Middlesex have made Dawid Malan club captain and that begged the question whether a man with leadership ambitions might one day fill the most demanding role of all

David Hopps01-Feb-2018Dawid Malan did not break into England’s Test side until shortly after his 30th birthday, but what odds that one day – even if just fleetingly – he might captain England?That thought might have crossed the mind of more than a few people when Middlesex announced that he had been appointed as their new club captain. Here is the chance he has long yearned for to make an impression.The need to find Joe Root occasional rest periods will exist as long as he remains a multi-format player, the vice captain Ben Stokes is facing charges of affray and the player who stepped into that role in Australia, James Anderson, is approaching the end of his career.Malan, one of the few figures to emerge in credit after England’s 4-0 Ashes thumping, struck a maiden Test hundred in Perth and showed resilience throughout, gaining a reputation as a tough cricketer with an appetite for the challenge. Even if he just steps in for a day, his odds have tightened considerably compared to only six months ago.Middlesex have been heavily reliant upon overseas players to lead the club in recent seasons as Angus Fraser, their managing director of cricket and also an England selector, testified.But Malan’s stock has risen and, with a certain irony, he has been entrusted with the job just as England can be expected to make more demands on his time.Malan takes over the captaincy of the club in all formats, with Sam Robson appointed as his four-day vice-captain. Middlesex will appoint a stand-in captain in T20 and 50-over cricket only if should that prove necessary.It has taken almost 350 appearances for Middlesex across all formats, with him amassing more than 14,000 runs in the process, including 23 centuries, before he was appointed – although he did lead Middlesex in the NatWest Blast in 2016 and also led the England Lions to a tri-series win against Pakistan-A and Sri Lanka-A in the same year, impressing Andy Flower along the way.Fraser said: “In recent years Middlesex Cricket have looked at overseas players and new signings to captain the club but I now feel the time is right for players from within to take on major leadership roles.Dawid Malan slugs one to the leg side•Getty Images”Since my return to Middlesex there have been a number of players who have developed from promising youngsters into high quality and highly-respected figures in domestic cricket. No player has done this more than Dawid Malan and that is why I am delighted he has taken up the offer to be club captain.”Dawid has always held the desire to captain teams and we have for some time believed he has had the potential to captain the club, hence his appointment as T20 captain in 2016. Along with the belief I have that he will become an excellent leader, Dawid stands out because he is somebody who we believe will do the job for several years.Fraser conceded that England absences complicated the issue but said that such considerations should not prevent Malan from gaining his rightful rewards. It is a view recently taken by Yorkshire with Gary Ballance and, somewhat controversially, by Kent with Sam Billings, a decision that will see Sam Northeast leave the club.”England commitments – and I hope Dawid continues to thrive as an international cricketer – may mean we do not see him for periods of the season but, in my mind, that should not stop the right man from holding the position he deserves to hold,” Fraser said.”In light of this Middlesex Cricket have made Sam Robson vice-captain in County Championship cricket. Sam is another player that has been developed by Middlesex and is a cricketer that is ready to take on further responsibility and new challenges. The pair of them will bring fresh ideas and energy to the County Championship cricket we play.Fraser also had warm words for the outgoing captain James Franklin, the New Zealand allrounder, who he said had “selflessly stepped in to fill a leadership hole.”So Malan as an England captain, however briefly? It might be seen as a bizarre suggestion, but there was a time when people would have scoffed at the thought that Paul Collingwood, by then pushing 34, would be the man to lead England to their only success in a major ICC tournament.

MatériaMais Notícias

A defesa do Bahia não vem uma boa temporada, algo que tem se refletido no desempenho da equipe no Brasileirão, tornando-a a equipe mais vazada da competição nacional com 18 gols sofridos em 10 partidas, média de quase dois gols por jogo.

Na temporada, o Tricolor de Aço sofreu 39 tentos sendo que 28 deles ocorreram depois da pausa do futebol por conta da pandemia causada pelo coronavírus.

Zagueiro mais jovem e segundo que está a mais tempo na equipe, Ignácio é o defensor que possui a menor média de gols sofridos na temporada. Com o atleta de 23 anos em campo, o Bahia toma menos de um gol por jogo, mais precisamente 0,66. Além disso, Ignácio também é o defensor central que possui a melhor média de aproveitamento nas partidas. Com o beque em campo, a equipe conquistou 77% dos pontos disputados.

