day, as Rauf’s radar struggled against Gloucestershire’s left-handers, he also bowled one over in which there were two dropped catches off successive balls and two wickets off successive balls. A sign of his freshness in this format: he bowled 27 overs in the second innings, the most he has ever bowled in a first-class innings and only the second time he’s bowled more than 20.Zafar Gohar Zafar Gohar’s game began by getting stumped for a duck in the first innings, jumping out to Dom Bess, and ended by going at over six an over as Yorkshire chased 211 to win. In the middle, though, the least high-profile of Pakistan’s contingent did what he so often does: contribute. He was the most economical of Gloucestershire’s attack in the first innings, before partnering with Bracey in the second and putting on 104 for the sixth wicket. That helped Gloucestershire set Yorkshire a decent – but not, alas, impregnable – target.Division TwoShan Masood Shan Masood is the leading first-class run-getter in England after two rounds of the County Championship: now there’s a thing. Masood added to an encouraging start at Derbyshire with the first double-hundred of his career against Sussex. It was against a weakened attack – Steven Finn apart, the rest of the frontline bowlers (two pacers and a left-arm spinner) had played 23 first-class games between them before this one, with a combined age of 57. But first-class runs are first-class runs and tellingly, for what it says about Masood’s recent form, they came at a good clip: at lunch, he was 74 off 88 and at close he was unbeaten on 201, still striking at over 74. He remains in Pakistan’s Test plans but the more runs he scores here, the more likely that he will, before the year is out, be back in Pakistan’s Test XI.Mohammad Rizwan Serious question: is there a better cricketer in the world right now than Mohammad Rizwan? Probably, but not that many and not by much. Which is why Sussex will be one of the better-followed teams (outside of England) this season. In acquiring both Rizwan and Cheteshwar Pujara, they’ve pulled off somewhat of a coup. There’ll be plenty of focus on an Indian and Pakistani in the same side county side, a bit of a throwback to the 70s county circuit when Bishen Bedi and Mushtaq Mohammad turned out for Northants together. Rizwan was unspectacular on debut, 22 and four catches – Pujara, meanwhile, ground out a match-saving double-hundred – but it’s inconceivable that he won’t have greater impact as the season continues.And the non-combatants …Naseem Shah sat out this round of games, with Gloucestershire saying they were managing a “minor shoulder injury”. Azhar Ali will next be in action at home to Sussex on Thursday, with Worcestershire not in action this week. And Shaheen Shah Afridi is likely to make his Middlesex debut in the same round of games, when they take on Glamorgan in Cardiff.
The Scottish League Cup final has often been contested between Rangers and Celtic, with the Old Firm rivals dominating the competition since its 1946 inception.
The tournament is an opportunity to secure the first trophy of the season, potentially keeping a domestic treble dream alive heading into the second half of the campaign.
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They are some of the most heated matches on the calendar, but which are the best?
ByRoss Kilvington Nov 8, 2024
Here, we have taken a look back at eight of the most memorable League Cup finals between the two teams.
1 Celtic 7-1 Rangers (1956/57) Bhoys inflict massive defeat on Rangers at Hampden
The first Old Firm League Cup final came in the 1956/57 season. The Light Blues had won the inaugural tournament while winning a second title just three seasons later. Celtic, on the other hand, only reached their first final the season before this clash, defeating Partick Thistle 3-0 in a replay.
Rangers were clear favourites, but on the day, Celtic were superb. They were 3-0 up after 53 minutes before the Gers scored on the hour to reduce the deficit. The next 30 minutes saw the Parkhead side net four answered goals to claim a stunning 7-1 win.
The result is still the heaviest Old Firm defeat inflicted on Rangers, while it is also the record victory for a major domestic cup final in the UK.
The match has been dubbed “Hampden in the Sun” by the Celtic faithful following the chants on the terrace after the win, which is still fondly remembered nearly 60 years on.
Remarkably, Celtic didn’t win another major honour until 1965, while Rangers ended that season as league champions.
2 Rangers 0-1 Celtic (1966/67) Celtic secure first of four major trophies
The Bhoys had won the League Cup twice in a row heading into the final against Rangers in October 1966, looking to make it three successive victories.
