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“You can see the team starting to bond more and more, and come together more as a unit,” the Zimbabwe allrounder says

Liam Brickhill17-Sep-2019Allrounder Sean Williams sees success in Bangladesh as “extremely important” as Zimbabwe seek a return to normalcy after a chaotic couple of months off the field.Zimbabwe were suspended by the ICC in July, resulting in them missing out on the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in October, as well as losing access to ICC’s funding. The suspension also raised tensions within the squad.”We’ve learnt a lot from what we’ve been through,” Williams said after Zimbabwe’s net session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, where they will take on hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday. “You can see the team starting to bond more and more, and come together more as a unit.”Zimbabwe lost their first two matches of the tri-series, going down to a narrow three-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on Friday before they were flattened by a rampant Afghanistan the following night. They have two games left to play, and need to win both if they are to have a realistic chance of reaching the final next Tuesday.”Both games are must-win games for us,” Williams said. “If we do the basic things correctly, that is our fielding, you know there are fine margins in this game, and if we can improve in those areas we stand a good chance of winning both of these games. If we can make better decisions on the field more frequently, I think we have a good chance of pushing through.”On current form, Zimbabwe probably have a better chance of success against the hosts than they do against a buoyant Afghan outfit. With an unwilling captain at the helm and a shake-up to the domestic system serving as a distracting backdrop, Bangladesh are also still reeling from a disappointing World Cup campaign and their recent Test defeat to Afghanistan. But Williams insisted his team-mates won’t be taking Bangladesh lightly.”They’re under pressure, and we know that,” Williams said. “But again, it goes back to us doing the basics [right]. Bangladesh is a very strong team, all around. They’ve got a very good structure, going all the way down to the club levels. T20 cricket can go either way. It’s fine margins.”They’ve got some very good players and some experienced campaigners: Shakib, Mahmudullah, Mushy [Mushfiqur Rahim]. They’re all very good players and we respect that fact. There’s no game we’re ever going to take lightly. We’d just like to go out there, focus on our own things, and do what’s required for our team. If we focus on what we need to do, everything will take care of itself.”Zimbabwe have a fair amount of experience in their own ranks: this is Williams’ seventh trip to Bangladesh with Zimbabwe, and he has also turned out for teams in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Senior batsman Brendan Taylor and captain Hamilton Masakadza are similarly experienced in these conditions. While the seniors have done their part in imparting some of their knowledge, Williams said they needed to play a stronger role on the field.”We give a lot of input to the junior guys. It’s how they take it in. What we do as senior players is important as the backbone of the team, to teach them for the future. There have been a few of us underperforming of late, so we need to step up as a senior group and get the juniors following. They’ve got us out of trouble twice now. If the seniors can step up and do well – Craig [Ervine], myself, Brendan is showing signs of very good form. So if we can step up, we’ll have a very good chance.”Williams himself will lead Zimbabwe on their next assignment, another T20I tri-series featuring Nepal and Singapore, and said he is excited by the talent coming through Zimbabwe’s ranks.”Leading up to the Singapore series, with some younger guys coming to join the squad and a couple of senior guys going across to Singapore, it’s going to be exciting,” he said. “I really look forward to having those junior guys coming through the ranks. They’re already showing signs that some of them could be world-class players. I wish them all the very best, and hopefully, we can watch them go all the way.”

It is seen as "conceivable" that a big-name contender to replace David Moyes could accept the West Ham job.

Moyes claims offer of new contract despite mounting West Ham pressure

The Hammers are still yet to win a single game in all competitions since the beginning of 2024 and find themselves sliding down the league table as pressure mounts on Moyes in the dugout.

Pundit makes "very serious" claim as £15m star could make West Ham move

The Irons are said to really want him.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 22, 2024

A recent 6-0 humiliation at home to Arsenal prompted supporters to desert the London Stadium in thousands, with West Ham failing to rectify that bitter loss a week later as they fell to a 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.

Moyes' deal is set to expire at the end of this season as things stand, and if things don't take a turn for the better very soon, the Scotsman could find himself at the centre of more backlash from supporters. Recent reports have suggested that West Ham want to give their manager more time, but are also believed to be assessing alternatives in case he leaves this summer (ExWHUemployee).

