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The Premier League has become one of the best leagues in world football since 1992. The game has seemingly evolved with every passing season, and with it, the teams have only improved.

However, occasionally, there are sides that are so woefully underequipped for the competition that it makes you wonder how they even got there to begin with.

In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, all six promoted clubs – Luton Town, Burnley, Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton went straight back down, with some of those clubs recording some of the worst points totals in Premier League history.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has looked back at the worst points tallies since the formation of the Premier League to see which teams were truly out of their depth in the top flight. However, we have not included the 2009/10 Portsmouth side, as without their nine-point deduction, they would have finished with a relatively respectable 28 points.

Worst Premier League points totals

Team

Points Total

Season

Derby County

11

2007/08

Southampton

12

2024/25

Sunderland

15

2005/06

Sheffield United

16

2023/24

Huddersfield Town

16

2018/19

Aston Villa

17

2015/16

Sunderland

19

2002/03

Norwich City

21

2019/20

Norwich City

22

2021/22

Ipswich Town

22

2024/25

Sheffield United

23

2020/21

Burnley

24

2023/24

Sunderland

24

2016/17

Related The best points totals in Premier League history

No room for the Invincibles here…

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 2, 2024 Here's a detailed look at the worst points totals in Premier League history: 13 Sunderland 2016/17 24 points

Sunderland make their first (spoiler alert: not last) appearance on the list at number nine thanks to a particularly dreadful campaign in the 2016/17 season that saw them rack up a measly points total of just 24.

The Black Cats had been in relegation fights for the previous three seasons before this one and even finished in 17th place the year before on 39 points, just two above relegated Newcastle United – we’re sure they loved that, though.

So, when they finally went down, nobody could say they didn’t see it coming.

And let’s be honest: when your great idea of how to avoid relegation is signing David Moyes and loaning in a 21-year-old Adnan Januzaj, you can’t really blame anyone else.

12 Burnley 2023/24 24 points

In truth, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley never gave themselves a fighting chance. That said, the fact they were able to take their survival bid to the penultimate weekend is something of a minor miracle. But with the Clarets being in the relegation zone for the entire season, they can have no complaints.

By December, they had mustered up just four points, and only beat two teams (Fulham and Brentford) besides their Championship rivals from the previous year. Their only solace was that they were not the worst team in the Premier League that season.

11 Sheffield United 2020/21 23 points

Now, from a relegation that everyone saw coming from a mile off to one that really was quite a surprise, especially the manner in which it happened.

Sheffield United were promoted from the Championship in the 2018/19 season, and there was a general expectation that they would seriously struggle in the Premier League, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Blades took the 2019/20 Premier League season by storm, racking up win after win and at one point looking like serious contenders for a Champions League spot – and then the pandemic happened.

Whether it was other teams working out their tactics, a lack of fans in the stadiums, or something else entirely, the team just weren’t the same after the restart and ultimately finished in ninth, which for a promoted side is still an extremely impressive feat.

So when the 2020/21 season started, people expected the Blades to maintain their mid-table position and maybe even push for a Europa League spot, but instead, the team totally fell apart.

The architect behind their impressive form, Chris Wilder, was sacked in March, and the team limped home to a 20th-place finish and a points total of just 23 – talk about a drop-off.

10 Ipswich Town 2024/25 22 points

Ipswich Town’s rise to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna was remarkable, winning back-to-back promotions from League One to seal their place back in the top flight for the first time since 2002.

However, their return back in the Premier League was short-lived, as the Tractor Boys, despite drawing plenty of games early on, picked up just 22 points.

Ipswich recorded just four league wins all year, two of which came against Chelsea and Tottenham. However, they shipped 82 goals in 38 games and were relegated in April.

9 Norwich City 2021/22 22 points

When people think of Premier League yo-yo clubs, there’s a very good chance that one of the first teams that come to mind is Norwich City.

The Canaries made a habit of dominating the Championship, coming up to the top flight for a season, and then going back down to do the whole thing over again – which is precisely what they did between 2020 and 2022.

After being relegated in 2020 (see below), the Canaries went on to rack up 97 points in the 2020/21 Championship season before registering less than a quarter of that total in the 2021/22 Premier League season.

They haven’t returned to the big time since, but you can be sure that they will be there soon enough to start the whole process over again.

8 Norwich City 2019/20 21 points

Norwich have the unwanted accolade of being the only team to feature on this list with back-to-back top-flight campaigns, as their 2019/20 season was somehow even worse than their 2021/22 effort.