Ignácio, entretanto, não entra em campo há mais de seis meses. A última partida do atleta nascido no Rio Grande do Norte foi no dia 1º de março em confronto contra o Vitória, vencido por 2 a 1, antes da paralisação do futebol.

A próxima oportunidade que o técnico Mano Menezes terá de acionar o defensor será no sábado (26) onde o Tricolor visita na Arena da Baixada o Athletico-PR pelo Brasileirão às 19h.

RelacionadasBahiaGoleiro de 16 anos assina primeiro contrato e afirma: ‘Quero fazer história pelo Bahia’Bahia21/09/2020BahiaBahia recusa oferta por Gregore e mantém volante no clubeBahia19/09/2020BahiaDesfalques do Bahia na lateral abre espaço para promessa das categorias de baseBahia18/09/2020

The purchase of 19-year-old wonderkid Matheus Franca on a five-year deal from Flamengo for £26m is another clear step in the direction that Crystal Palace wants to go.

Upon the Brazilian’s arrival, Palace Chairman Steve Parish said: "Matheus is a young and exciting player whose impressive early progress we have followed with keen interest, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club.

“Palace have a long history of attacking players with skill, pace, and tenacity, and I am sure Matheus will be another popular addition to the nucleus of this young and entertaining squad, packed full of international talent and potential, that we are building here in south London.”

Parish’s comments are indicative of the club’s transfer strategy, which has been summed up by The Atheltic’s Matt Woosnam as ‘buy players young, develop, sell for a profit at their peak’, which the club intends to implement on a cyclical basis as their model of sustainability.

Following Franca, and on the pretence of this thought process, the Eagles are reportedly chasing Matheus Nascimento.

Who do Crystal Palace want to sign?

According to reports, Palace and Nottingham Forest are interested in signing the Botafogo striker in a £15m deal.

The forward previously stalled on a move and was spotted with Palace officials, but Forest are said to be ‘leading the race’ as their owner Evangelos Marinakis is planning to loan him straight to Olympiacos, as he also owns the Greek side.

What are Matheus Nascimento's strengths?

The 6-foot marksman has been at Botafogo since the age of 11, and he swiftly established himself as one of the most promising prospects within the club’s academy, having scored over 150 goals.

Tiano Gomes, general manager of Botafogo's academy labelled the player as a "high-potential athlete" and an "asset."

As a result, Nascimento signed his first professional contract in June 2020, and in September of that year, he made his professional senior debut aged just 16 years and 6 months.

In total, the South American, who has been described as “incredible” by scout Jacek Kulig, has accumulated 80 appearances for Botafogo, scoring 11 times.

His signing would be yet another exciting addition to Palace, whose attack is taking shape following Wilfried Zaha’s inevitable departure.

Due to a lack of options, Nascimento could find instantly involved in the first-team outlay, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard not exactly the most prolific strikers.

Suspect depth and unproductive senior players, could see Franca awarded with a regular role in his first season in English football.

Kulig feels that the playmaker is “one of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil” and his potency could be hugely beneficial for Palace. In 59 appearances for Flamengo, he notched 19 goals and those in his homeland as he is destined for unadulterated greatness.

Fabio Matias, his former coach, is leading this change of thought and said: “He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well.”

With the confirmation of Olise’s commitment to the south London outfit on a four-year deal, the timeless brilliance of Eberechi Eze, and the glimmering potential of Franca, Nascimento could join this eye-catching wave of excitement to form an exciting new combination in attack.

Arsenal's hopes of competing across multiple fronts were dealt with a hammer blow just days after their opening clash of the season against Nottingham Forest.

Summer signing Jurrien Timber had looked at home in a red and white shirt since making the move from Ajax but picked up an injury and had to be substituted in that clash, meaning Mikel Arteta and co may well have to enter the transfer market again before it closes for business on Friday evening.

What happened to Jurrien Timber?

The Dutchman went down in the first half of that 2-1 win over Forest two weeks ago. However, the club's medical department deemed him fit enough to walk out for the second period.

Sadly, the defender went down again shortly after the break. This time he was unable to continue.

A knee problem was the cause of his withdrawal and indeed, he now won't play again for a considerable period of time.