In a surprise turn of events, Moyes has now said that West Ham have offered him a new contract to remain, but he's the one delaying the renewal.

"I've had really good conversations with the owners, with David Sullivan and Karren Brady," Moyes said.

"There's a contract there for me and I'm the one deciding I want to wait until the end of the season. There are plenty of reasons [to wait]. I've got to make sure it's the right thing for the club, for me and my family," said the 60-year-old.

"I've spoken to the board. I've had a fabulous four years. We'll sort it out but I'm happy to wait."

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In case Moyes does in fact leave this summer, one surprise name to be linked with the job is former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, with the elite tactician now set to leave Bayern Munich later this year. The Bundesliga giants confirmed as much in a statement this week.

Tuchel taking West Ham job is "conceivable"

German news outlet Bild, via Sport Witness, have some background on this.

They believe that Tuchel taking the West Ham job is in fact "conceivable", with the club given some hope concerning his possible appointment. While he is seen as an "outsider" chance at this stage, the fact he "raved about" working in England could play into West Ham's favour.

The 50-year-old won a Champions League title with Chelsea in 2021, beating Man City in the final, with defender Ben Chilwell heaping praise on Tuchel as a manager.

"We know we’re not going to get a better manager here. I’m not just saying it. He’s an unbelievable manager in all aspects and I think he has a lot of trust in us as well," Chilwell said.

Lionesses star Mary Earps has joined Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer.

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Earps signs two-year deal at PSGLeft Man Utd for free last monthWill be highest-paid women's goalkeeperWHAT HAPPENED?

The England No.1 was out of contract with the Red Devils this summer and was offered a new deal by the club but opted for a new challenge instead, with her unveiled by French giants PSG on Monday. She will be the highest-paid goalkeeper in the women's game.

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Now 31 years old, Earps is set to be the first-choice shot-stopper for a team that regularly competes for major titles for the first time in her career. She has experience of that environment from her time at Wolfsburg, albeit as a back-up, and enjoyed some success with United, winning the FA Cup in May, but will hope to help PSG be even more consistent in battling eight-time European champions Lyon for silverware.

WHAT EARPS SAID

Speaking upon her arrival at the club, Earps said: "Joining Paris Saint-Germain is a fantastic opportunity. I'm very honoured to become a Parisian and I can't wait to play alongside my new team-mates. Together, we're going to give our all to make the club shine and our fans proud. I'm determined to contribute to our future successes, so that Paris Saint-Germain continues to rank among Europe's top clubs."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Despite the success of its men's team, PSG have only ever won one top division league title on the women's side because of the sheer dominance of Lyon. However, the Parisians did win the Coupe de France last season and are set to follow Earps' arrival with another big signing, that of Lyon centre-back Griedge Mbock Bathy.

Germany star Robert Andrich has revealed that mealworms are fuelling his performances at Euro 2024, after debuting a bold new look with pink hair.

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Andrich dyes his hairHails 'great source of protein'Mealworms illegal in the UKWHAT HAPPENED?

Andrich has been in fine form for Germany at Euro 2024, starting all of his side's games thus far. They beat Denmark 2-0 in the Round of 16 and are now preparing for a blockbuster quarter-final against Spain, and Andrich has revealed that mealworms are one of his favourite snacks.

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The defensive midfielder has also undergone a hair transformation, dying it pink. He may enjoy mealworms whenever he can but they are actually illegal to import into the UK. They are regularly eaten in Europe, though, and are often either pan-fried or baked.

WHAT ANDRICH SAID

Speaking in a YouTube chat with Germany team-mate David Raum, he said: "I love mealworms. They are a good source of protein. In fact I don't just love them – I think they are awesome."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Germany play Spain in their quarter-final on Friday. A victory would set up a last-four encounter with the winner of France's clash with Portugal.