In all, they managed to win just five games, draw ten and lose 20, ending up with a points total of 21 and a goal difference of -49. They were so poor that they would have needed another 15 points just to survive.

That said, they did pull off one of the shocks of the season, though, beating reigning champions Manchester City 3-2 at Carrow Road in mid-September.

We reckon they’d rather have stayed up, though.

7 Sunderland 2002/03 19 points

The Black Cats make their second unwanted appearance on this list, and we’re afraid they aren’t done there.

In the space of five seasons, Sunderland won promotion to the Premier League, secured back-to-back seventh-place finishes, survived a relegation battle by the skin of their teeth and then, finally, after a miserable season that saw them accumulate just 19 points, they were sent back down to the second tier.

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It was an absolute whirlwind of emotions for the fans, and while the board had hoped that the appointment of Howard Wilkinson in October 2002 would be enough to see them maintain their place among England’s top 20 teams, the writing was on the wall.

The good news was that it would only take two years in Division One to come back up, although the bad news was, well, it wouldn’t take them two seasons to go back down again.

6 Aston Villa 2015/16 17 points

When it comes to English football’s biggest clubs, few come greater than Aston Villa.

Boasting a European Cup success in 1982, seven First Division titles and seven FA Cups, the Claret and Blue are among the many giants that call English football home.

So, when they were relegated from the Premier League for the first time in almost three decades in 2016, it was a worrying indictment of how the club had been run in recent years, especially as they went down with such an embarrassingly low points total of just 17.

While it was shocking to see such a prestigious side drop into the second tier, it was hardly a surprise for those watching them week-in-week-out as they had only just survived the previous season – three points, to be exact.

Really, the club’s biggest mistake came in the March before the season started, as for some reason, unbeknownst to the rest of us, they decided to offer Tim Sherwood a three-and-a-half-year deal to become manager. Madness.

5 Huddersfield Town 2018/19 16 points

We’re into the podium positions now, although it’s not exactly the most prestigious of podiums. The team to register the joint-third-worst points tally in Premier League history is Huddersfield Town, who did so in their disastrous 2018/19 season.

Now, while it’s always going to be embarrassing to be on a list such as this, the fact that the Terriers managed to survive in the top flight for two seasons is an achievement to be recognised and while it certainly went wrong in their second year, that first season has to be viewed as a success.

Unfortunately, you can’t call their second year anything but a miserable failure, as they finished the campaign 20 points from safety and registered just three wins all season.

4 Sheffield United 2023/24 16 points

Sheffield United’s most recent return to the Premier League certainly didn’t go to plan. Seemingly doomed from the beginning of the campaign, the Blades never looked like escaping relegation trouble before their demise was confirmed in April after a heavy defeat at Newcastle.

That particular 5-1 reverse wasn’t atypical of their results this past term, with the South Yorkshire side also on the receiving end of four 5-0 thumpings, a 6-0 thrashing and a woefully embarrassing 8-0 disaster – with four of those six games in front of the Bramall Lane faithful.

They also set the record for the most goals conceded in a Premier League season, reaching triple figures with two games to spare as they broke Swindon Town’s record of 100 (in a 42-game season) before the campaign’s end.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia-atacante Marcelinho, que retornou ao Londrina, falou sobre sua expectativa para esse segundo semestre no clube paranaense. Segundo o jogador, que já defendeu a agremiação há alguns anos, sua meta é fazer um ano perfeito com todos no elenco.

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– Vou trabalhar muito para que esses próximos meses sejam de grandes resultados para mim e para todos no elenco. Estou muito motivado e focado neste retorno ao Londrina. Lutar para que tudo saia como estou planejando.

O jogador ainda destacou o desejo do elenco em crescer na Série B e reconheceu a força das peças do grupo na missão de subir na tabela.

– O grupo é forte, competitivo e tem tudo para crescer de produção no ano. Vamos lutar para que esse segundo semestre seja de vitórias para todos.

