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West Ham United’s chances of qualifying for Europe were dealt a devastating blow as they were defeated by fellow hopefuls Everton at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Irons boss David Moyes will rue his side’s ineffectiveness in front of goal as the misfiring Londoners could’ve easily snatched something from the game considering they were only beaten by the solitary goal.

With all of the Hammers’ attacking options on the pitch, they really should’ve mustered up more of a threat in front of goal, especially as they dominated possession (68%).

Moyes was dealt an early injury setback in the first half which saw Manuel Lanzini forced off just before the break.

He was replaced by Jarrod Bowen, who was snubbed from the starting XI for the second successive game, so he surely had a point to prove to his manager.

However, he offered West Ham absolutely nothing in attack and as a result, he was graded amongst their worst performers (6.4) as per SofaScore ratings.

The Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser added further weight to this argument in his post-game column, where he claimed the former Hull City winger “made very little impact” from the bench and similarly, football.london suggested that he “missed a glorious chance to make it 1-1.”

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-west-ham-transfer-rumours-gossip-team-injury-news-gsb-update” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

Aside from that one golden opportunity, Bowen struggled to assert his dominance on the Toffees’ back four, registering only 26 touches – the same number goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski managed throughout the game.

To make matters worse, the Polish shot-stopper made more passes (13) than the 24-year-old (ten), too, and that only goes to show how fruitless he was in the 47 minutes he was on the pitch.

His one shot off target resulted in one big chance missed, whilst he was caught offside once and lost possession ten times – once every 4.7 minutes, and once every 2.6 touches, as per SofaScore.

Bowen’s struggle with the visitors was further seen by the fact that he won just 50% of his duels, with Lucas Digne and Michael Keane often getting the better of him on the day.

Considering it was only the second time this season that the £27m-rated attacker had been out of the starting XI in back-to-back matches, Moyes would have been expecting to see a reaction when subbed on but frustratingly, he may want to think again about his involvement in the coming matches.

Bowen was just one of many Irons stars to be unproductive but his place is most at risk compared to say, a Michail Antonio.

There are three very winnable games left remaining in Brighton, relegated West Brom and Southampton but the likes of Bowen will need to vastly improve if the Hammers are to top off their fantastic season with European qualification.

AND in other news, £13.5m-rated West Ham lightweight who lost 83% duels badly let Moyes down again…

Honours were shared in two low scoring games at the weekend between the Australian and New Zealand Cricket Academies in Adelaide