Brisbane Heat have ambitions for de Villiers to say with them for “years to come”

Alex Malcolm01-Oct-2019Brisbane Heat are hopeful of enticing AB de Villiers to play multiple seasons in the Big Bash League after signing him for the upcoming season, according to coach Darren Lehmann.The Heat pulled off a major coup on Tuesday signing de Villiers just months after it appeared as though de Villiers may not play in Australia’s T20 competition at all having withdrawn his interest in May following a flurry of media speculation.Lehmann said Heat management had stayed in contact with de Villiers, including flying to South Africa to meet with him, and felt fortunate to convince him to sign for this season but they are hopeful it won’t be a one-off.”We were just lucky enough that we had a good conversation with him and his management and Baz McCullum was fantastic as well, pushing the Brisbane Heat,” Lehmann said. “After it sort of fell over a bit we kept in contact with him and at the end of the day, we were really humbled that actually wanted to come back and play.”I just want him to come and enjoy it really, to be perfectly honest. And I think if he does that he’ll play well. I saw him playing in England this year in the Vitality Blast and he played really well.”We really want him to impart some of his knowledge on some of our younger kids more so than anything else and hopefully he stays on for years to come.”The Heat are still negotiating his exact arrival date to Australia after agreeing to allow him to stay in South Africa to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family for one of the rare times in his career.De Villiers will definitely miss the Heat’s first five matches of the tournament. Their sixth match is on January 6 against Sydney Thunder and their seventh is against Hobart Hurricanes on January 9. Lehmann could not guarantee when he would arrive but did confirm he would play the rest of the home and away games and finals.”It’ll be roughly early January,” Lehmann said. “We’re just working through those finer details. But we’ve got him from then right through until the end, and then hopefully finals as well if we play well enough, and then hopefully from then on, he keeps coming back.”De Villiers’ presence gives Lehmann and captain Chris Lynn enormous flexibility with their top order as he joins the likes of Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, and Ben Cutting.But Lehmann was just as excited about what he could add from a leadership perspective.”It’s a great experience for Chris Lynn,” Lehmann said. “I know they obviously played against each other in the IPL. I know Chris Lynn is over the moon and excited by it. But just for AB to impart his knowledge with the younger guys and leadership skills he’s had with South Africa. For us, it’s a win-win.”The Heat’s other overseas players are currently Afghanistan spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Zahir Khan.

West Ham United have enjoyed a much-improved performance last week or so in the Premier League, with Jarrod Bowen's talismanic ability on show once again in the 4-1 drubbing over Brentford, prior to Saturday's 3-1 win away to Everton.

Those victories have moved David Moyes' side into seventh place after 27 matches, with the Irons beginning to find their feet again following a worrying start to 2024.

No one would argue against the need for an upswing in form and sustained positive performance but it's important to remember just how far the club has come since Moyes was first appointed for the second time, building and blossoming into consistent European competitors.

And of course, triumph in the Europa Conference League last season took West Ham to new heights entirely, securing the first major honour since the 1980 FA Cup was gleaned.

Moyes must axe West Ham flop earning more than Aguerd

This once electric PL star has been utterly useless in east London.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 29, 2024

Impressive recruitment has facilitated the riches, with Bowen joined by the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Kurt Zouma, Tomas Soucek and, more recently, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez to enable these lofty heights, but it certainly hasn't always been that way.

Littered through West Ham's recent history are misfires in the transfer market, with deals such as the move for Sebastian Haller proving to show just how far the club has come over these past few years.

How Sebastian Haller performed at West Ham

West Ham signed Ivorian forward Haller on a club-record £45m transfer in 2019, mere months before the inception of Moyes' lasting reign, but after scoring just 14 times across his 54 outings for the club he can go down as nothing other than a huge failure.

Having scored 20 goals and supplied 12 assists during the previous season with Eintracht Frankfurt, Haller was widely regarded as one of the most underrated strikers in Europe and West Ham's signing was a major coup, highlighting the ambition.

He did score seven goals across 24 Premier League appearances during his first year in London but failed to build on this steady base and actually degenerated under Moyes, who sold him to Ajax for around £20m a year-and-a-half into his West Ham career after posting just three goals from 16 league games during 2020/21.

He earned £75k-per-week during his stay in east London and this perhaps doesn't seem indicative of his club-record standing, though this is more down to the fact that West Ham were in a very different state before the 2019/20 campaign and only three players topped his earnings.