“That’s not going to be the way that we play our cricket,” the Delhi Capitals coach says

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-20202:03

Ponting: Penalise batsman runs if he is a foot out of crease

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has promised to have a “hard conversation” with senior offspinner R Ashwin about running out batsmen backing up at the bowler’s end, saying “that’s not going to be the way that we play our cricket”. Ashwin, who will make his debut for Capitals this season in the IPL, had sparked off a debate, which is still ongoing, after running out Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler during IPL 2019 after the batsman had strayed out of his crease.Although Ashwin’s action was within the laws of the game, the MCC had called it against the spirit of cricket. Incidentally, Ponting sits on the MCC’s World Cricket Committee. He said that he wouldn’t shy away from sitting down the senior Indian bowler for a chat when they meet in the UAE.”I’ll be having a chat with him about it, that’s the first thing I’ll do,” Ponting said on podcast. “Obviously, he wasn’t in our squad last year, he’s one of our players that we tried to afford to bring in this year. Look, he’s a terrific bowler, and he’s done a great job in IPL for a long period of time now, but I must admit watching that last season, as soon as it happened and he did that, I actually sat our boys down and said ‘look, I know he’s done it, there’ll be others around the tournament who’ll think about doing this well, but that’s not going to be the way that we play our cricket, we won’t be doing that’.”So that’s going to be a conversation and that’s going to be a hard conversation I will have to have with him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll take it on the chin. I think, even him, looking back now, he will probably say it was within the rules and he’s right to do it, but this is not within the spirit of the game, not in the way I want, at least with the Delhi Capitals anyway.”Ashwin’s decision to stop in his delivery stride and run out Buttler, who wasn’t watching the bowler and was well outside his crease, polarised the cricket community, and after the match Ashwin said his action was “instinctive” and he had not breached the rules.”On my part, it was very instinctive. It was not planned or anything like that. It’s there within the rules of the game. I don’t understand where the spirit of the game comes; naturally if it’s there in the rules, it’s there.”Ponting, however, felt there were other ways for the bowlers to drive home a point without going against the perceived spirit of the game. “There’s ways that you can actually stop batsmen cheating like that. If the bowler was to stop and the batsman was a foot out of his crease for instance, you just penalise him some runs or something. Do that and then they won’t do it again,” Ponting said. “You’ve only got to do that once at the start of a tournament and then all the players see it, and I guarantee that players won’t be fudging any ground from there on.Royal rumble: Jos Buttler and R Ashwin have a run-in about the run-out•BCCI

“I chatted to some of the match referees about it during last year’s IPL as well. If the umpires make a stance and do something to actually warn the batsman that they might be cheating, then that’s better than having the ugly incident of a mankad.”Recently Ashwin reignited the debate when reacting to the ICC decision to have TV umpires call front-foot no-balls in ODIs during the World Cup Super League. Aswhin suggested that technology could be used to spot and penalise batsmen who back up too much by either disallowing the runs scored off the ball in question, or giving the bowler a “free ball”.”Just hope that technology will see if a batsmen is backing up before the bowler bowls a ball and disallow the runs of that ball every time the batter does so!! Thus, parity will be restored as far as the front line is concerned #noball #dontbackup,” Ashwin said on Twitter. “Many of you will not be able to see the grave disparity here, so let me take some time out to clarify to the best of my abilities. If the non striker backs up 2 feet and manages to come back for a 2, he will put the same batsmen on strike for the next ball.”Putting the same batsmen on strike might cost me a 4 or a 6 from the next ball and eventually cost me 7 more runs instead of may be a 1 and a dot ball possibility at a different batsmen. The same will mean massively for a batter wanting to get off strike even in a test match. [Sic.]”It is time to restore the balance in what is an increasingly tough environment for the bowlers. #thefrontcrease #belongs to #bothparties @bhogleharsha we can use the same tech that we are proposing for a no ball [to] check 120 balls in a T20 game.”When some Twitter users disagreed with Ashwin for asking for alternate penalties, Ashwin replied: “Make the run invalid of that ball or give the bowler a free ball the next one. Instead of disallowing the run, may be the bowler can get a free ball the very next one where the batsmen has backed up. Some fairness to start off may be.”While Ashwin did not clearly define what he meant by “free ball”, it could mean a bowling version of a free hit – no runs allowed, but the batsman could be dismissed.

تحدث محمود فتح الله عن مستقبل الزمالك والمصري في بطولة الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، مشيرًا إلى أنهما سيصعدان لدور الـ16 بنسبة 95% لكن الفكرة في مشوار الناديين فيما بعد.

وقال فتح الله في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورتس 2”: “لا بد أن يكون الزمالك حريصًا أكثر، بعد التقدم بهدفين من المفترض أنه من المستحيل أن يعود الخصم في اللقاء، لكن الأبيض في الشوط الثاني تراجع والخصم كان يُهاجم بقوة، لا بد أن نتعلم من هذه المباريات، ونُعالج الأخطاء لأن المباريات القادمة ستكون صعبة أكثر”.