Lynn McConnell30-Apr-2001Honours were shared in two low scoring games at the weekend between the Australian and New Zealand Cricket Academies in Adelaide. New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1.In the first game on Saturday, New Zealand decided to bat first on a good batting surface but failed to make the most of their opportunities. The batting order was rotated in order to provide the opportunity for the specialist batsmen to bat the entire innings.Nick Horsley played loosely to be caught behind for nine when the score was 41. However, his opening partner Brendon McCullum was in punishing form scoring 33 from 39 balls before he was yorked by right-arm pace bowler Michael Thistle.Shanan Stewart struck two fine boundaries and was on 15 when he got a fine edge to Luke Ronchi behind the wickets. He and McCullum were the only batsmen to reach double figures as New Zealand were all out in 34.3 overs for 113.Beau Casson took four wickets for 15 runs from 8.3 overs. Tim Welsford also took two, for 24. At one stage New Zealand lost six wickets for only 18 runs.But if New Zealand were disappointing with the bat they came out fired up with the ball and Wade Cornelius and Warren McSkimming produced some inspired bowling to have Australia 22 for four.Sam Whiteman produced one fine piece of fielding which resulted in a run out. McSkimming’s first six overs saw him take three for 16 while Cornelius’ first seven overs cost only 10 runs.A crucial lapse, when Welsford was dropped at mid off from Taraia Robin’s first over just before the lunch break and when Australia were 29/4, proved costly. Welsford went on to be 47 not out at the end.Australia lost Duncan Betts when he was run out by Jamie How after walking out of his crease following a leg before wicket appeal to be 52/5 and then lost their sixth wicket when Whiteman’s introduction to the bowling crease brought an instant reward as he bowled Ronchi to have Australia 80/6.But any hope of embarrassing the home team was lost when Welsford saw the team home in the 30th over.New Zealand decided to bowl first in yesterday’s game with Cornelius and McSkimming very tight. At one stage the Australians were 43/3 but a 47-run fourth wicket stand regained the Australian momentum before Shaun Marsh hit Greg Todd’s first ball to McSkimming at deep square leg.Cornelius also had some luck when off the first ball of his second spell he had Cameron Borgas taken at square leg for 29.However, Welsford and Ronchi added 53 off 57 balls for the sixth wicket.Cornelius, bowling with enthusiasm, aggression and accuracy, broke through again with a wicket from the first ball of his third spell while McSkimming finally had Welsford’s wicket for 56 runs off 48 balls.The Australians were all out in the last over for 206 with McSkimming 2-22, Cornelius 2-35, Whiteman 2-29 and Todd 2-56.New Zealand’s hopes of working the ball around for singles to keep the score moving was not effective during the top order batting as wickets fell regularly.Stewart was watchful in scoring 62 runs off 105 balls, and featuring in a 63-run fifth wicket stand with Todd. However, Todd’s loss, for 28, was followed in the next over by Stewart’s departure, bowled by Casson. Worse followed when Reece Young and McSkimming followed quickly and it was left to Luke Woodcock and Whiteman to bring the New Zealanders the win.They scored 35 off nine overs to see New Zealand home by two wickets with Xavier Doherty and Mark Cosgrove taking two wickets apiece.

The Somerset Second Eleven match against Middlesex at Ealing last week was abandoned as a draw without a ball being bowled

Richard Walsh19-May-2001The Somerset Second Eleven match against Middlesex at Ealing last week was abandoned as a draw without a ball being bowled.In the first match of the season Somerset earned a creditable draw against a strong Warwickshire side during which Matt Bulbeck took his first wicket at senior level. Pete Trego made some good contributions with both bat and ball, which earned him a first team place for the Kent game , and triallist Ian Flanagan, an opening bat who was released by Essex at the end of last season showed quite lot of promise.Somerset were hoping that Matt Bulbeck would take another step on the road to his recovery in the Middlesex match, but sadly it wasn’t to be.The second eleven are next in action when they play against Gloucestershire at Bristol in the one day trophy on Monday and then entertain Surrey at The County Ground in a 3 day match that starts on Wednesday May 30th.

Many Wolves fans have been left to buzz as Super Deporte have reported that Goncalo Guedes and Lee Kang-in may be used in a swap deal for Rafa Mir.

As per the news outlet, one of the players could be used in order to lure Mir to Valencia, and Guedes shares the same agent as both Nuno Espirito Santo and Mir in Jorge Mendes.

Patrick Cutrone could also be used in any potential deal given that he is currently on loan at Valencia from the Midlands club, and demonstrates the good relationship already between the two teams.

With five goals and six assists in 32 games in total over all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), Guedes would add an attacking threat, and will already have chemistry with some of the squad given his Portuguese nationality.

Lee meanwhile can play in a wide variety of positions and at just 20 years of age, will surely only get better.

Mir has not played a senior game at Molineux since the 2017/18 season, and so a swap deal to send him somewhere he is already finding success would certainly make a lot of sense.

Wolves fans on transfer update

These WWFC supporters buzzed as the update was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that the deal would be ‘amazing’:

“Surely we can’t get both just for the price of Rafa Mir??? that would be some great business.”

Credit: @tobleralone

“This would be an amazing deal”

Credit: @Callum_Howen

“Omg yes Jeff”

Credit: @cal_wolvesfc

“Yes please!”