Hampden was packed to see Jock Stein’s men prevail 1-0 in a tight final which was settled by a fine Bobby Lennox effort after just 19 minutes. The Gers were dogged over the remaining 70 minutes but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
The result proved to be the catalyst for the club to not only win the Scottish Cup and league title, but also become the first British team to win the European Cup, defeating Inter 2-1 in Lisbon.
The League Cup final may not have been the most exciting clash between the sides, yet from Celtic’s perspective, the win was the start of something special.
3 Rangers 1-0 Celtic (1970/71) Rangers' teenage striker settles cup final
The Light Blues had lost their previous two League Cup finals to Celtic. Add in a Scottish Cup defeat to the same opposition in 1969, it was evident the Ibrox side was out for revenge.
This marked the seventh consecutive final in the competition for Celtic, winning the previous five tournaments. A crowd of nearly 107,000 were packed into Hampden – the last League Cup final to attract over 100k fans – as the Light Blues were eyeing their seventh triumph.
Captain John Greig missed out and 16-year-old Derek Johnstone made the starting XI. The teenager ended up as the hero. With five minutes left of the first half, a cross was delivered into the Celtic box upon which Billy McNeill hesitated, allowing the youngster to send a powerful header into the back of the net.
It was a moment of magic at Hampden. More than 50 years later, Johnstone is still the youngest player to score a League Cup final goal.
4 Rangers 2-1 Celtic (1977/78) Gers claim first part of treble
Rangers had won the treble during 1975/76 and were looking to make it two in the space of three seasons.
The League Cup success during that treble-winning campaign was their only triumph in the competition since 1970. The final was one of the tightest played between the pair in the tournament, being settled in extra time.
Davie Cooper – who would win seven League Cups at Rangers – opened the scoring for the Gers, before Johannes Edvaldsson netted an equaliser for Celtic, extending the match for another 30 minutes.
With just a few minutes of the tie remaining, Gordon Smith popped up to head home the winner as the Light Blues secured the first trophy of the season. A few months later, they added the Scottish Cup and league title to their collection.
5 Rangers 3-2 Celtic (1983/84) Ally McCoist hat-trick wins it for the Gers
The 1983/84 League Cup final was one of the most pulsating between the Old Firm rivals. Having lost to Celtic the year prior, the Light Blues were seeking revenge, and they duly got it thanks to Super Ally.
The striker opened the scoring with a penalty before firing an effort past Pat Bonner to make it 2-0. The Parkhead side came roaring back into the tie, netting twice to take the match into extra time.
Another penalty was awarded to Rangers, with McCoist taking centre stage to score his third and win the cup for the Ibrox side in a thrilling clash between the clubs.
6 Celtic 1-2 Rangers (2002/03) Alex McLeish wins second League Cup
Throughout the league season in 2002/03, nothing could separate Rangers and Celtic as they went blow for blow in the SPL.
The Light Blues won the title by scoring just one more goal than their rivals in what was an extraordinary campaign. Both teams were as good as each other, but when they clashed at Hampden in March 2003 for the League Cup final, Alex McLeish was the man who came out on top.
Celtic would have been the more confident, having defeated the Gers in the league just a week before the final, but it was McLeish’s side who started liveliest. Indeed, well-taken goals from Peter Lovenkrands and Claudio Caniggia ensured they were the ones who led at the interval.
Celtic struck back through Henrik Larsson with just over 30 minutes left. It looked like John Hartson had netted the leveller, but he was ruled offside somewhat controversially. The Welshman even missed a penalty late on to compound his misery.
It was another thrilling clash between the two giants. Rangers won their seventh treble just a couple of months later.
7 Celtic 1-2 Rangers (2010/11) Walter Smith wins last domestic final as Rangers boss
Walter Smith
This marked the third meeting between the teams in the League Cup final over the previous three campaigns, with each side notching one win apiece.
Walter Smith had announced he was retiring at the end of the season, and following a Scottish Cup loss to Celtic just weeks earlier, the League Cup showdown was to be his Hampden swansong.
Steven Davis scored a long-range effort to settle Smith’s nerves, although Joe Ledley equalised minutes later for the Parkhead side.
The rest of the match was nervy, and it was no surprise it went to extra time. With a dreaded penalty shootout awaiting, Vladimir Weiss’ quick freekick found Nikica Jelavic, who latched onto his excellent pass.
