Skerritt blames batters in scathing attack after West Indies' T20 World Cup exit

“Untimely shot selections seem to be deeply embedded in the T20 batting culture of our senior team,” the CWI president says

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-20221:41

Simmons: Batters need to take a look at themselves

Ricky Skerritt, the Cricket West Indies president, has promised a “thorough postmortem” in a scathing assessment of the team’s early exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup.In a statement posted on CWI’s website and on Twitter, Skerritt laid the blame firmly at the feet of West Indies’ batters, saying their poor shot selection and failure against spin was key to the two-time champions bowing out in the first round of the tournament in Australia.Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe and Ireland – who defeated West Indies by nine wickets on Friday – advanced to the Super 12s with two wins from three matches apiece in the first round.”I am deeply disappointed with the performance results of our team in Australia and I appreciate the sense of utter frustration that is being experienced by many,” Skerritt’s statement said. “The ongoing inability of our batsmen to prevail over opposing slow bowling continued to be an obvious weakness in Australia, and untimely shot selections seem to be deeply embedded in the T20 batting culture of our senior team.”West Indies have lost six of the eight matches they have played in T20 World Cups since their 2016 final triumph in India.Related

'This is not going to stop me, I'm going to continue to learn' – Nicholas Pooran

Simmons quits as West Indies coach after 'unfathomable' World Cup exit

Pollard bemoans 'sad day' for WI cricket, says players not at fault for T20 WC exit

Ponting calls West Indies' early exit a 'disgrace'

Ireland knock out West Indies with commanding victory

In their opening match of this edition, they were bowled out for just 118 chasing 161 against Scotland before managing to defend a modest 153 for 7 against Zimbabwe, thanks to Alzarri Joseph’s 4 for 16 and Jason Holder’s 3 for 12. But Ireland easily overhauled their 146 for 5 on Friday to cruise into the next round. West Indies noticeably struggled against spin through the middle overs in all three of their games.Brandon King’s unbeaten 62 off 48 balls was the sole bright spot of West Indies’ innings against Ireland after they inched their way to 41 for 2 in the powerplay, scoring just five fours and one six in that time. In contrast, Ireland struck six fours and four sixes in the first six overs of their chase.Against Zimbabwe, Johnson Charles – replacing King, who was ill at the time – was West Indies’ top-scorer with 45 off 36 balls, and only four West Indies batters reached double figures against Scotland in a display coach Phil Simmons described as “unprofessional”.Skerritt went on to say that he was determined to find a solution to West Indies’ slide.”I want to assure stakeholders that a thorough postmortem will be carried out on all aspects of our World Cup preparation and performance and that solutions will be found in keeping with CWI’s strategy to improve the quality and sustainability of cricket on all fronts, and in all formats.”West Indies cricket is bigger than any one individual or event and continues to need the input and support of all stakeholders.”

Suryakumar 'makes everyone else look so much worse,' says awestruck Maxwell

Suryakumar Yadav has been wowing everyone – colleagues, experts, fans – with his incredible 360-degree hitting in T20 cricket. Glenn Maxwell is the latest to talk about being awestruck by Suryakumar’s batting, saying, “No-one we’ve got is close to that; no-one anyone else has got is close to that”.Not averse to playing a few unorthodox shots himself, Maxwell said that the consistency with which Suryakumar has been able to hit some of his most audacious shots was “ridiculous”, and much else.Related

  • Harbhajan wants 'better suited' Nehra to coach India's T20I side

  • 'I'm enjoying batting this way' – Suryakumar after his 111*

  • Suryakumar Yadav defies reality to play anime cricket

“Suryakumar Yadav is doing it in such a bizarre, ungainly way where he’s hitting the middle of the bat by just like stepping across, deciding to sweep somebody who’s bowling 145 (kph) from off the wicket on the other side,” Maxwell said on . “And then just putting his head down walking down chewing some gum, glove tap, bat tap, sort of a bit of a swagger and off he goes again and does it again.”Suryakumar, the No. 1 batter in the ICC T20I player rankings, most recently hit 111 not out in 51 balls to give India a big win over New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. The extent of his domination, and the damage he caused, could be gauged from the numbers the rest of the India batting unit put up: 69 runs in 69 balls. Virat Kohli called it a “video game innings”, while Suryakumar himself admitted to being amazed at some of the strokes he hit.