Credit: @xEz_Acex

“Ayo I like that”

Credit: @capzwwfc

“I’m on my knees please Jeff”

Credit: @Tom_Parker12

In other news, find out what transfer update has left Wanderers fuming here!

MANCHESTER, England – A secret plan is being devised to prevent dangerousEngland opener Marcus Trescothick from ruining Australia’s bid for a seventhstraight Ashes triumph

Will Swanton14-Jun-2001MANCHESTER, England – A secret plan is being devised to prevent dangerousEngland opener Marcus Trescothick from ruining Australia’s bid for a seventhstraight Ashes triumph.England stalwarts Mike Atherton, Alec Stewart, Darren Gough, Andy Caddick,Graham Thorpe and Robert Croft, to name a few, carry the scars of pastfloggings from Australia but Trescothick is the new 25-year-old on theblock.He has made a big impact since arriving on the international scene last yearand a flurry of runs this northern summer have well and truly caught theattention of the Australians.Trescothick made a masterly 117 in the second Test against Pakistan at OldTrafford before turning to the tri-series and racking up 67 (run out) and137 versus Australia and Pakistan respectively.”He’s got a good temperament – he reminds me quite a bit of Mark Taylorbecause he doesn’t seem to be too fazed by anything,” said Australiancaptain Steve Waugh on the eve of tonight’s one-dayer against England, whichstarts at 11.30pm (AEST).”He’s going very well, he’s a good player – but we’ve got our ideas on howto bowl to him in Test matches.”It will be a good test to see how we’re going and also how well he’s goingbecause he’s really only been on the scene for 12 months and sometimes thatcan be a good period for batsmen because no-one else has seen them.”We’ve got time to work him out before that first Test.”Waugh was giving nothing away.”Test matches you’ve obviously got more options because you can bowldifferent deliveries and the same bowler can stay on longer so you can goabout things in a different fashion,” he said.”But look, he’s a good quality player and doesn’t appear to have too manyobvious weaknesses.”The Australians are renowned for thorough reviews and previews of all theirmatches and they devise meticulous plans to exploit the weaknesses of everyopposition batsmen.Trescothick has played 11 Tests for 750 runs at 39.47 but his statistics areimproving with every appearance at the crease.

Crystal Palace assistant manager Ray Lewington could remain at the club beyond the summer even if Roy Hodgson leaves, according to the Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Hodgson set for exit

Hodgson’s deal at Selhurst Park just has a matter of weeks left to run, and it seems as if his days at the club are now numbered.

Reports in recent days have suggested that the Eagles are prepared to announce his departure earlier than expected in order to allow fans the chance to pay tribute to the manager at their final home game of the season against Arsenal.

Plenty of names have been linked with replacing the 73-year-old, including Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche, Chris Wilder, Steve Cooper and Valerien Ismael. However, it seems as if one member of Hodgson’s backroom staff could well stay at the club, even if the manager doesn’t.

The Latest: Lewington to remain?

The Daily Mail understand that Palace are exploring the possibility of keeping Lewington at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles feel that the 64-year-old, who has worked alongside Hodgson for around 15 years, could prove invaluable to a potential new manager due to his understanding of the current playing squad and the club as a whole.

The process for a new manager is thought to be accelerating rapidly, with the club aware that there will be a period of transition when the new boss takes over.

The Verdict: A smart move?

In most managerial cases, successors like to bring their own staff with them, so this latest report comes as a surprise. However, keeping hold of Lewington as an exception could be a smart move by the Eagles.

Maybe not for the long-term, but he could help a new manager settle into life in Croydon during his first season, sharing his knowledge on some players who look set to stay at the club.

A plethora of Palace players are out of contract in the summer, so it looks as if they’ll also be some serious change on the pitch as well as off it.

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to Christian Benteke update, find out more here. 

Despite registering an impressive 10 goal involvements during his debut season with Manchester United, Daniel James has not impressed former Red Devils winger Keith Gillespie, who has exclusively told Football FanCast that he wants to see the winger take more risks.