Shrugging off two defenders, the Croatian forward curled an effort which looked like it had missed, before hitting the inside of the post and settling into the net. A 2-1 win was secured, giving Smith the perfect send-off at the national stadium.
8 Rangers 0-1 Celtic (2019/20) Celtic win fourth successive League Cup
This was the first Old Firm cup final of any kind since 2011, thus creating an extra hostile atmosphere at Hampden.
Steven Gerrard had led the Gers to two victories over Celtic the season before and was going about his business quietly, reaching his first final as manager.
A positive start was needed by the Light Blues, and they got it, peppering the Celtic goal with shots during an utterly dominant first half.
Celtic scored on the hour thanks to a header from Christopher Jullien, but they had Jeremie Frimpong sent off just minutes later for a foul inside his penalty area.
With a chance to level the match heading into the final 25 minutes against ten men, Alfredo Morelos missed the penalty, spurning a perfect opportunity to score his first Old Firm goal.
Neil Lennon’s side held on for a famous win, but the Gers should arguably have had the tie sewn up in the first half, with Celtic having Fraser Forster to thank for a series of wonderful saves.
James Rodriguez has revealed how Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's pitch convinced him to join the club in 2014.
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James revealed why he joined MadridMadrid showed interest in him during the 2014 World CupJoined Liga MX side Leon in JanuaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rodriguez completed his move from AS Monaco to Real Madrid shortly after the 2014 World Cup concluded. He had an outstanding tournament with Colombia as the South American nation reached the quarter-finals. His impressive performances for his country attracted interest from several top European club, including Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, but he eventually opted to move to the Spanish capital.
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The 33-year-old has opened up about his move to Los Blancos as he revealed how just one question from Perez convinced him to join the club. Speaking to , Rodriguez said: "Florentino told me: 'What do you want? Glory or money?' That's why I signed for Real Madrid."
The winger also claimed that he came to know about Madrid's interest while the World Cup was on as he added: "In the second or third game of the World Cup, Mendes told me that they wanted me but was afraid I'd lose focus. I said 'What?' Then I scored one goal against Japan and two against Uruguay; it was the opposite. I played better."
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While his journey at Santiago Bernabeu ended in 2020, Rodriguez claimed that he still gets a lot of love from Madrid fans as he said: "They still love me a lot in Madrid, they ask me why I left, that means I did things well, I performed at a very high level." Rodriguez made 125 appearances for Real, scoring 37 goals and registering 42 assists.
gettyWHAT NEXT FOR JAMES RODRIGUEZ?
Rodriguez moved back to La Liga in August 2024 as he joined Rayo Vallecano as a free agent. His journey, however, was cut short January as he mutually terminated his contract with Vallecano. He later signed for Liga MX side Leon.
The former player spoke exclusively with GOAL about Cruz Azul's hopes in the Clausura 2025
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Cruz Azul is currently in fifth place in the Clausura 2025
La Máquina has not won the Liga MX title since 2021
Vicente Sánchez took over as coach after Martín Anselmi left
@GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
Cruz Azul and América will face each other three times in a span of 12 days in April. Both teams will meet in the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup and on Matchday 15 of the Clausura 2025. César Delgado, a club legend, assured that Vicente Sánchez's team has the necessary players to defeat Andre Jardine's side in this elimination.
"Cruz Azul has a chance for redemption to turn the situation around, by potentially defeating América in a moment of this elimination stage", Delgado said to GOAL. "I see them very well. There was a change of coach due to some issues, but always with the best expectation that Cruz Azul can win the title."
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Cruz Azul want revenge against América, following some recent disappointments. In 2024, the got the better of twice – winning the Clausura Final and knocking them out in the Apertura semifinals. With another chapter in the rivalry just weeks away, Delgado weighed in on the intense clash between the two Mexico City clubs. Cruz Azul hasn’t won a championship since their Guard1anes 2021 victory over Santos Laguna, but with Vicente Sánchez now at the helm following Martín Anselmi’s sudden departure to Porto, they’ll be aiming to end the drought.
DID YOU KNOW?