Arsenal confirmed Timber had suffered an ACL injury, meaning he had to go under the knife before starting a long rehabilitation period.

When will Jurrien Timber return from injury?

It is widely expected that the 22-year-old will miss a large chuck, if not all of the 2023/24 campaign through his injury.

It has been suggested that ACL injuries typically keep a sportsperson out for a period of seven to nine months depending on the severity of the issue.

That would mean that Timber could return at any point between April and May. It's likely given a lack of match fitness that May would be the earliest we see Timber back in action for Arsenal if his recovery goes according to plan.

Who could replace Jurrien Timber at Arsenal?

Reports have suggested that Arteta may well place his trust in young Reuell Walters. However, with the transfer window still open, Barcelona's Eric Garcia has been noted as one potential option by Football Transfers.

Garcia left the Arsenal boss' former employers, Manchester City, in 2021 to rejoin his boyhood club and has gone from strength to strength.

Aged 22, the same as Timber, there are many similarities between the two, meaning the Spaniard could well be the perfect replacement.

The 6-foot centre-back, who can also play as a holding midfielder or at right-back, boasts the same versatility that made the ex-Ajax defender such an attractive proposition.

Crucially, the "extraordinary" Garcia – as dubbed by Barca boss Xavi, also boasts the same technical ability, notably when it comes to his passing ability. Considering he learnt his trade in La Masia, that is hardly a surprise.

Indeed, according to FBRef, the young £23m-rated defender ranks inside the best 1% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, the best 3% for progressive carries and the best 5% for pass completion rate.

Timber, on the other hand, also ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes and the best 3% for progressive carries. His pass completion rate, which sees him sit in the top 2% across the continent, is even better than Garcia.

The parallels are clear, then. These two budding young defenders love to play on the front foot and love to play their way out of trouble.

Arsenal lost a great deal when Timber was ruled out for such a long period of time but in Garcia, they would land a like-minded player who can help to relieve the burden put on William Saliba's shoulders. It may also help to move Thomas Partey from his role on the right-hand side of defence into midfield again. That can only be a plus point as far as the Gunners are concerned.

Sri Lanka competed hard on a bouncy Wankhede Stadium deck, but India pulled ahead at the crucial moments to wrap up a five-wicket win