James has experienced a frustrating time at Old Trafford this season having been handed just 14 league appearances, which saw him linked with a move away in January as he does not appear to be near the first-team picture.

There is now increased competition for places at United with James, Mason Greenwood and Amad Diallo all vying for one position on the opposite wing to Marcus Rashford.

The Wales international has a lot of the attributes that defenders hate as he has pace in abundance and is good with the ball at his feet, but he fails to utilise those skills, according to Gillespie, who spoke exclusively to FFC:

“Sometimes when he gets the ball I’m wanting him to get at the defender but he usually chooses the easy option and just goes backwards.

“He’s an explosive player and we know how much pace he’s got and that is one thing that defenders are frightened to death of. He has that in abundance but in the final third you’re just wanting him to make something happen instead of just taking the easy option.”

For a winger, Manchester United fans could be looking for James to offer a little bit more as he has only registered eight assists in all competitions since he joined the Red Devils last summer.

Competition for places could become even more fierce if reports are believed to be true that Man United are still eager to sign Jadon Sancho following the England international’s latest sublime season in the Bundesliga.

A splendid all-round performance by Pakistan Customs’ Nisar Abbas thwarted ADBP’s aspirations of reaching the semifinals of the one-day cricket championship at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad Saturday

31-Mar-2002A splendid all-round performance by Pakistan Customs’ Nisar Abbas thwarted ADBP’s aspirations of reaching the semifinals of the one-day cricket championship at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad Saturday.Nisar scored 86 off 101 balls as Customs ran up an impressive total of 294 for seven in 50 overs. Then with his slow left-armers, Nisar captured six for 42 in nine overs to restrict ADBP to 245 all out.ADBP ended with four points as did Wapda and Customs but finished third in the final round standings of Group-II on net run-rate.Customs captain Aamir Bashir hammered 102 off 110 deliveries after losing the toss. His knock was laced with six fours and one. The fourth-wicket partnership between Aamir and Nisar, who hit eight fours and one six, produced 111 runs. Asim Kamal remained on 44 not out off as many balls with three hits to the fence.Openers Inam-ul-Haq (80 off 99 balls, six fours) and Imran Abbas (52 off 60 balls, seven fours) gave ADBP a perfect start by putting on 108 in 20 overs. But the remaining batsmen found the runs hard to come by, especially against Nisar, who was the obvious choice as the Man-of-the-Match.

With the first class season just underway, the official Somerset website is launching a regular feature entitled `hero of the week’