César Delgado played 154 matches with Cruz Azul, scoring 62 goals. From his arrival in the Apertura 2003 until his departure to Olympique Lyon in 2008, "Chelito" became a Cruz Azul legend, though he was never able to win a Liga MX title with the club. Due to his great performance with , the player earned a call-up to the Argentina national team to participate in the 2004 Olympic Games, where his country won the gold medal in Athens.
WHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL?
Before América and Cruz Azul's upcoming clashes, will face Chivas on March 29 in Matchday 13 of the Clausura 2025. The match will be played behind closed doors due to a suspension given to the Estadio Akron for violence in the stands. Vicente Sánchez's team is currently in fifth place with 22 points.
Craig Overton, Josh Davey, Lewis Gregory claim two each against floundering Warwickshire
Paul Edwards29-Apr-2022 No county’s home is woven more lovingly into its immediate environment than the County Ground. Even those of us who already knew this so well are surprised by the intimacy of the place and the gentle intensity with which the game is followed here. The Wickets remains the best café on the circuit and this morning Em and Barbs were providing their customers with bowls of porridge or massive bacon barms while still finding time to ask why Peter Siddle isn’t playing. The regulars joked with them and agreed that it had been a good first day for Somerset although wasn’t it about time an’ all. On the walls, signed shirts evoked Somerset’s past, present and perhaps its future, too: Marcus Trescothick, Jack Brooks, Tom Abell.So imagine the conversations tomorrow morning when the locals reflect on a second day that Somerset dominated, first by making 458, in their own eccentric style, of course, and then by reducing Warwickshire to 197 for 9 with Craig Overton’s dismissal of Nathan McAndrew for 47 a few overs before the close topping things off very happily. The follow-on looms for Warwickshire and Somerset’s first victory of the season late on Saturday would be something to celebrate, a triumph to be shared with cricketers that the people of Taunton know, much as they know their butcher, their grocer or their children’s teacher. How many county clubs can claim a comparable affinity?Somerset’s players, you see, are more than names on shirts and have always been so. Before a match or on a training day you might see them strolling into town on an errand. The club’s business connections are more likely to be made with local companies than multi-national airlines. Even the ground sponsors, Cooper Associates, are based just across the way in James Street.On the excellent live stream this morning they mentioned the 85th birthday of Terry Barwell, who played 44 first-class matches for the county, almost all of them in the sixties, when a team featuring Bill Alley, Mervyn Kitchen and other solid citizens more than held its own in an age that suddenly seems almost medieval in its remoteness. In those summers Somerset’s players had to take care not to get splinters in their feet from the old pavilion’s wooden floor.Which is not to say that Somerset’s current cricket is in want of eccentricity. They still take the long route to most winning posts, something in evidence this morning when they lost four wickets lickety-split. Andrew Caddick, a player from a later generation than Barwell and Kitchen but whose strike rate was often impressive on this ground, arrived in the press box and watched three wickets fall in four balls, all of them bowled.Related
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Craig Miles jagged a couple in, one to Tom Banton, who didn’t attempt a stroke, and another to Overton, who jabbed forward but left a gate open. Next over, Lewis Gregory’s loose drive gave Oliver Hannon-Dalby his fourth wicket and Somerset were eight down. Immediately, the gloom-junkies wondered whether 373 was anything like enough, but Josh Davey and Jack Leach showed good sense in adding 44 for the ninth wicket and Brooks showed a good eye in clouting 32, thereby delaying lunch.Someday, a statistician, probably Andrew Samson, will work out the impact of last-wicket stands on openers. Somerset’s eighth wicket fell at 11.40, at which time Alex Davies and Dominic Sibley probably began their mental preparations for beginning Warwickshire’s innings. But it was another hour before the ninth wicket fell and a further 30 minutes before Brooks’ cheery assault was ended. Then we had lunch and so it was not until 1.50 that Davies and Sibley marched out with their pads on.Too much can be made of such relatively simple analyses. “Post hoc ergo propter hoc,” some of you may be saying, and wisely, too. Warwickshire’s loss of four wickets inside the first 20 overs of their innings owed more to the bravery and excellence of Somerset’s bowlers than the top order’s mental fragility. Brooks tested Davies with a couple of short ones and was hooked; he pitched it up and had his man caught at slip by Overton. Four overs later Davey replaced Brooks and had Sibley leg before in his first over, although the batter perhaps thought the ball was tailing down leg. Rob Yates followed ten minutes later when he inside-edged Davey onto his pad and Overton swooped from third slip.This was turning into