The Report by Shashank Kishore24-Dec-20172:40

We showed glimpses of where we’re heading – Pothas

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFor the first time in the series, Sri Lanka were genuinely in the contest. The bounce at the Wankhede Stadium gave their seamers some zip that they couldn’t quite manage to generate in Cuttack and Indore. In defence of 136, they dismissed the rampaging pair of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, who walloped joint-fastest T20 hundred two nights ago, inside seven overs. India’s asking rate climbed to close to 8.5 per over with eight overs left, a genuine test for a middle order that hasn’t had too much batting time of late.This was Sri Lanka’s best opportunity to close out the game. But India had MS Dhoni in the middle at the end along with Dinesh Karthik. Nuwan Pradeep only conceded six runs off the first five balls of the penultimate over, leaving India nine to get off the last seven balls. At that point it was Pradeep who cracked under the pressure; he sent down a friendly full-toss that Karthik swatted into the stands beyond deep midwicket. That, right there, was the knockout punch with one full over to play. A heady climax eventually turned cold right at the end, but not before India had been given quite a scare.Lack of scoreboard pressure early in the chase gave India some leeway as Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey overcame early struggles against the moving ball to add 42 in 6.2 overs to put India back on track. But the match swung again when Iyer was run-out at the non-striker’s end, Akila Dananjaya’s fingertips intercepting a flat-batted strike from Pandey and deflecting it into the stumps.The wicket may have not come about had Thisara Perera not thrown himself to his left to stop a single at cover off the previous delivery. Clearly, Sri Lanka were in the game, waiting to grab at any opportunity. When they sent Iyer back, India needed 55 off 40. This was precisely the moment when Pandey, largely subdued until then, decided to cut loose, hitting three fours off the next five balls he faced. India were back in it.But Sri Lanka weren’t giving up. Hardik Pandya feathered an attempted ramp to the wicketkeeper, leaving India four down with 37 to get off the last five overs. When Pandey was bowled by one that jagged back in to beat his inside edge – the dismissal coming about largely because of his style of playing beside the line – it came down to 28 off 23.Up against Chameera with no slip in place, Dhoni managed to find a thick edge that beat the diving wicketkeeper and ran away for four. In the same over, there was more drama when Sri Lanka reviewed a not-out lbw decision, the tense crowd roaring in unison as the giant screen showed the ball missing the stumps. Dhoni would eventually hit the winning runs.The architects who masterminded Sri Lanka’s downfall after they were sent in to bat were Washington Sundar and Jaydev Unadkat – two bowlers who had been at the forefront of Rising Pune Supergiant’s magnificent run to the IPL final earlier this year.Washington, India’s youngest T20I debutant, bowled three overs of no-frills offspin upfront, often varying his pace between fast and faster, his length between good and full, and strangulated the largely left-handed top order. He finished with figures of 4-0-22-1. Unadkat, IPL 2017’s second-highest wicket-taker who also finished the tournament with an economy rate of 7.02, cramped the left-handers early on and was rewarded for his accuracy. Washington and Unadkat prised out Sri Lanka’s top three inside four overs to set off a procession.It needed Asela Gunaratne’s industrious 37-ball 36 and Dasun Shanaka’s 29 off 24 to haul Sri Lanka to 135 from a precarious 85 for 6.India suffered a few early jitters in their chase. KL Rahul was the first to fall, given out lbw while trying to heave Dushmantha Chameera’s indipper across the line. Rohit too was shaky to begin with, and was saved by the bounce in the first over when he played down the wrong line of a Dananjaya googly that sneaked between bat and pad. Two balls later, he was deceived in flight and nearly chipped a return catch.Rohit broke the stranglehold by disturbing Dananjaya’s length – slog-sweeping him to midwicket and then stepping out to hit him straight down the ground for six. But unlike in the previous two games, Sri Lanka managed to sustain the pressure with Shanaka nibbling away in the off-stump channel and getting the ball to jag both ways.A miscued pull to a ball that skidded on faster than Rohit expected resulted in a simple catch to deep square leg. This left the middle order in the spotlight, and they were able to steer India to their target, with some help from Sri Lanka’s nerves and the dew, and bring a memorable home season to a winning end.

Over the last decade, Leicester City have been through one of the most incredible stories English football has ever seen.

From being promoted to the Premier League ahead of the 2014/15 season and avoiding relegation against all odds, to winning the league title the next season in one of the most unbelievable achievements in the history of top-flight football.

After several experiences in European football, Leicester would even win the FA Cup for the very first time in 2021. This success would, however, mark the beginning of the end for Leicester, who were struggling financially due to the Covid outbreak.

With the number of outgoings heavily outweighing new incomings, it was hardly a surprise to see Leicester struggle in the 2022/23 season, as they were relegated back to the Championship.

While some outgoings, such as Ben Chilwell and Wesley Fofana, brought huge amounts of money into the club, there were others that have since reflected poorly on the club, who never got their chance to impress in the first team.

Who has left Leicester City in recent years?

With the need for a financial boost, the Foxes turned to player sales to help them. After winning the FA Cup, star defender Ben Chilwell was one of the first names to go, with their opponents in the final, Chelsea, paying a sizable £50m fee for the full-back.

Another departure that summer was Demarai Gray, who left for a rather underwhelming £1.7m fee to German side Bayer Leverkusen, before returning to the Premier League a year later to join Everton.

In 2022, the club reluctantly sold promising defender Wesley Fofana, again to Chelsea for an irrefutable £70m, providing the club with important funds.

While a number of big names have left the club in recent years, Leicester have also let go some of their upcoming talents, some of which they may look back on with regret as one of the factors in their relegation was a result of lacking squad depth.

One player who left the Leicester setup and has gone on to achieve better things is Nigerian international defender, Calvin Bassey.

When did Leicester sell Calvin Bassey?

After coming through the ranks at Leicester, playing in both their U18 and U21 sides, Bassey was never given a chance to appear in the first team before his eventual departure.

In June 2020, Scottish side Rangers announced that they had agreed a pre-contract signing for Bassey, who was 20-years-old at the time. The compensation fee paid to Leicester was reported to be just £230k for the young defender.

The Scottish side’s manager at the time Steven Gerrard spoke highly of the Nigerian, saying:

“It’s pleasing to secure the services of another young talent. He’s a strong and dynamic athlete who is very much the modern-day full-back.”