وأضاف: “بالتأكيد حزنت من عدم فوز الزمالك على إنيمبا النيجيري، كنا نستطيع أن نعود بـ3 نقاط، لكن لا بد أن يُعالج جوميز الأخطاء، التعامل في الشوط الثاني دائمًا يكون مشتركًا بين اللاعبين والجهاز الفني، ولا نريد أن نقف عند هذا اللقاء، على الفريق أن يتعلم منه وينظر للأمام لأن المنافسة القادمة قوية في كل البطولات”.

عفت نصار: مستوى لاعب الزمالك بعيد عن الاحتراف.. وجوميز سبب التعادل مع إنيمبا

واستكمل: “يجب تدعيم الفريق، لأن القوام ينقصه الكثير، يحتاج من 4 لـ6 صفقات لخلق التنافس أيضًا بين اللاعبين، لأن هذا سيعود بالفائدة على الفريق ككل”.

واستطرد: “قوام الزمالك يحتاج لما لا يقل عن 4 صفقات، لأن الأبيض اسم كبير وعليه أن يدخل في كل بطولة بغرض الفوز بها، نعلم أن الإدارة تعاني من ضغوط كبيرة وتتحمل الكثير من الصعاب”.

وأكد: “بيراميدز يمتلك قائمة قوية جدًا، ومن كثرة الحديث عن قوتها يتعرضون للحسد، اليوم غاب 9 لاعبين، ومع ذلك الـ11 لاعبًا الذي شاركوا كلهم أساسيين، وعلى بيراميدز إذا أراد أن يتوج بالبطولات ألا يُفرط في أي فوز، بيراميدز ينقصه الجماهير والإعلام، فعليه أن يبذل 150% من مجهوده أكثر من الفرق الأخرى”.

لاعب نيجيريا السابق: استمتعت بـ الزمالك أمام إنيمبا.. ونحن الآن في زمن محمد صلاح

واستكمل: “بيراميدز يمتلك نجومًا كثرين، وهذا الكم من النجوم يحتاج للتعامل بشكل معين، إذا أراد أن يحصل على بطولات يجب ألا يُفرط في التفاصيل وكل لاعب يبذل أقصى ما لديه، لأنه يُنافس الزمالك والأهلي بقوتهم وجماهيرهم، فلا بد أن ينتهز بيراميدز الفرصة ويستغل القائمة التي يملكها والإمكانيات المتوفرة لديهم وصعب تواجدها في أندية أخرى، يجب أن يُصدقوا أنفسهم، ويلعبون كل مباراة على أنها مباراة كأس”.

وأتم: “الزمالك يحتاج لمدافع، وبيراميدز يمتلك 4 مدافعين أقوياء، وأيضًا فيستون ماييلي لو انضم للابيض سيكون مُفيدًا، وأيضًا الأبيض يحتاج جناح وبيراميدز يمتلك إبراهيم عادل وصديق إيجولا وعبد الرحمن مجدي ومصطفى فتحي”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meio-campista Janeudo foi o último reforço contratado pelo Jacuipense na Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro. O jogador chegou por indicação do treinador Luizinho Lopes, nome por quem foi dirigido no Manaus.

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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

Depois de participar por alguns minutos da partida passada contra o Paysandu e habituado em fazer boas campanhas pelos times em que atuou, o reforço recém-contratado pelo Jacupa destaca o que é preciso ser feito pensando na recuperação do clube na tabela de classificação:

– Não podemos nos acomodar. Temos que trabalhar mais, nos dedicar, para que possamos sair dessa zona que está incomodando. Estamos fazendo uma semana maravilhosa, bem trabalhada. Cada jogo a partir de agora é uma final e esperamos que a vitória possa vir.

Já para se adaptar rapidamente ao novo clube, o meio-campista também falou da importância de conhecer os métodos de condução de elenco do treinador Luizinho Lopes.

– Ele (Luizinho Lopes) tem um ótimo trabalho, uma ótima comissão técnica e isso facilita bastante porque já tenho um conhecimento do que ele precisa e pede dentro de campo­ – disse Janeudo.

Com 10 pontos, o Jacuipense volta a jogar pela Série C na segunda-feira (23), data em que recebe a visita do Santa Cruz. O duelo é válido pela 13ª rodada do Grupo A.

Arsenal come into this summer with a great deal of expectation in the transfer window.

The club’s business last summer was exceptional, welcoming the ever-impressive Declan Rice to the club in a £105m deal from West Ham.