one of those unexpectedly glorious afternoons for Somerset supporters and their delight was deepened when Will Rhodes’ ugly and barely describable aborted pull off Gregory shovelled a catch to Lammonby to mid-on. All the dismissed batsmen had hit boundaries but Abell posted at least two slips all afternoon and Matt Lamb nicked a catch to the second of them, Matt Renshaw. Michael Burgess replaced him and someone noted that the Warwickshire keeper had made 348 runs in his two innings this season. Another fair point but a bowler’s target is his opponent in pads rather than his statistics or his reputation. Burgess nicked Overton to Steve Davies and Warwickshire took tea on 92 for 6.The evening session could barely have gone any worse than the afternoon for the champions but it still began badly when Danny Briggs was leg before wicket to Jack Leach’s fourth ball of the day. That brought McAndrew out to join Sam Hain, who had been exhibiting the self-denial which Jonathan Trott, his mentor and current coach, probably admires. The pair added 76 and the balance of the day was shifting a little when Abell brought himself on at the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End and had the Warwickshire batsman caught behind for 54. Abell leapt high with delight and if they had been capable of such athletic larks, one or two spectators would have joined him. As it was, they joined him in spirit and Abell, who is much-loved down here, probably felt their pleasure. It is the Somerset way.
Everton are now interested in signing an “extremely dangerous” new striker in a bid to stave off the threat of relegation in the winter transfer window.
Everton transfer news
Despite a 4-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, it would be fair to say the Toffees’ Premier League campaign has been underwhelming so far, having collected just 14 points from their opening 14 games.
As such, Sean Dyche may be keen to strengthen his squad this January, and there have been reports the manager is now pushing to sign Fenerbahce winger Oguz Aydin, having previously sent scouts to watch him in action.
Dyche may need to strengthen his attacking options this winter, as there have been reports the manager could look to cash in on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has already turned down offers to extend his stay at Goodison Park.
Signing a new striker may then have to become a priority for Everton, as Beto is also now pushing to leave the club due to his lack of game time this season. Torino are now in active talks over a deal which could amount to around £16.5m.
Everton pushing to sign "very intelligent" 24 y/o who Jose Mourinho loves
Scouts have been sent to watch him.
ByHenry Jackson Dec 9, 2024 Everton keen on Yuri Alberto
According to a report from The Boot Room, one new signing the Toffees have in mind is Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, who has admitted that he dreams of playing in the Premier League. However, there may well be competition for the Brazilian’s signature from a number of other Premier League clubs, with both Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest named as potential suitors, while West Ham United have previously tabled a £14m bid.
A bid of £17m could be enough to secure the 23-year-old’s signature at the beginning of 2024, and he has stated there is a 50/50 chance he leaves Corinthians this January, which could open the door for a move to Goodison Park.
yuri-alberto-everton-transfer-news-premier-league
Although the Merseyside derby was postponed due to Storm Darragh last week, Everton’s fixture list still looks extremely tricky this winter.
Everton’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Arsenal (a)
December 15
Chelsea (h)
December 22
Manchester City (a)
December 26
Nottingham Forest (h)
December 30
AFC Bournemouth (a)
January 5
As such, Dyche may be in a position where he needs to strengthen his squad in January to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle, and Alberto could be exactly the type of signing to propel the Toffees to safety.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the Corinthians star as “extremely dangerous” in the past, and he was in fine form in front of goal for the Brazilian club last term. The former Santos man chalked up 31 goals in 57 games in all competitions, indicating that he could be ready to take the next step in his career by moving to the Premier League.
The uncertain futures surrounding Calvert-Lewin and Beto make signing a striker a priority for Dyche this winter, and at £17m Alberto could be the perfect replacement.
Measuring the greatest players to play for any given club is no mean feat, especially for a club the size of Glasgow Rangers.
The Ibrox side have enjoyed plenty of success since their formation in 1872, capturing 55 Scottish Premiership titles alongside a plethora of domestic cups and the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Each successful era has produced a handful of players that have taken the club to new heights, from the early 1960s to the trophy-laden spell in the 90s. While it is difficult to rank the greatest players for any given club, especially as there are so many different factors to take into consideration, here is our attempt at listing the best to wear a Rangers shirt.