Calling the innings “extraordinary”, Maxwell, who is recuperating after breaking his leg in a “freak accident”, said that it sometimes got frustrating for him to watch Suryakumar bat as he was “so much better than everyone else”.”I saw the [Mount Maunganui T20I] scorecard from the first innings. I screenshot it and sent it straight to Finchy [Aaron Finch] and I said, ‘What is going on here?’ This bloke is batting on a different planet. I said, ‘Look at everyone else’s scores and look at this bloke that’s 111 off 50! What is going on?’.” Maxwell said. “So, the next day, I watched the full replay on [an app] and watched the whole innings. It is just extraordinary.”He’s playing some of the most ridiculous shots I’ve ever seen and he’s doing it stupidly consistently. It’s just actually a bit hard to watch because it just makes everyone else look so much worse for not being able to do that.”Suryakumar has been in exceptional form in T20Is in 2022. He is the highest run-getter with 1164 runs in 31 games this year, averaging 46.56 and striking at 187.43. He also had a terrific T20 World Cup, where he notched up 239 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 189.68, often giving India the impetus at the end.And a lot of it has come from finding different angles on the field and doing it consistently.”He plays the field so well and his wrists and hand speed is so quick that he is able to make a last minute adjustment, a last second adjustment to make sure that he can get the ball into a gap,” Maxwell said. “The way he plays spin, the way he hits it over cover, he reverses really well, he sweeps strong, and he is still able to hit the ball strong down the ground. To have that ability to hit the ball around the ground but so powerfully all over the place. He’s just so good.”

As good as Nwaneri: Arsenal could unleash "insane" teen for the first time

Arsenal have been hit with several huge injury blows in recent weeks that have left Mikel Arteta with little to choose from when selecting his attacking options in matches.

Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli are all out injured for the foreseeable future, and the Gunners did not swoop to bring in any reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Arsenal’s current injuries

Player

Injury

Expected return

Games missed (including predicted absence)

Gabriel Jesus

ACL

August 31st 2025

21

Bukayo Saka

Hamstring

April 1st 2025

18

Kai Havertz

Hamstring

June 30th 2025

14

Gabriel Martinelli

Hamstring

Unknown

1

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Knee

Unknown

29

Injury information via Transfermarkt

Whilst it remains to be seen how the London giants will resolve their issue in the number nine position, the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri has helped to deal with the loss of Saka to injury.

Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates

The 17-year-old whiz, who turns 18 in March, has emerged as a genuine first-team option for Arteta this season, with some eye-catching performances on the right flank.

Ethan Nwaneri's emergence this season

Nwaneri made his Premier League debut at the age of 15 years and 181 days against Brentford in September 2022, which made him the youngest player in the history of the division.

Two seasons later the England U19 international has become a regular in the senior set-up. He has made 24 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season, including 15 outings in the top-flight.

24/25 Premier League

Ethan Nwaneri

Appearances (starts)

15 (4)

xG

0.74

Goals

3

xA

1.01

Assists

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Nwaneri has produced four direct goal contributions in four starts in the Premier League, with his latest being an assist for Mikel Merino in the 2-0 win over Leicester at the weekend.

The teenage sensation, who has scored seven goals in all competitions, may soon have another incredible teenage talent alongside him in the first-team, as Arsenal have 15-year-old Max Dowman rapidly rising through the ranks.

Arsenal could hit gold with Max Dowman

Arteta, as he already has with Nwaneri, could hit the jackpot by unearthing the young attacking midfielder in the coming seasons, as he is emerging as an incredible prospect who could be as good as the current first-team academy graduate.

Back in November, Fabrizio Romano reported that the then-14-year-old was already training with the first-team at Arsenal, and that the club consider him to be a “huge” talent.

In the same month, analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Dowman has stood out at U19 and U21 level, despite his incredibly young age, and described his talent as “insane”, whilst he added that it would not be a surprise for him to make his debut this season and beat Nwaneri’s Premier League record.

The 15-year-old starlet has already made his U21 debut and has racked up three goals and two assists in eight appearances for the U18s this season, which shows that the youngster is starring well above his age bracket.