Andriy Yarmolenko

£115k-per-week

Jack Wilshere

£100k-per-week

Felipe Anderson

£85k-per-week

Sebastian Haller

£75k-per-week

Pablo Zabaleta

£75k-per-week

It's remarkable how this list of stars contains, largely, players who have left mixed memories in east London. Felipe Anderson was excellent during his first campaign but suffered a sharp decline ever since, while Jack Wilshere's injury-ravaged career suffered little respite with West Ham.

Haller, too, might be considered a poor acquisition in hindsight but he might just be trumped by Andriy Yarmolenko, who took home a staggering £115k-per-week salary despite proving to be inconsistent, worse even than one-time record capture Haller.

Why West Ham signed Andriy Yarmolenko

One year before Haller's arrival, West Ham signed Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund in a transfer worth £17.5m, which was seen as a good piece of business for an experienced winger – aged 28 at the time – who captained Ukraine and had flourished in his homeland with Dynamo Kyiv.

His sole season in Germany was marred by injury that had restricted him to just 26 appearances in all competitions, posting six goals and six assists apiece.

Such issues would prove to lay waste to his early exploits in England too and Yarmolenko was hit with a ruptured Achilles tendon that limited him to just nine showings for West Ham across his debut campaign.

Regarded as a "monster" for his nation by the Evening Standard's Simon Collings, the hulking 6 foot 2 star had much quality; he was direct and dynamic with a mean left foot and natural spatial awareness that provided all the tools for a successful career in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, repeated setbacks across his four seasons in London would limit him to just 86 fixtures in all competitions, having scored 13 goals and added seven assists during that timeframe.

And when comparing his £115k-per-week wage with the £17.5m transfer fee, it can even be observed that Yarmolenko bled West Ham around £41m during his stay, despite failing to ever muster a real run of form, restricted to sporadic moments of quality.

While Yarmolenko's woes could largely fall into the fact that he couldn't muster up enough fitness, it's hard to argue that he wasn't one of the worst pieces of business in recent memory, especially given the sizeable salary that eclipses even that of present-day wide phenom Mohammed Kudus.

Higher salary than Mohammed Kudus

Kudus arrived from Ajax for £38m last summer after the London Stadium side's Conference League triumph and he has proved to be a prolific success thus far, having scored nine goals from just 30 games in all competitions.

Five more goals before the close of the campaign would see the Ghanaian surpass his Ukrainian counterpart in his first term, all the while pocketing less earnings with a £90k-per-week salary.

Not just a goalscorer, while Kudus does rank among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref, he also ranks among the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 4% for tackles won per 90, highlighting the application and tenacity that has won over the Irons faithful in such short time.

Ultimately, Kudus' signing marks a change in the winds down at West Ham, with more precise, exciting and impactful acquisitions being made.

Players such as Yarmolenko and Haller have real quality in their feet, like Kudus, but the difference is that now there is a direction and unity in the squad's progress and that has been reflected through the recent success.

Liverpool are set to be dealt yet more change as a key figure will weigh up his next club in the coming days as he plans to follow Jurgen Klopp out of the Anfield exit door.

Reds rudderless from summer

The news that Klopp would be leaving Liverpool sparked chaos across world news when it was announced, with the German set to step down from his role at the end of the current Premier League campaign.

Even the return of Michael Edwards as CEO of the club could not sway Klopp in his decision, and it means that Liverpool will be looking for a new manager come the end of the season.

The stunning lineup Michael Edwards could build by rejoining Liverpool

The former sporting director could be perfect to oversee the inevitable change when Klopp leaves this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 1, 2024

They could yet end it laden with silverware though – they sit second in the league, only behind Arsenal on goal difference and with the Gunners set to travel to third place Manchester City at the end of the month, which could leave the Reds with the chance to seize top spot back ahead of the final run in.

They also remain in the FA Cup, with a clash against Manchester United to come on Sunday, and they have already bagged the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea in the final.

European success is still possible too, albeit in the Europa League rather than the Champions League. They face Atalanta in the last eight of the competition, before taking on one of Marseille and Benfica in a run that most would back them to come through and reach the final of the competition.

A fairytale end for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp?

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There they could yet meet Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso, with the Spaniard the favourite to take over from Klopp as things stand. The Reds will face competition for his signature though, with the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid man having firmly put himself on the managerial map with an incredible season at Leverkusen.