Ranking factors Impact at the club Appearances Goals scored Trophies won
Football FanCast takes a look at the ten greatest Rangers players of all time. Some may only have stayed a few years, yet they are still being talked about today.
Rangers' most expensive signings of all time
The Gers now have new owners in the 49ers Enterprises.
ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025 10 Davie Cooper Winger, 1977-1989
Davie Cooper is one of the last great Scottish wingers. Signing for Rangers in 1977 from Clydebank, Cooper made a total of 376 appearances for the Gers, scoring 49 goals in the process.
13 major honours were won by the Scot in those 12 years, including seven League Cups, but it was his ability to simply ghost past people that made supporters stand up and take notice.
From his wonderful solo effort against Celtic in 1979 to his stunning freekick against Aberdeen in 1987, Cooper’s genius was unrivalled. Indeed, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit said Cooper “was one of the best football players I have ever seen”. High praise from one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
Sadly, Cooper died aged just 39, suffering a brain haemorrhage while filming a children’s coaching video. He won’t be forgotten by the Ibrox faithful.
9 Paul Gascoigne Midfielder, 1995-1998
Of all the players on this list, Paul Gascoigne’s time at the club is the shortest, lasting only three years and compiling just 104 matches, but boy, what an impact he made.
The 1995/96 campaign saw Gazza at his very best, taking games by the scruff of the neck and leading the Gers towards their eighth successive league title.
His crowning glory came against Aberdeen. He netted a hat-trick at Ibrox with a stunning solo goal among one the finest efforts of his career which sealed the league title.
The next two seasons saw the Englishman create fleeting moments of joy, but there is no doubting he was exactly the signing required by Walter Smith to give the Gers that added edge as they chased immortality.
8 Brian Laudrup Winger, 1994-1998
Brian Laudrup spent just four seasons at Rangers, yet he won six major trophies and gave the club the spark they needed after a difficult 1993/94 season.
The Dane would go on to make 150 appearances, netting 44 goals, which included five goals against Celtic, further endearing himself to the supporters.
There is no doubt he is arguably one of the best foreign players to feature in Scotland, if not the best. How Smith managed to lure him to Glasgow is anyone’s guess, but it was the greatest signing he would ever make.
7 Jim Baxter Winger, 1960-1965, 1969-1970
Jim Baxter was signed by Rangers in 1960 for a fee of just £17,500. It was a Scottish record at the time – but it was money well spent.
Between 1960 and 1965, “Slim Jim”, as he was known to the supporters, won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups, as Rangers became the dominant force in Scotland. Baxter’s impact was impressive, especially in ties against Celtic.
Indeed, across 18 Old Firm games, the winger lost just twice, showcasing how good the squad was in the early-to-mid-60s.
He left in 1965, spending time with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest before returning to Rangers in 1969. His second spell wasn’t as kind as the first, but his impact on that wonderful Rangers side was simply excellent.
6 Andy Goram Goalkeeper, 1991-98
Andy Goram was voted the club’s greatest goalkeeper in 2001, and it is hard to argue. Over seven years at Ibrox, Goram’s shot-stopping ability undoubtedly helped Smith and his team fend off Celtic to win nine league titles in a row.
His save against Pierre van Hooijdonk in 1995 has to be seen to be believed, as he kept out a goal-bound effort from just yards away to prevent the Dutchman from scoring.
Such was his stature for the Gers, former Celtic manager Tommy Burns stated that “Andy Goram broke my heart” would appear on his gravestone.
Nicknamed ‘the goalie’ by those at Ibrox, Goram passed away in July 2022 after a short battle with cancer. There hasn’t been a ‘keeper like him since.
5 Barry Ferguson Midfielder, 1997-2003, 2005-2009
Barry Ferguson
Reared from the academy, Barry Ferguson made his senior debut on the final day of the 1996/97 season and didn’t look back.
He slowly became a key figure in the club’s recent history, helping the Gers to trebles in 1998/99 and 2002/03, captaining the side during the latter.
A £7.5m move to Blackburn Rovers didn’t exactly work out and Ferguson was back at Ibrox 18 months later. His second spell wasn’t as productive, yet he still led the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 and won another six major trophies.