Dowman is shining in the academy and has clearly caught Arteta’s attention, hence why he has been in first-team training as young as 14, which is why he could be as big of a talent as Nwaneri, who has emerged in the senior set-up at the age of 17.

Arsenal now make contact for "composed" £50m striker with 20 league goals

The Gunners have made the first move to sign a striker who is the top scorer in his league this season.

ByDominic Lund Feb 16, 2025

It is now down to the manager to plot the perfect pathway to the first-team for the left-footed playmaker, who is yet to make his senior bow, to ensure that the club can strike gold with the teenage ace, who could eventually become a regular for the Spanish tactician in the future.

'There's no time for regrets, we have to prepare for the match against Pumas' – Monterrey's Martin Demichelis determined to move on from Pachuca loss

The Argentinian coach is already focused on Pumas clash after tough loss to Pachuca

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, and Óliver Torres missed the match due to injury
  • Monterrey will host Pumas this weekend in a do-or-die match for a spot in the Liguilla
  • The winner will face Toluca in the quarterfinals
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Monterrey head coach Martín Demichelis is already turning the page after his team’s 2–1 defeat to Pachuca in the Play-In, a result that now forces into a do-or-die matchup against Pumas for a spot in the Liguilla. The winner will advance to face Toluca in the quarterfinals.

    Key absences played a role in the loss, as Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, and Óliver Torres all missed the match due to injury, leaving Monterrey without their Spanish core. Despite an early lead through Germán Berterame in the 11th minute, mounted a late comeback with goals from Lucas Bauermann (82’) and Salomón Rondón (87’).

    “The feeling is the opposite of happiness. We faced a rival that made us uncomfortable. In the second half, without making changes, we adjusted and improved, took the lead, and then had four fatal minutes where every action turned the game,” said Demichelis after the match. “The feeling is one of great frustration and sadness because we expected to take that step into the playoffs.”

    Still, the Argentine coach emphasized that the team must quickly shift its focus to the upcoming challenge.

    “There's no time for regrets, we have to prepare for the match against Pumas,” he added. “We have to take responsibility. The tougher things get, the more this team responds.”

    Demichelis could have reinforcements for the decisive weekend clash, as Ramos, Canales, and Torres may return to action just in time.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    There’s no time for regret in Monterrey – nothing is lost yet. will have one final shot at reaching the Liguilla when they host Pumas this weekend, but the pressure is immense on Demichelis and his squad. With significant investments made in the roster, including the high-profile signing of Sergio Ramos for the Clausura 2025, crashing out in the Play-In would be considered a major failure.

    Despite the fans’ growing frustration, the Argentine coach remains hopeful that supporters will fill the stadium for the decisive showdown.

    “There’s no explanation that can satisfy the fans – there just isn’t. Let me stay positive and focus on the next match. After that, we’ll make a full assessment of what these four months have been: the short preseason, the injuries, the squad… But there are no words, not even apologies, because we’ve already put ourselves in the fans’ shoes and apologized in the past,” Demichelis said.

    “The fans’ frustration is totally understandable and valid. The only thing we can say is that we have one week left – we must beat Pumas and qualify for the playoffs. After that, we’ll all need to engage in self-criticism to help this institution continue growing. But right now, there’s no sugarcoating, no excuses, nothing we can say to the fans,” he added.

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT EFRAÍN JUÁREZ SAID

    In one of the other Play-In matches, UNAM punched their ticket to the next round after edging FC Juárez in a dramatic penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Alex Padilla emerging as the hero. The young shot-stopper made key saves during the shootout, ensuring his team’s progression.

    The Auriazules will now travel to Monterrey to face in a decisive clash for a place in the Liguilla.

    “I believe we truly deserve to advance to the next round. We created more chances, and the team put in an extraordinary defensive effort. We looked organized and knew exactly how we wanted to play,” said the coach. “Even with 10 men, we generated scoring opportunities – doing that on the road is something to be proud of.”

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Monterrey head into their decisive match against Pumas carrying a dominant record in recent meetings. are unbeaten in their last nine games against the Mexico City side, with Pumas’ most recent win coming back in 2022.

    To further highlight Monterrey's superiority in this rivalry, consider this: in the last 20 encounters between the two clubs, UNAM has managed just two victories. have claimed 13 wins and five draws over that stretch — a clear sign of their recent dominance.