Kai Havertz, pivotal during the run in also arrived, with the German having gone from strength to strength in Arsenal colours.

Yet, before we see any similar signings in 2024, it’s likely the Gunners will increase their transfer kitty by selling players on the fringes.

Some of those could be Hale End products. That would be a shame given their academy roots but needs must, right?

Who could leave Arsenal this summer

It’s likely that Eddie Nketiah will finally depart the Emirates Stadium. The likes of Fulham, Crystal Palace and Wolves are all reportedly interested in the striker.

Palace are also said to be eyeing Emile Smith Rowe, an exciting attacking midfielder who found himself on the fringes in 2023/24.

Then there’s another academy graduate in Reiss Nelson who looks well-placed to depart north London this summer.

Hale End departures won’t stop there, however. One of the most disappointing exits looks set to be Reuell Walters.

The young defender has been highly rated at the club and has already declared that he’ll be leaving when his contract expires at the end of this month.

There does appear to be an element of confusion though. That’s because in Arsenal’s retained list, it was revealed that discussions were still ongoing in a bid to keep him in N5.

Arsenal have already tied Ethan Nwaneri down to a new contract but it appears that Walters will be a bridge too far.

While the exit of a teenage defender with no senior team experience is unlikely to cause too much unrest, it’s a massive shame to lose such a talented young prospect.

Why Walters’ departure is bad news

When it comes to their academy players, Arsenal have been a victim of their own success in recent years.

It wasn’t long ago that Unai Emery was blooding Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe in the first team.

Mikel Arteta took them to the next level upon his arrival as manager but since their emergence in the first team, opportunities for those coming through the ranks haven’t been too forthcoming.

Nwaneri has become the youngest player in Premier League history since then but has still only played twice under Arteta.

Arsenal's youngest debutants

Player

Age at debut

Year & opponent faced

#1 Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months, 28 days

2022: Brentford

#2 Cesc Fabregas

16 years, 5 months, 24 days

2003: Rotherham

#3 Jack Wilshere

16 years, 8 months, 12 days

2008: Blackburn

#4 Jermaine Pennant

16 years, 10 months, 15 days

1999: Middlesbrough

#5 Paul Vaessen

16 years, 11 months, 11 days

1978: Lokomotive Leipzig

#6 Ryan Smith

16 years, 11 months, 18 days

2003: Rotherham

#7 Gedion Zelalem

16 years, 11 months, 29 days

2014: Coventry

#8 Armand Traore

17 years, 16 days

2006: West Brom

Data via Transfermarkt.

As for Walters, despite being named among the subs on ten occasions last season, wasn’t given any minutes. That’s despite another departing member of the squad in Cedric being given playing time when Arsenal already had three points in the bag. So, can you really blame the teen for leaving? Arguably not.

Allegedly the future of Arsenal’s defence, the English talent could have been a key player for Arteta in the forthcoming years.

Described as a “ball-playing monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, he also outlined how Walters would be “perfect” in Ben White’s role on the right-hand side. Also said to be “similar to Saliba” with regard to his ball carrying, you don’t get a more impressive set of comparisons than that when you play for Arsenal.

There is a worry, therefore, that the club could come to regret his departure. He’s not the same positionally but those at Colney may look towards Cole Palmer’s situation at Chelsea and know that losing exceptional young players can come back to haunt you.

Palmer wasn’t given a fair chance at Manchester City and as a result, sought more regular first-team opportunities elsewhere.

The end result? Well, we all know the story by now. The winger signed for Chelsea and is now in the Euros squad having won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, scoring 22 goals and supplying 11 league assists under Mauricio Pochettino. Only the devastating Erling Haaland scored more in the division.

Obviously, Walters won’t make that sort of an impact wherever he goes next but there is a lesson to be learnt. No matter how successful you are as a club, if you don’t show to those coming through the youth system that you’ll be given a pathway to first-team appearances, they will only go and thrive elsewhere.

Losing the 19-year-old won’t exactly damage their title ambitions next season but they could certainly be left to wonder what if in a few years time.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 6, 2024

تحدث محمد إسماعيل، المدير الفني لفريق إنبي، عن عدة مواضيع تخص الفريق ولاعبيه، من بينها إمكانية عودة زياد كمال في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير المقبل، ومتابعة أداء محمد حمدي مع نادي الزمالك.