Some say the Light Blues have never produced another academy talent like him, with Ferguson among the greatest players to adorn the shirt.
4 Richard Gough Defender, 1987-1997, 1997-1998
Richard Gough is one of only three players to have played a part in every single one of the nine-in-a-row title wins, establishing himself among the greatest players in the club’s history in the process.
Gough was a no-nonsense centre-back who was a commanding presence at the heart of the defence. He often played through the pain barrier for the club, further endearing himself to the Ibrox faithful. Across 11 years at the Light Blues, Gough won 18 major honours.
He left in the summer of 1997, just weeks after lifting the coveted ninth league title in succession, moving to America. Such is the mark of the man, Gough returned to Rangers a few months later to help Smith as an injury crisis engulfed the squad, showing his true passion for the club.
3 Sandy Jardine 1966-1982
Sandy Jardine ranks second in the list of all-time appearances for Rangers, just behind John Greig, demonstrating how much of an impact he had across several generations.
Jardine’s 674 games came over a 16-year period, taking in three decades and five different managers. During this spell, he won 14 trophies, including the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup, as the club battled for domestic supremacy with Celtic during his spell.
Jardine passed away in 2014, with his lasting legacy having a stand named after him, with the Govan Stand renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand in his honour.
2 Ally McCoist Forward, 1983-1998
Ally McCoist is Rangers’ greatest-ever goalscorer. Across 581 competitive matches, ‘Super Ally’ scored a staggering 355 goals for the Gers.
The impact of some of his goals is also legendary. Take the winner in the 1993 League Cup final, for example. Returning from a broken leg, McCoist netted a stunning acrobatic effort to claim the cup for the Gers.
His header against Leeds United in 1992 helped the club secure a place in the Champions League group stages, while few can forget his final Old Firm goal in the 1998 Scottish Cup semi-final and the emotional celebration that followed.
McCoist could score from anywhere, such were his finishing skills. His legacy stretched into coaching and management with the Ibrox side too, assisting Smith between 2007 and 2011 before managing Rangers from 2011 to 2014.
The Light Blues will never have another striker like him.
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ByCharlie Smith Jan 4, 2025 1 John Greig Defender, 1961-1978
John Greig
John Greig is the epitome of Rangers Football Club. Making his debut in 1961, Greig amassed a club-record 755 appearances over the next 17 years, leading the club to three domestic trebles while captaining the team to their only major European honour in 1972.
Greig’s impact stretched way beyond his playing days. He managed Rangers for five years between 1978 and 1983, winning two Scottish Cups and two League Cups, although he wasn’t able to win a league title in that spell.
Greig was named the ‘Greatest ever Ranger’ in 1999 before being named the club’s honorary life president in 2015.
Encouraging signs for England batting as West Indies suffer on unforgiving surface
Andrew Miller16-Mar-2022England 244 for 3 (Root 119*, Lawrence 91) vs West IndiesTwo Tests into the red-ball reset. Two Test centuries for the one man in England’s ranks who really didn’t require the Ctl-Alt-Del treatment. By the time the shadows had begun to creep at a rowdy Kensington Oval – a venue more packed with England fans than his own stomping ground of Headingley may end up being this summer – Joe Root had marched imperiously along to his 25th Test hundred, and his eighth in 19 Tests since the start of 2021.An anomalous Ashes campaign stands squarely in the way of Root’s otherwise normal service, but if the pressure of hoisting this Test team onto his shoulders had caused those knees to buckle in Australia, then Root has reaffirmed his desire to lead England’s rebuild in no uncertain terms.In six hours of ever-mounting authority, Root reaped what he himself had sown – in partnership with, first, the doughty Alex Lees, then the more free-spirited Dan Lawrence – as a morning session of 47 grimly-conceded runs gave way to returns of 89 in the afternoon and 108 in the evening, during which Lawrence’s 91 from 150 balls, the highest score of his young career, reinforced the can-do attitude that he had displayed in his declaration slog in Antigua last week.Related