رسميًا.. هانز فليك أفضل مدرب في الدوري الإسباني 2024/2025

حصد هانز فليك، المدير الفني لنادي برشلونة، جائزة أفضل مدرب في الدوري الإسباني للموسم الماضي 2024/2025.

وقاد فليك برشلونة لموسم استثنائي، نجح خلاله في استعادة اللقب المحلي بأسلوب هجومي قوي وأرقام قياسية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفاندوفسكي يختار أفضل كلاسيكو في موسم برشلونة ويؤكد: تعويضي ليس سهلًا

وقاد فليك فريقه لتحقيق اللقب بعدما جمع 88 نقطة، من خلال شراسة هجومية واضحة، حيث سجّل برشلونة 102 هدف خلال 38 جولة، في أعلى حصيلة تهديفية بين فرق الدوريات الأوروبية الخمس الكبرى هذا الموسم.

ولم تقتصر إنجازات برشلونة على هذا الرقم فقط، بل أصبح النادي الكتالوني أكثر الفرق تسجيلًا في تاريخ الدوري الإسباني بعدما رفع رصيده الإجمالي إلى 6,579 هدفًا منذ انطلاق المسابقة.

وكان فليك مع برشلونة قد حصل على جائزة مدرب الشهر ثلاث مرات خلال الموسم، قبل أن يتفوق في التصويت النهائي لجائزة الأفضل على عدد من الأسماء الكبيرة، من بينهم:

خوسيه بوردالاس (خيتافي)

مانولو (إسبانيول)

مانويل بيليجريني (ريال بيتيس)

ميشيل (جيرونا)

إرنستو فالفيردي (أتلتيك بلباو)

دييجو سيميوني (أتلتيكو مدريد)

يُذكر أن هذا التتويج يمثل أول لقب فردي لفليك في الكرة الإسبانية، بعد موسم مميز مع برشلونة، وسط توقعات بمزيد من النجاحات في الموسم المقبل محليًا وأوروبيًا.

Zakir, Shanto keep hosts steady after India A take 353-run lead

Bangladesh A still trail by 181 runs after visitors declare on 465 for 5

Mohammad Isam01-Dec-2022Bangladesh A were on the path to recovery on the third day of the first four-day Test against India A in Cox’s Bazar courtesy Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto. Zakir was unbeaten on 81 while Shanto finished 56 not out, with the duo adding 101 runs for the unbroken second wicket.The home side ended the day on 172 for 1, still trailing India A by 181 runs.The third day started with the visitors on 404 for 5, and they batted for a further 15 overs to finish on 465 for 5 to take an overall lead of 353 runs. Upendra Yadav remained unbeaten 71 off 122 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Tilak Varma retired hurt on 33 off 100 balls. The Bangladesh A bowlers failed to pick up a single wicket in these 15 overs.Bangladesh, who were skittled out for 112 in their first stint gave a much better account of themselves the second time around. Their openers Zakir and Mahmudul Hasan Joy added 71 runs for the opening stand before the latter fell to left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar in India A’s only success on the day, having made 21.Zakir, however, remained firm at the other end, hitting eight fours and two sixes during his stay at the crease. Shanto, coming in at No. 3, gave him good support, scoring seven fours during his knock.By the stumps were drawn, Bangladesh A were still quite a distance behind India A’s score, so the fourth day will be an opportunity for these two left-handers to get a bigger score, followed by Mominul Haque, who is desperately looking for runs.

Brighton now on the verge of signing "excellent" £7m gem along with Tzimas

After confirming the arrival of Stefanos Tzimas, Brighton & Hove Albion have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign their first summer arrival a matter of days following January’s transfer deadline.

Brighton transfer news

Whilst’s it wasn’t a hectic window for Brighton, they saved their best move till last to welcome Tzimas on a permanent deal before loaning the forward back to Nuremberg for the rest of the season. With Evan Ferguson heading out on loan to West Ham United at the same time, the Seagulls’ transfer business will certainly be interesting to watch when both young forward re-enter The Amex in pre-season.

Welcoming his new striker with open arms, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler told the club website: “Stefanos is an exceptional young talent, an out-and-out centre-forward with a natural ability to score goals, and we are absolutely delighted to have signed him.