Lijnders set to decide next club soon

Now, reports coming out of the Netherlands claim that Klopp's assistant Lijnders is on the shortlist of managers being looked at by Dutch outfit Ajax, who are also keeping tabs on Erik ten Hag's Manchester United future.

As per Sport Witness, however, crunch talks for Lijnders are set to take place over the next 14 days or so. 'Lijnders is yet to make a decision about his future and will instead sit down with his agent in the international break to look at his options post Liverpool', having decided to follow Klopp out the exit door.

After playing a huge role in the club's success under Klopp, and often being tasked with navigating Liverpool through cup competitions, his absence may not be felt as strongly as Klopp's come the new season, but it will certainly be a blow for the Reds to see him lining up in a new dugout.

The 30-year-old tells GOAL about playing outside Germany for the first time, what makes women's soccer in the U.S. so different and playoff ambitions

When Maxi Rall talks about her life in Chicago after signing for its NWSL side, the Red Stars, you wouldn’t think she was having a good time. “It’s really busy, noisy, loud, a lot of traffic,” she says, in that matter-of-fact manner that reminds you she is from Germany. But despite wanting a little more nature to walk her dog in, she is keen to clarify that she is indeed enjoying herself; she’s just living an experience which is quite different to what she is used to.

After all, until her decision to move to the United States in January, Rall had spent her entire career at home, first with Sindelfingen, then Hoffenheim and, most recently, Bayern Munich, with whom she became a Bundesliga champion. Aged 30, she chose to try something new. Some 4,000 miles west, in Illinois, that’s exactly what she’s found.

“It is really different, but that was the reason why I came here to be honest, because I was my whole life in Germany and I knew everything about it there,” Rall tells GOAL. “It was nice, but it was my comfort zone and I had to leave it. If I look at the last five months, it's so crazy to start somewhere completely new. You have no idea how it's going in another country, another culture, another language. I mean, I have to speak in English the whole day. This is different. But it brings me so much. That's why I love it.”

GettyChange of scenery

The differences between Europe and the U.S. are often discussed in the women’s game. While the former has an historic soccer culture, the latter boasts the most successful women’s national team. Debates are frequent on which side of the pond has the better domestic league then, and while some may agree to disagree in that respect, there’s no argument that the two have different strengths and benefits for players.

Rall describes moving to Chicago as a “jump in the cold water” because of how different it is to what she knows, a jump she decided to make as she knows that she doesn’t have too many years left of her career. “In Europe, I was not that interested,” she says, talking about other options she had for a new adventure. “I don't know why, because I wanted something completely different maybe. I've been to a lot of countries in Europe and I just wanted to see the U.S. I had some context with Babett [Peter, Red Stars assistant general manager] because she's also German, so that's why the connection to Chicago came up. That's why I ended up here.”

AdvertisementUSA TODAY SportsMaking adjustments

Coming into a roster predominantly made up of American players, it has been a little strange being “the other one”, in Rall’s words, but it’s a welcoming group that “made it really easy to feel good”. Off the pitch, she’s been able to settle as well. “I'm 30, so I'm grown up. I can handle some different situations.”

It’s on the pitch that she describes as “a little bit more difficult” because of the contrast between soccer in the U.S. and back home in Germany. “I think the style of playing where I come from, and what the girls are maybe used to, is different. It's way more transitional and we're not that all-possession team, so this is a big difference for me, I have to say. To adapt to this style of playing will take some time, for sure.”

USA TODAY SportsDifferences off the pitch

That leads us on nicely to talk about those differences, and Rall is particularly well-placed to discuss them. Though she does note the style of play being an adjustment, the big things she picks out when asked to compare and contrast are actually cultural. There is “the entertainment around a game” and also the consistent numbers that come through the gates to watch matches unfold in the NWSL.

“Of course, the stadiums, because there are not that many people watching these games in Germany,” Rall notes. “Sometimes, okay, one or two times a year you have also big stadiums, especially when you play Champions League, then more and more clubs getting into the big stadiums. But otherwise, when you play the league… In some clubs, there are almost no people to watch the games, so this is completely different.”