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Alas for Lawrence, his innings would end in agonising anti-climax, from what would have been the penultimate ball of the day. He had reined himself in for much of the final hour, surviving in the process a spill at slip off the persevering Jayden Seales on 72. But then, with his blood pumping after racing into the 90s with back-to-back boundaries, Jason Holder lured him on the drive once more, and Lawrence stalked off cursing himself after picking out extra cover. Like Zak Crawley in the first Test, he may reflect that opportunities for Test centuries don’t come much better than this, least of all when you are privileged enough to share in a 164-run partnership with an acknowledged modern master of the game.For there aren’t many measures left by which to assess the zone that Root has entered into in the past 14 months. By the time he left the field with 119 from 246 balls to his name, Root had racked up 2018 runs since the start of 2021. England play more Tests than most opponents of course – and that can be a curse as much as a blessing when it comes to managing burn-out – but of his contemporaries, only Rishabh Pant (1077) and Dimuth Karunaratne (1068) have even crossed even the 1000-mark.Just as Root had begun his 2021 annus mirablis with scores of 228, 186 and 218 against Sri Lanka and India, and the sense that nothing and no-one could dislodge him, so he finished this first day as if in a force-field. West Indies delayed their new ball until the 85th over as Seales in particular began to locate some reverse-swing, but Root’s footwork was imperturbable as he sashayed himself into line, and set his stall for Thursday’s resumption.And yet, it hadn’t been quite such plain-sailing for Root in a choppy opening gambit, and after being offered nothing from another dog of a deck, West Indies were left to rue two priceless opportunities either side of lunch that could potentially have cracked open the rest of England’s still unproven batting.Joe Root and Dan Lawrence upped the tempo•Getty ImagesRoot’s first big let-off came on 23, in the second hour of the morning, when Jason Holder wriggled a length delivery through to the keeper via a tangle of bat and pad. West Indies, perhaps chastened by the misuse of an early review, chose not to send it upstairs, and sure enough, replays showed that Root had indeed got a thin inside-edge as the ball went by.Root’s big reprieve, however, came on 34 in the fourth over after lunch, when he deflected a leg-sided delivery from Kemar Roach straight off the face of his bat, only for Joshua da Silva to spill a low but catchable chance, diving to his left. Roach dropped to his haunches in despair, perhaps recognising how fleeting such opportunities would be on this unforgiving deck. Sure enough, Root barely offered another glimmer as he brought up a 125-ball fifty five balls after the drinks break with a punched single into the covers.After winning the toss, Root had had little hesitation in batting first, even though there was a hint of early assistance for West Indies’ seamers, not dissimilar to that which England had encountered in crumbling to 48 for 4 on the first morning of the first Test. At 4 for 1 in the fourth over, with Zak Crawley caught in two minds by a good seaming delivery from Seales, there was just the slightest threat of a repeat performance.Lees, however, settled quickly into his day’s work as the threat of the new ball dissipated, with another innings of self-denial that would be familiar to anyone who tuned into his warm-up maiden fifty at Coolidge last month. West Indies were perhaps guilty of bowling too few deliveries that were targeting his stumps after his consecutive lbws in Antigua, but Lees left the ball well with his minimalist footwork, and picked off his runs with uncomplicated resolve – his three boundaries, in fact, came via a clip, a cut and a push down the ground, a hat-trick of strokes that served Alastair Cook perfectly well in his under-stated career.But just when Lees seemed to have done the hard part, he was nailed plumb in front of middle for 30 as Veerasammy Permaul cramped him from over the wicket to break his drought after a wicketless second innings in Antigua.However Lees’ departure, at 80 for 2, singled a marked change-up in tempo, as Lawrence romped out of the blocks with a desire to bring the action. He came close to running himself out for 11 as he took off for a tight single to mid-on, moments after battering Holder for back-to-back fours, Holder’s first such indignity of the series (but not, as it would turn out, his last). But he was far from chastised when, three overs later, he skipped down the track to Permaul to launch England’s first six of the innings, to confirm the intent with which the remainder of a gutsy innings would be compiled.Until the relative fireworks of the evening session, England’s most dramatic developments arguably took place off the field, with the news that Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher had been drafted in for a last-minute debut, after Craig Overton had fallen ill overnight.With Saqib Mahmood already inked in for his own debut, England are fielding two debutant fast bowlers for the first time since the Lord’s Test of 2009, also against West Indies, when Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan made their bow. On this early evidence, the new pair will not be expecting quite the same assistance from the conditions that their forebears enjoyed.