Over the course of his debut season in Scotland, Bassey featured 15 times in all competitions, seven of those appearances coming in the league as Rangers went unbeaten and attained a club-record 102 points to win their first title in ten years.

What was next for Bassey?

After showing promising signs in his brief spells on the pitch over the 2020/21 season, the following season saw Bassey begin to cement his place in the first team for Rangers.

In all competitions, he played 50 times as Rangers won the Scottish Cup and made it to the Europa League final, where they were harshly beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.

Bassey’s performances over the season stood out from left-back, and despite the loss in the Europa League final, he was one of the better players on the pitch, receiving praise online.

Football journalist Joshua Bunting took to Twitter to applaud his efforts, as he said: “Bassey has been a monster tonight, outstanding performance.”

In the summer of 2022, many top clubs around the continent were interested in the Rangers full-back, but it was European giants Ajax who landed the signing.

The Dutch outfit spent a club-record £23m on the defender, emphasising their trust in his potential to be a star.

Despite a disastrous debut, which saw him sent off after just 15 minutes of being brought on as a substitute, Bassey played the majority of the season in Amsterdam, under multiple managers. His versatility was important for the club, being able to play across the back line of defence.

Where is Calvin Bassey now?

After one season in Amsterdam, the 23-year-old gem had shown glimpses of the talent seen at Rangers, but new manager Maurice Steijn told Bassey “it would be better to leave Ajax,” as the club needed to raise funds.

Over the past summer window, Bassey made his return to England, three years after he left Leicester City. In July, Fulham agreed a £19m fee to sign the defender, recouping most of the money Ajax spent a year prior and an 8160.87% increase on what Rodgers let him go for three years ago.

Club

Transfer fee

Fulham (2023-)

£19m

Ajax (2022-2023)

£23m

Rangers (2020-2022)

£230k

Leicester (2016-2020)

£0

Total

£42.2m

Following his arrival, Bassey spoke of his delight to be back in his hometown, saying:

"They’re playing in the Premier League, the best league in the world, so I didn’t have to think much about it.

“It’s a London club as well, so it’s always a plus to be home.”

With Fulham spending a rather hefty fee on the player, it is clear they also see a future in the player.

Although his spell at Ajax may not have hit the levels expected of him, a move to a strong mid-table side in the Premier League is able to give Bassey the opportunity to prove himself in England’s top-flight after never getting his chance during his time at Leicester.

With his former club now residing in the Championship, perhaps the move to Rangers three years ago was pivotal to Bassey’s development as a player.

The move to Marco Silva’s exciting Fulham side is seemingly a great fit for the 6 foot 1 defender to make the next step in his career and solidify himself as a starting defender for a Premier League side.

Leeds United are expected to complete a number of late deals before the transfer window slams shut, but precious time is running out with just over 24 hours of the window left.

Who could Leeds United sign on deadline day?

With a hectic summer of key incomings and numerous outgoings, Daniel Farke has done well to manage expectations and get fans on board despite the mass upheaval he has had to deal with.

The Whites have aspirations of toppling the Championship at the first time of asking, but with their stuttering start to the league season, that is a goal that has taken a serious dent.

In an effort to get them back on track, already the German manager has made big moves towards further bolstering his squad in time for the deadline. One such touted name is Glen Kamara, who has taken a giant step towards making his move a reality.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now even uttered his famous phrase, writing on Twitter:

"Glen Kamara from Rangers to Leeds, deal agreed and here we go — player on his way to undergo medical tests later today. #LUFC Medical booked in the afternoon as deal has been agreed between clubs and on player side."

This comes hours after Four Lads Had A Dream suggested his £5m move was imminent.

How good is Glen Kamara?

Having moved to Ibrox in 2019, the 27-year-old powerhouse has swiftly become a mainstay under the various managers to grace their dugout, with Steven Gerrard the first to laud his exploits.

The former Liverpool legend was effusive in his praise following one of his first performances, noting:

"He’s a terrific footballer in possession, always playing with his head up and looking to connect defence and attack. But what pleased me most is what I spoke about when we signed him in terms of how he’ll be out of possession. Will he hunt the ball back, be aggressive, work hard for the team and be a monster in the middle of the park?