Richard Walsh02-May-2002With the first class season just underway, the official Somerset website is launching a regular feature entitled `hero of the week’. The selected `hero’ could come from any one of the Somerset teams, from the under 11’s right the way through to the first team.We hope that the `hero of the week’ feature will be of interest to all ages, and in particular will help those who are fairly new to Somerset cricket to get to know a bit more about some of the players who are at the club.The questions that will be used for this feature were kindly sent to the website by Thomas and George, two keen young Somerset supporters, who were converted to the game after watching their first ever cricket match when they visited the County Ground last summer whilst the Australians were playing. Since then they have been totally hooked!When I asked Somerset coach Kevin Shine to nominate the first `hero of the week’ he told me: "You have set me a real poser, and I’ve worried all day about who it will be!"He continued: "However I suppose it will have to be the old dinosaur himself Peter Bowler who is the first hero for us this year for his batting performance against Sussex at Hove. In the Somerset first innings he just missed out on what would have been a thoroughly deserved century."Peter Bowler, who is a right hand top order batsman, was born in Plymouth in Devon, but brought up in Australia. He has been on the English first class cricket scene since 1986 when he made his debut for Leicestershire.In his debut innings he scored 100 not out against Hampshire. He moved to Derbyshire in 1988, and on his debut for them he scored another century, this time against Cambridge University.Peter joined Somerset in 1995, and captained the county for the latter part of 1997 and 1998. He was granted a thoroughly deserved benefit in 2000.During his time with the Cidermen Peter Bowler has enjoyed considerable success with the bat. Up until the start of this season he had played in 121 first class cricket matches, and scored 7365 runs at an average of 42.08, including 1000 runs in a season on three occasions. His highest score for Somerset is 207 against Surrey at Taunton in 1996, and he has made 22 centuries.Peter Bowler has also taken 13 first class wickets with his occasional off breaks at a cost of 39 runs apiece and taken 82 catches.Peter has made a substantial contribution in all of the one-day competitions, and was Somerset’s leading batsman in the NUL National League last season with 560 runs at an average of 50.90, which included one century.When I caught up with Peter at the County Ground earlier he gave me the answers to the following questions that were posed by Thomas and George.Q. What sports do you enjoy, apart from cricket?
A. I enjoy rugby union. When I was younger I used to play quite a bit but now I just watch.Q. Who was your idol when you were young?
A. Rick McCosker, who was the opening bat for Australia and New South Wales was my hero. I was an opening bat when I was growing up in Canberra.Q. Who is your favourite pop star or band?
A. Reef.Q. What do you do in your spare time?
A. I spend time with my family, and preparing myself for life after cricket. I am studying to be a lawyer.Q. Where did you go to school, and when did you start to play cricket?
A. I moved about a lot when I was young so went to school just about everywhere, but I spent quite a long time at Daramalan College in Canberra. I started to play cricket at school when I was nine, but didn’t’ start to play age group cricket until I was twelve.Q. What is your favourite food?
A. Steak is my favourite food, and I quite enjoy pasta.Q. How much training do you do every week, are there any special exercises?
A. I train three or four times every week. I don’t have any special exercises I just do everything.Q. What has been your most memorable match for Somerset?
A. My most memorable match of Somerset just has to be the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final at Lord’s in 2001 when we won the cup.Q. Apart from the County Ground at Taunton, which is your favourite cricket ground and why?
A. The Oval and Lord’s are my other two favourite grounds. The Oval because I have scored a lot of runs there over the years, and Lord’s because we won the cup there last season.Q. What are your cricketing ambitions?
A. To be part of an improving and winning Somerset team, and to play for England, although I think that the selectors are leaving it a bit late!Thank you to Peter Bowler for telling us a little about himself, and good luck for the new season.Thank you also to Thomas and George for sending in the questions to help us launch the `hero of the week’ feature for 2002.

Former Rangers star Michael Ball believes that Celtic need to spend big this summer if they are to challenge the Gers next season – a big warning to chief executive Dominic McKay and the board if they appoint Eddie Howe or another manager.

Steven Gerrard’s side enjoyed a phenomenal season as they went unbeaten, winning the title and ending the campaign 25 points clear of their Old Firm rivals.

Neil Lennon resigned midway through the campaign and Celtic have yet to appoint his replacement, though multiple reports suggest that Eddie Howe is poised to take the reins.

Ball, though, does not believe that simply appointing a new manager will solve the issues at Celtic Park and believes that they will need to spend in the summer to bring their squad up to scratch.

Last season, the club paid £14.1m, per Transfermarkt, to bring in Albian Ajeti from West Ham United, Vasilios Barkas from AEK Athens, David Turnbull from Motherwell and Shane Duffy and Diego Laxalt on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion and AC Milan respectively.

Ajeti scored just six league goals, while only Turnbull played more than 30 times domestically.

And Ball thinks that Celtic need to spend if they are stop Rangers “dominating” over the next few seasons.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “Eddie Howe is a fantastic coach, we know how he likes to set up his team and he plays great football but he would need quality players to come to the football club.

“He’ll need to have money to challenge Rangers and play catch up with Rangers. Celtic have had the glory for so many years and some players are moving on now. Scott Brown’s moving on. So they need to bring in new faces.

“Eddie Howe or whoever comes into Celtic Park will need money to try to challenge Rangers because Rangers could dominate in the next few years if Steven’s still there and they keep on backing him.

“It’s a big challenge ahead for Celtic.”