وأبدى محمد إسماعيل تمنياته بعودة زياد كمال إلى صفوف إنبي في يناير، حيث صرح عبر قناة “mbc masr”، قائلاً: “هل ممكن يعود زياد كمال لإنبي في يناير المُقبل؟ لا يوجد حديث في هذا الشأن حاليًا، لكني أتمنى حدوث ذلك، لأنه بالتأكيد سيصنع الفارق معنا”.

وأضاف مشيدًا بإمكانيات اللاعب: “زياد كمال لاعب مميز، وأرى أنه لاعب كبير وعودته ستحدث فارقًا مع الفريق”.

طالع أيضًا | أحمد سليمان يرد على أنباء غضبه بسبب جروس

كما تطرق الحديث إلى محمد حمدي، لاعب إنبي المُعار إلى الزمالك، حيث أكد إسماعيل متابعته لأداء اللاعب حين يُشارك مع الفريق الأبيض، قائلاً: “أتابع محمد حمدي مع الزمالك حين يُشارك مع الفريق، هو لاعب كبير وإن شاء الله يحصل على فرصة للمشاركة مع الفارس الأبيض ويثبت نفسه”.

وعند سؤاله عما إذا كان هناك بند في عقد إعارة محمد حمدي مع الزمالك يخص نسبة مشاركته في المباريات، تهرب إسماعيل من الإجابة بشكل مباشر، قائلاً: “أنت تسألني وأحمد سليمان موجود”، ليُعلق أحمد سليمان، الذي كان متواجداً كضيف في برنامج “اللعيب”، بشكل مازح: “لا تقل له شيء قل سمك”، في إشارة إلى عدم رغبة الطرفين في الخوض في تفاصيل هذا البند.

Prime Minister says he convinced Misbah, Ali and Hafeez with “great difficulty” on new system’s virtues

Umar Farooq16-Sep-2020

Imran Khan wants provincial teams to form the core of domestic cricket in Pakistan•Getty Images

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister and patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has rejected calls for reviving departmental cricket in the country. In a brief meeting at Khan’s residence, a delegation that included Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez, made a bid to change the premier’s mind about the new structure, which has already cost over 400 cricketers their jobs, but could make no headway with Khan insisting that the new regional model was “the right way”.The cricketers who met Khan cited the reduced earnings for players under the new model, as well as the reduced opportunities for younger cricketers to pick up the game.”The new structure didn’t make any difference from its first year (2019) to the second (2020), which has been affected by Covid-19 too,” one member of the delegation said. “The pipeline of cricketers coming into the system has been drying up. We understand that Imran Khan has a point about having competitive cricket in Pakistan, but you cannot implement this in one go, without giving an alternative to cricketers.”However, Khan stuck to his stand, and said he had convinced the cricketers “with great difficulty” that the new structure needed time.”I have convinced with great difficulty Misbah, Hafeez and Azhar that the new cricket structure must be allowed to grow and become strong,” Khan said later. “I told them that every new system had its teething problems and it takes some time but I can assure you once it is established, it will ensure the raw talent we have in cricket will come through polished and groomed for international cricket.”He added that whatever success Pakistan had so far was in spite of the old system, and not because of it.”I am hopeful that we will be able in a position to field a very strong team for the next World Cup and do well in it thanks to this new system,” he said. “Despite this system we won because of the immense raw talent we have. Nowhere does a player graduate straight into the national team from junior or club level cricket.”ALSO READ: “We need departmental cricket back in Pakistan” – Umar GulAlongside the three cricketers, the delegation included PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, chief executive Wasim Khan, the COO Salman Naseer and Wasim Akram, in his capacity as a PCB cricket committee member.Khan had been a strong advocate for a domestic structure with only regional sides instead of departmental sides for much of his playing career too, wanting Pakistan to adopt a structure similar to Australia’s Shield cricket. Since becoming Prime Minister, a position that automatically makes him the patron of the PCB, Khan set about putting his ideas in place. He instructed Mani to restructure the domestic model with six regional teams in the system, which would be the only feeder for the national team. The decision effectively ended the role that departmental cricket had since the 1970s, but it also saw 400 cricketers lose their livelihoods because they had held jobs with departments only by virtue of playing for those teams. The PCB offered contracts to only 192 cricketers, apart from match officials. For many those contracts are much lower value than what departments were paying cricketers, where they often benefited from other perks.ESPNcricinfo understands the meeting was also marred by PCB officials contradicting players and not letting discussions flow smoothly. One of the players told ESPNcricinfo that Khan asked for patience with the new model, saying that Khan argued that such “transition” was always going to be difficult, but that for the national side to benefit, there needed to be competitive domestic cricket. No successful model in other cricket playing countries, Khan said, has departments (or corporate teams) playing at the highest level in domestic cricket. Khan also argued that players’ development stopped once they got jobs with departments, because the security bred complacency.The new structure is meant to empower the six province associations to operate from the grassroots level to the domestic level, and they will be responsible for regulating club, city and regional cricket. But while sound on paper, it’s not been easy to implement the new model in practice. Clubs that were supposed to be registered under the new model haven’t been, while players have played for the clubs for the past 18 months in a kind of vacuum – with the old structure gone and without the new structure in place.Domestic cricket in Pakistan has been played among departments and regions for nearly 50 years, starting in the early 1970s, when Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan’s first Test captain and then PCB chairman, encouraged organisations like Habib Bank Limited, Sui Southern Gas Corporation, Water and Power Development Authority and others to provide employment opportunities for players. With the new model, most departments have already suspended contracts they had with cricketers. Those who were permanent employees were asked to pick desk jobs, effectively ending their cricketing aspirations. These were players hired mainly for their cricketing skills, and given their lack of qualifications for other jobs, they have had to pick non-executive jobs with lesser pay.