"He showed signs of that against Kilmarnock and potentially he can become a top midfielder.”

It could now be Farke who benefits from this prediction though, with eye-catching form to suggest he has certainly grown as a player during his time in Scotland.

After all, his 2021/22 season was a standout one, with a 7.01 average rating feeding into his three goals, three assists, 91% pass accuracy as well as 1.3 key passes and one tackle per game, via Sofascore.

For comparison, his rating would have made him Leeds' best-performing player last term in the Premier League.

As a combative midfielder with the quality to occasionally push forward, there is every reason to believe that Kamara could be the reincarnated version of a former fan favourite, David Batty, in Leeds' current engine room.

Having also made his debut in the second division, as the Rangers star would also be set to, he helped his boyhood club seal promotion under Howard Wilkinson before winning the league the year before it was rebranded.

A teammate of his at the time, Tony Dorigo, praised the hard-faced nature of the midfielder:

"Fantastic player, absolutely fantastic player. One of those players that as a team-mate he’s the one you want. In the trenches, I want Batts alongside me.

“He set the tone a lot at Elland Road and away. it would be a tackle in the first one or two minutes and you’d look into your opponent’s eyes – if the guy could get up because he’d be on the deck – and if they were up for it, then okay, but it was Batts that normally set the tone."

His presence helped protect a staunch backline, and although he would eventually leave, his return was well-received despite their eventual relegation in 2004.

Batty remains a revered figure in Yorkshire, and should Kamara seek to emulate his tough-tackling but economical style of play, he too could quickly become an instant fan favourite.

After all, those aforementioned figures clearly show that the foundation is there for him to become so at Elland Road.

Nottingham Forest are slowly starting to look like they are on track to becoming an established Premier League side.

Steve Cooper has guided his side to two wins out of four including a shock result against top-flight giants Chelsea. He was also pipped to points by Champions League qualifiers Manchester United and Arsenal, so there are no early signs that Forest should worry about.

Last season, the league's newcomers picked up just six points in their first 11 games – during the 2022/23 season, the Tricky Trees splashed out £145m as they were scrambling for Premier League quality players.

Looking back on the 21 players that came to the City Ground only a few looked to have been successful.

The Reds finished their first season back at the top in 23 years with just 38 goals to their name showing they obviously needed reinforcements to create chances for goals.

Forest fans may wonder how their Premier League campaign would have finished if they still had Matty Cash a part of their cavalry.

The now-Poland international is smashing it at Aston Villa and is a force to be reckoned with in both halves of the pitch.

How much did Forest sell Cash for?

Much like Forest in their first season back in the Premier League, Villa was also close to going down however their margins were much thinner escaping by one point.

Then manager Dean Smith knew the Birmingham outfit needed some serious reinforcements if they were to avoid getting dragged into a relegation fight the following season.

Ollie Watkins, Bertrand Traoré and Emiliano Martinez were all brought to Villa Park as marquee signings.

Ex-Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi sold Cash in a deal worth an initial £14m rising to £16m if clauses and bonuses were met making him one of the four permanent additions to the Midlands club in the Summer

Who else was interested in Cash?

The 6 foot 1 full-back has been on the radar for a few European clubs prior to his arrival at Villa Park.

In the 2016/17 season, recently promoted RB Leipzig were the new boys on the block looking to topple Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga. The youth-focused transfer strategy has already seen some of the world’s most promising players join the East German club.

The then 19-year-old Cash had the chance to join former Forest teammate Oliver Burke, along with Naby Keita, Dayot Upamecano and Timo Werner at the Red Bull Arena, however, the two-time European champions rejected the £6m offer.

Three years later it was Italian giants AC Milan who were chasing after the right-back, but Forest pulled the plug after realising his sale may hinder their chance of promotion.

The man who was dubbed a future “super player” by former manager Dean Smith later joined Villa just six months later, trading the fashion capital of the world for the Birmingham Bullring.

After signing for Villa, Cash said:

"My agent rang me and said that Villa were interested, and immediately it was the place I wanted to come to.

"I said, Don’t even worry about anywhere else, I want to come here and play.

"It’s such a big football club, from the fanbase to the stadium. Every time I played at Villa Park before it just sold itself to me."

How has Cash performed for Villa?