It's certainly an area where Germany, and some other top leagues across Europe, need to improve – and are trying to do so. The average attendance in the 2023-24 Frauen Bundesliga sat at 2,876, with Wolfsburg boasting the best club average at 5,691 and Duisburg the worst at 991. Meanwhile, the average attendance in the NWSL so far in 2024 is 11,322 and the lowest club-specific average is 5,652.

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USA TODAY SportsAnyone can beat anyone

There’s a huge difference in the competitiveness of the NWSL and the leagues in Europe, too. In Germany, England, France and Spain in particular, there are often the haves and have-nots. There is a group of really top teams with a lot of resources, some competitive upper mid-table sides that battle hard for Champions League spots and then there are sides that most expect those towards the summit to beat.

In the NWSL, which has factors like a college draft, for example, that try to keep the league close and competitive at all times, any team can genuinely beat any team. Last year, former Real Madrid striker Esther Gonzalez, now at Gotham, said that every NWSL game was "like a Champions League game, at the highest level". As the division enters its mid-season break in 2024, even the bottom team – the Utah Royals, a new expansion side – is only nine points off a playoff place.

“In Germany, you have three or four [teams], so they are on top, and then there is the rest, and there are the lower teams, maybe two really bad teams. It's almost or often clear who is winning each game,” Rall explains. “Here, this is completely different. This is also really nice and this is making the league really fun to watch.

“But if you play for Munich and you play against a lower team, you know you have to win. There is no question. You're not allowed to lose, so this is then something different. You have a little bit more pressure, you know you have to and if you don't, then it's burning this week in the facility. This is another kind of pressure I think you had, especially at Bayern, but here, you never know. You can beat anyone and you can lose against everyone.”

The two added 163 for the third wicket to seal a comfortable win

The Report by Hemant Brar06-Nov-2019Roston Chase fell six short of his maiden ODI hundred, while Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 77 as West Indies beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first ODI in Lucknow. They now lead the three-match series 1-0.After being put in, half-centuries from Rahmat Shah and Ikram Alikhil had taken Afghanistan to 126 for 2 around the halfway stage. But it was Alikhil’s run-out that proved to be the turning point. The batsman left his crease to congratulate Rahmat on his fifty with the ball still in play. And when Hope broke the stumps and West Indies appealed, he had to walk back.Afghanistan couldn’t recover from there and were bowled out for 194 in 45.2 overs. For West Indies, Jason Holder, Chase and debutant Romario Shepherd picked up two wickets each, while the USA legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who became the 14th player to represent two teams in ODIs, also chipped in with a wicket.West Indies lost two early wickets in their chase but Hope and Chase added 163 in a third-wicket stand to ensure West Indies were always ahead in the game. Chase fell when West Indies were seven away from the victory. Hope and Nicholas Pooran took them over the line with 21 balls to spare.Earlier, Afghanistan didn’t have a great start as Sheldon Cottrell and Holder bowled testing lines and lengths. With just five runs on the board after four overs, Hazratullah Zazai swatted one past Cottrell for four but the bowler slipped in a searing yorker next to send Zazai’s leg stump cartwheeling. In the next over, Holder had Ahmadi caught at second slip to leave Afghanistan 15 for 2 at the end of six overs.Rahmat and Alikhil too found it difficult to score and while Afghanistan played out 49 dot balls in the first ten overs, the two ensured there wasn’t a top-order collapse.Roston Chase cuts one away•AFPIn the 11th over, Alikhil pulled Holder twice behind square leg for back-to-back fours and that changed things a bit. Afghanistan got to 50 in the 15th over before Rahmat lofted Shepherd down the ground for a six and swept Chase for four. At the other end, Alikhil top-edged Joseph for six, clobbered him to deep midwicket for four and brought up his fifty in 47 balls after being 4 off 17 at one stage.Rahmat and Alikhil added 111 in 124 balls for the third wicket but the ball off which Rahmat brought up his fifty also saw his partner being run-out. Once that stand was broken, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Najibullah Zadran was dismissed in the same over as Alikhil, caught at first slip off Chase for a duck. Rahmat and Asghar Afghan took the side past 150 but Rahmat too fell to Chase when he mistimed a scoop to Holder at backward square leg.Asghar tried to hold the innings together and almost succeeded in it. At 188 for 6 with him and Gulbadin Naib in, Afghanistan were looking good for a total of around 230-240. But they lost their last four wickets in three runs and failed to reach even 200.West Indies too didn’t start well. Mujeeb Ur Rahman beat Hope with carrom ball on more than once occasion but it was Lewis who fell to it. Playing back to a length ball, the left-hand batsman was trapped lbw. Shimron Hetmyer didn’t last long either and was caught-behind off Naveen-ul-Haq.But after that Chase joined hands with Hope and a small target meant the two could take their time. Chase was the dominant partner in the century stand, hitting 11 fours during his innings, while Hope played the supportive role.Though the Afghanistan bowlers were economical, they were not penetrative enough. Both Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi went wicketless, with former now having taken just three wickets in the last seven ODIs.In the 40th over, Mujeeb got Chase to edge one behind but Alikhil couldn’t latch on to it. Chase was on 85 at the time and West Indies 24 away from the win. Mujeeb eventually bowled Chase but it was already too late.