Celtic could be in the market to add a new centre-forward to their squad during the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business last week.

Firstly, Hyeon-gyu Oh has reportedly been the subject of a £4m bid from Belgian giants Genk and could move on from Parkhead after being the third-choice number nine during the second half of last season.

The South Korea international found himself struggling for minutes as Brendan Rodgers preferred Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah ahead of him in the pecking order.

Football Insider have also reported that the Hoops would be willing to cash in on Kyogo if an offer of around £25m lands on the table this summer.

Amid speculation that the club's only two senior centre-forward options could be on their way out of Glasgow, the Bhoys are said to be keen on a permanent deal to bring Idah back to Paradise after his loan spell from Norwich City earlier this year.

The Scottish giants have now been linked with another striker who could come in to add more firepower to the squad and thrive alongside attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley.

Celtic's eyeing up in-demand marksman

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo (18/06/24), as relayed by Sport Witness, the Hoops are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Panathinaikos centre-forward Fotis Ioannidis this summer.

The report claims that the Bhoys are in contention to snap up the Greek international to compete for the starting number nine role at Parkhead next season.

It states that the Scottish Premiership champions are 'serious' competition to the other teams keen on a move to land the impressive marksman over the coming weeks.

O Jogo adds that Girona, Lazio, Sevilla, Ipswich Town, Sporting, and Lille are all also in the race to sign Ioannidis, which illustrates how tough it will be for Rodgers to get a deal over the line for him.

The report also reveals that Panathiniakos are hoping to rake in a fee of up to €30m (£25m) for their star finisher and that Sporting were willing to offer €20m (£16.8m) to take him to Portugal.

Celtic's current club-record signing stands at the £9m they spent to sign Odsonne Edouard from PSG in the summer of 2018, which makes a £25m swoop for the Greek dynamo seem unlikely.

However, if no teams are prepared to meet the £25m valuation then the Super League side could be forced to lower it, which could bring the Bhoys back into the picture from a financial perspective.

If they can somehow work out a way to bring him to Parkhead then he would be a dream player for O'Riley to play alongside in the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Matt O'Riley is a striker's dream

Firstly, the Hoops must ensure that they can keep hold of the Denmark international before the window slams shut amid interest from elsewhere.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly keen on a deal to add the central midfielder to Diego Simeone's squad and have been told that it will cost them €40m (£33m) to secure his services, but they are only willing to offer €20m (£15.8m) at this moment in time.

It is not difficult to understand why Celtic value him so highly after the incredible season he had in the Premiership last term under Rodgers' management.

The Danish wizard proved himself to be a striker's dream due to both his ability to consistently finish chances, as well as his constant stream of creativity in the middle of the park.

He had only produced three goals in 38 league games in Ange Postecoglou's final year at Parkhead and Rodgers' arrival in 2023 helped to unlock his goalscoring potential.

23/24 Premiership

Matt O'Riley

Squad rank

Sofascore rating

7.91

1st

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Big chances created

14

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old wizard led the squad in a host of key attacking metrics, including goals scored, assists provided, and 'big chances' created.

These statistics show that the left-footed maestro would be a dream for a striker due to his fantastic ability to consistently unlock opposition defences to create chances for his teammates, which could provide the attacker with ample opportunities to find the back of the net.