Once described as a “threat” when going forward by the former Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish, Cash has showcased his attacking capabilities in the claret and blue shirt.

The 2021/22 season saw the 6 foot 1 defender score four and assist three goals in the Premier League.

During the same campaign, Cash created 28 chances throughout Villa’s Premier League campaign and ranked joint second for interceptions per 90 (1.3) according to FotMob.

The Polish right-back’s performances didn't go unnoticed by the Villa faithful as he was known as the standout performer picking up the 2021/22 Supporters’ Player of the Season.

Stats per Fotmob

2012/22 season

2022/23 season

Successful tackles per 90

1.3

1.6

Tackle success %

56.2%

58.2%

Interceptions per 90

1.3

1.3

Cash may be more familiar for his attacking ability as a right-back but that’s not to say he hasn't improved defensively as well.

The Aston Villa defender improved his successful tackles per 90 and his success rate last Premier League campaign compared to the season prior showing he’s made strides improving all parts of his game.

So far in 2023/24, Cash has found the back of the net two times making him the Villans’ joint-top scorer.

Is Cash the biggest blunder for Forest in recent times?

The Tricky Trees’ academy system has flown under the radar in the past with the spotlight often being the talent other clubs are producing.

In fact, Nottingham Forest has produced two players in the form of Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates who are regular starters for the Premier League club.

Very few in the division can say they have academy graduates who get consistent minutes.

Nevertheless, Forest is still prone to making a few blunders, especially under Lamouchi as evident above, and has let go of a couple of ex-academy players who could have made a bigger impact at the City Ground

Cash is now worth around £32m according to FootballTransfers which may hurt Forest fans and even more owner Evangelos Marinakis.

It’s not just the £80k-per-week defender who could have sold for a pretty penny or made a bigger impact at the City Ground.

Brennan Johnson is the latest academy graduate to leave Forest for a large cash sum.

The Welsh international switched to Tottenham Hotspur’s in a deal worth £47.5m which is over market value.

Only time will tell who got the better deal but the Reds will be without the player who got their second-most goal contributions (11) last season and at 22 will likely flourish under Ange Postecoglou.

Patrick Bamford is another notable player who may have departed the City Ground at the wrong time.

The one-capped England international was snapped up by Chelsea as a teenager for just £1.5m in 2012. The now Leeds talisman was previously worth £23m and has gone to be a fairly decent player.

With 51 goals in 151 matches for Leeds, including 17 in the Premier League 2020/21 season, Bamford is a player Forest could have done with.

Name

Club

Sold for

Highest Transfer Value

Matty Cash

Aston Villa

£16m

£40m

Brennan Johnson

Tottenham Hotspur

£47.5m

£39m

Anel Ahmedhodžić

Sheffield United

N/A

£12m

Patrick Bamford

Leeds United

£1.5m

£23m

Jamaal Lascelles

Newcastle United

£3.5m*

£15.4m

£7m* – joint fee for both Lascelles and Karl Darlow

The Reds may rue the decision to part ways with Cash due to his performances on the pitch for Aston Villa and that his value has sky-rocketed, and this could be argued about a fee former academy stars as mentioned.

Cooper and the Forest recruitment staff will move past the decision and will try to learn from their mistakes.

There are some very exciting prospects coming through Wilford Lane including Aaron Donnelly, Fin Back and Zach Abbot all waiting for their chance to impress the Forest faithful under the lights of the City Ground.

Hampshire have signed South Africa batsman Hashim Amla as their overseas player for the first three months of the 2018 domestic season. Amla, who has been rated as the No. 1 batsman in both Test and ODI cricket, will be available for County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup action.The move, coming just after the club completed the signing of Sam Northeast, further strengthens the Hampshire batting and underlines the club’s ambition for the coming season. Both men might also be considered captaincy options in due course.While Giles White, Hampshire’s head coach, has confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that James Vince will be the first choice-captain in all formats should he be available – his future in the England team could be decided in New Zealand in the coming weeks – both Northeast and Amla have extensive leadership experience.Either way, Amla’s signing confirms that George Bailey will not return. Despite having a year to run on his contract, Bailey had expressed reservations about coming back some time ago and White confirmed he will not be signed for the second half of the season to replace Amla.”Hashim is an exciting acquisition for us and we feel he’ll be an excellent fit within the group we’ve got, both on and off the pitch,”White said.”He’s a world-class player and this addition adds strength and depth to our batting for the first three months of the season. Runs on the board are important and hopefully this will help us achieve that consistently in both the four-day and 50-over competitions. We’re looking forward to welcoming Hashim and his family to the club.”Amla said: “I am really pleased to be joining a club like Hampshire. Everyone I have spoken to, who have either played or are currently playing there, have only had good things to say about the team.”I look forward to spending the first three months of the season with them, which works out well for me to be able to get some high-quality cricket in before the Proteas tour to Sri Lanka in July.”The 34-year-old has previously had spells at Essex (2009), Nottinghamshire (2010), Surrey (2013-14) and Derbyshire (2015) and underlined his comfort in English conditions by becoming the first South African to score a triple-century in Test cricket when reaching a career-best 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012.