In truth, Manchester United’s campaign has been filled with disappointment, frustration, and inconsistencies.

The Red Devils are currently sixth in the Premier League, and although they have spent heavily over recent years, the squad has been rather thin.

Injuries have played a role in Erik ten Hag being unable to play the brand of football he insists on, while some individuals have also struggled to reach the heights they showed last campaign.

One of those is Marcus Rashford, but with a potential new signing on the cards this summer, he could return to his very best.

Man Utd’s search for a striker

Last summer, Man United addressed their centre-forward issues by signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta in a deal worth £72m.

The Danish attacker struggled to adapt to the Premier League to begin with, but he’s now scored seven goals and provided two assists since the end of December.

However, according to a recent Fabrizio Romano interview with CaughtOffside, Ivan Toney could be “one to watch” this summer, with United keen to bolster their attack.

Romano noted: "As I said here multiple times, Man Utd are still in early stages of the process to decide which striker they want to sign; experienced or young. Talks are going to take place internally, Toney will be one of the names available on the market so could be one to watch.”

It is reported that Brentford will likely demand a fee of around £70m for their star striker, who would provide great competition for Hojlund, which will be important considering Anthony Martial’s inevitable exit.

How Toney could supercharge Rashford

United’s number ten has found consistency difficult to come by this campaign, despite still being one of the club’s best performers in regards to output.

The 26-year-old is Ten Hag’s joint-top scorer in the Premier League with seven goals, and he seems to finally be returning to form, scoring in all of United’s last three matches, including a vital equaliser in the Red Devils’ 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Although those numbers aren’t terrible, they’re nowhere near his record from last season, where he scored 17 times and provided five assists in just 32 starts, but the potential acquisition of Toney could bring the best out of the attacker.

Despite scoring 20 goals and providing four assists last season himself, the current Bees forward is well known for his physicality and old-fashioned approach at times, with even boss Thomas Frank describing him as a “monster,” which is exactly the type of profile that could see Rashford thrive alongside.

At Brentford, Toney operates in a system without traditional wingers like United; however, his style of play complements Rashford’s strengths perfectly.

As you can see by the table below, the 28-year-old’s first start for England against Belgium highlighted what he could bring to Ten Hag’s team in regards to goals, creativity, and intelligence.

Goals

1

Penalties won

1

Shots

3

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Duels won

4/6

The striker showed his brilliant link-up ability and ball retention, often dropping slightly deeper to create space behind the defence. This is the exact scenario where Rashford is one of the best in the Premier League, using his pace to latch onto through balls, inevitably from Bruno Fernandes.

Toney’s ability to receive direct passes from the defence and goalkeeper also allows United to transition much quicker, in turn providing the United winger with more opportunities to hurt the opposition.

It’s also clear that the former Peterborough attacker is a goal-scorer who thrives inside the penalty area, which will not only help take the attacking responsibility off Rashford’s shoulders but also enhance his creativity.

Overall, the signing of Toney could give United a slightly different option to Hojlund up front, and one that could truly make Rashford unstoppable once again.

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ByTom Lever Mar 26, 2024