Why Celtic should sign Fotis Ioannidis

Ioannidis would also be a dream for O'Riley as he is an efficient finisher who can make the most of the chances that the midfielder creates, whilst also being a centre-forward who can create for others.

The 24-year-old marksman, who was described as "complete" by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered seven assists and created eight 'big chances' in 27 Super League appearances last term.

No Celtic striker managed as many assists or 'big chances' created in the Premiership, which suggests that more high-quality opportunities could be created for O'Riley to add even more goals to his game next term if the Greek ace is leading the line for Celtic.

Alongside his creative skills, Ioannidis is also a ruthless finisher who has the potential to be far more effective in front of goal than Kyogo for the Hoops.

23/24 season

Fotis Ioannidis (Super League)

Kyogo Furuhashi (Premiership)

Appearances

27

38

Goals

15

14

Minutes per goal

137

179

Big chances created

9

24

Conversion rate

19%

14%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Panathinaikos titan significantly outperformed the Japan international with his quality as a finisher at league level.

Despite playing 11 fewer games, the £25m-rated star scored more goals, missed a staggering 15 fewer 'big chances' and found the back of the net more frequently in relation to minutes played.

This suggests that he would be a dream for O'Riley in the final third as the Danish magician, who created 14 'big chances' in the Premiership last season, could benefit from the striker's fantastic finishing as it could boost his assist tally.

Related Kelleher signs, £8m star bought: What Rodgers' dream Celtic XI could be

A look at what the Hoops team could be next season if they have a successful summer transfer window.

Posts ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2024

Overall, the statistics indicate that the former MK Dons maestro and Ioannidis could form a lethal partnership at Parkhead moving forward if Celtic can keep one and sign the other before the window slams shut, due to their respective quality as scorers and creators of goals.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians não demonstrou o mesmo desempenho das partidas mais recentes, mas com uma vitória por 1 a 0 bateu o Grêmio, em Porto Alegre, neste sábado, pela 18ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021. A impressão foi a mesma por parte de Sylvinho, que valorizou o triunfo conquistado “no detalhe”.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: Assista ao gol de Jô na vitória do Corinthians sobre o GrêmioVídeo29/08/2021CorinthiansCorinthians tem acerto encaminhado com Willian, mas ainda aguarda definição no ArsenalCorinthians29/08/2021CorinthiansJô celebra gol da vitória do Corinthians e projeta melhora do time: ‘É seguir nessa caminhada’Corinthians28/08/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
>Veja como ficaria o valor de mercado do Timão com os possíveis reforços

Em entrevista coletiva após a partida, o técnico alvinegro destacou a dificuldade imposta pelo adversário, principalmente no primeiro tempo, e analisou o motivo pelo qual o Timão acabou tendo uma atuação ruim. Além disso, ele explicou o que fez na segunda etapa para corrigir os problemas apresentados.

-Não foi um bom primeiro tempo, pelo contrário. Nós sofremos muito na nossa saída de jogo, sofremos uma pressão adversária bem feita, nós tivemos muita dificuldade. Essa bola sempre saía com atraso, um pouco difícil, uma bola mastigada, isso prejudicou nossas ações mais técnicas de construção. Um segundo tempo melhor, mais bem postado, nós corrigimos essa situação de construção do meio-campo. Nós limpamos aquela área de conflito, abrimos mais os nossos meio-campistas para fazer a jogada mais por fora, dando amplitude em lateral – declarou o comandante corintiano.

Apesar de o desempenho ter sido abaixo do esperado, ele elogiou a entrega do time durante todo o jogo que, em sua análise, foi vencido por “um detalhe” que foi o gol marcado por Jô aproveitando jogada de bola parada no segundo tempo. O centroavante também foi alvo da admiração do técnico.

-Nosso time se desgasta bastante, porque nós fechamos espaços, corremos e nos desgastamos muito e ganhamos no detalhe do qual eles sabiam que era um campo difícil, um adversário muito difícil e nós já imaginávamos um jogo de muitos detalhes e complicado. Ganhamos no detalhe, feliz pelo Jô, pelo gol, por tudo o que ele tem nos dado em relação a sua entrega, sua qualidade, e tudo o que ele tem colocado para o time – concluiu.

Depois da partida deste sábado, Sylvinho terá um longo período para trabalhar com o time, já que a próximo compromisso será apenas no dia 7 de setembro, contra o Juventude, na Neo Química Arena. Com a vitória sobre o Grêmio, o Corinthians foi a 27 pontos na tabela, mantendo a sexta posição no Brasileirão.

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