Newcastle United's transfer window was largely driven by the narrative of long-term strategy, with Eddie Howe's side making requisite moves to preserve the club's newfound prominence.

Indeed, following the lucrative PIF takeover and consequent appointment of Howe in the later stage of 2021, the Magpies swiftly rose from their lowly Premier League position, then utilised the new affluence as the framework for a successful season, defying expectations with a fourth-placed finish last term.

Now with Champions League football on the horizon, the outfit's future is one of immense promise, and despite a stuttering start to the present season, the St. James' Park side will be confident of further promise this year.

How much did Newcastle spend this summer?

Newcastle's squad has very much been reformed since the momentous club takeover, and after such solid work over the past 20 or so months, moves were made this summer to consolidate this new position of power.

Indeed, Sandro Tonali was signed from AC Milan for £55m to bolster the midfield, while the prolific Harvey Barnes was swiped from relegated Leicester City in a £39m deal; young dynamos Tino Livramento (£32m) and Lewis Hall (£28m obligation) were both signed for large fees to bolster the backline, with the aces playing left and right back respectively.

These signings have not quite had the desired, instantaneous effect – even if Tonali and Barnes did both score on their debut during a 5-1 rout over Aston Villa in August – with the last three matches resulting in defeat against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Anthony Gordon, a £45m acquisition from Everton in January, has started the season confidently and looks a fine replacement for the mercurial Allan Saint-Maximin, who left the club for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in a £23m transfer this summer.

However, the true heir to that throne may lie outside English shores right now, with Magpies talent Yankuba Minteh thriving out on loan in the Netherlands.

Who is Yankuba Minteh?

Signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub in July for roughly £6m, the 19-year-old Gambian forward completed an instant loan move to Dutch champions Feyenoord this summer, with Howe's view that he will be integrated into the squad next season.

Praised for his "high potential" by Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth, Minteh excelled in Denmark last season and posted four goals and six assists from 18 matches for his former outfit, heralded as a "special" talent by one Danish scout for his dynamism and electricity in attacking transition.

And now, in the early phase of the current campaign, the winger is already being lauded for his efforts in the Eredivisie, netting a delightful goal in Feyenoord's last match, artfully weaving around the keeper with a graceful gait before nonchalantly firing into an open net to cap off a convincing 5-1 victory over Utrecht.

Given his innate dribbling abilities and finesse on the ball, Minteh could indeed prove to be the perfect successor to Saint-Maximin's position in the Tyneside squad, replacing the fleet-footed Frenchman and perhaps even surpassing his quality at the club.

As per FBref, Minteh has averaged 9.23 progressive carries per game so far with Feyenoord, dazzling with his ball progression and destructive qualities in bringing the ball upfield.

This bears a semblance to Saint-Maximin, who currently ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90 (7.29), by this measure, Minteh is on his way to becoming one of the most prolific ball-carriers in the game.

Once hailed a "wizard" by 90min's Graeme Bailey, Saint-Maximin was never the most consistent of goalscorers and only scored 13 goals for Newcastle across 124 appearances, and given Minteh's early promise and "magic" ability to rival the 26-year-old's – as claimed by Odense's chief executive Steffen Nielsen – the Gambian could surpass his performances.

Howe likely did the right thing in loaning him out this season, with Barnes and Gordon expected to get the majority of the match action on the wings, but neither boast the same intrinsic level of explosiveness, and Minteh could be a unique and frightening weapon once deployed on Premier League defences.