“He will join up with us in the summer, ahead of next season, but we are really looking forward to working with him, and feel he has a very exciting future ahead.”

Brighton submit £13m bid to sign "exciting forward", they've had a response

The Seagulls are looking to bolster their squad before the transfer deadline.

ByDominic Lund Feb 3, 2025

Tzimas’ arrival may yet be a sign of things to come too. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Brighton have now reached an agreement to sign Clement Bischoff in a deal worth €8m (£7m).

In what will reportedly be the Seagulls’ first summer transfer, the versatile midfielder will arrive and join up with Tzimas in the hope of turning Hurzeler’s side back into one vying for the European places.

Fabian Hurzeler for Brighton.

Following a dip in form since November – culminating in a 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Nottingham Forest – Brighton will be hoping to turn a corner under their young manager and then welcome two young additions when the summer arrives.

"Excellent" Bischoff is a rising star

Such is their reputation for signing the Premier League’s next stars, Brighton fans have every reason to be excited once again in the case of Bischoff. The Brondby teenager can play both as a left-midfielder and as a left-back in what should offer Hurzeler key versatility and has even earned the praise of Ben Mattinson this season.

The analyst described the midfielder’s two-way dribbling as “excellent” and his crossing ability as “well-weighted in an early-season review of his potential and what could come next.

Having had a hand in as many as 10 goals so far this season, with two goals and eight assists, it’s clear that Bischoff is a threat on the left-hand side whether that is in midfield or from within the backline.

A rising star and another youngster that Brighton have seemingly identified, Bischoff should be one to watch when the summer arrives.

Man City 2-3 Real Madrid player ratings as Savio struggles, Stones stars

Manchester City conceded two late goals as Real Madrid came from behind to win 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie, courtesy of match-winner Jude Bellingham.

55%

Posession

45%

11

Shots

20

4

On target

8

9

Fouls

6

6

Corners

5

Man City player ratings Ederson – 5

Was on course for a fine evening of work before gifting Real Madrid and former Blue Brahim Diaz their second by uncharacteristically conceding possession late on.

Josko Gvardiol – 7

Once again the defender was at the heart of all of City’s impressive work going forward and even got an assist to his name for Haaland’s opening goal.

Nathan Ake – 6.5

Faced a difficult time up against Vinicius and didn’t always have things his own way, but Ake stood firm for the majority of his time on the pitch before he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

Ruben Dias – 7

City have missed their commanding defender and even as injuries fell around him, Dias often remained solid despite shipping what were frustrating goals.

Manuel Akanji – 7

Summing up their injury issues, Akanji became the second City player forced off with injury at the break to add to Pep Guardiola’s woes. Prior to that, however, the Swiss – to his credit – did well up against an energetic Vinicius Junior.

John Stones – 8

In the defensive midfield role as Guardiola’s latest attempt to replace Rodri, Stones’ performance puts him in good stead to once again feature in what could provide a crucial solution for Man City at the heart of their midfield.

Savio – 5

The Brazilian endured a frustratingly quiet game for his standards, struggling to get on the ball and make the desired impact as Real Madrid pushed him back with offensive outlets of their own.

Kevin de Bruyne – 6.5

For all his hard work when he got himself on the ball, De Bruyne struggled to do exactly that one too many times. In the end, his lack of influence proved costly on a big night for his side.

Bernardo Silva – 6

A midfielder who’s struggled to maintain his standards at times this season, Silva once again performed below what he is capable of just when Guardiola needs his most experienced men to step up.

Jack Grealish – 7

Forced off after just 30 minutes, Grealish didn’t need beyond the half hour mark to make his mark on Real Madrid having played Gvardiol in behind in the build-up to Erling Haaland’s opener.

Erling Haaland – 9

In truth, there wasn’t a lot more that Haaland could do. Finding the opening effort in routine fashion, the forward then stepped up to take responsibility from the penalty spot and score what many believed would be the winner.

Substitutes: Phil Foden – 7, Rico Lewis – 6.5, Mateo Kovavic – 6.5

Real Madrid player ratings Thibaut Courtois – 7

Although it was a rarity, the goalkeeper did well – as ever – to keep out the majority of Manchester City danger. Up against Haaland, the Belgian could do nothing to stand in the way of both goals.

Federico Valverde – 7

You wouldn’t know that Federico Valverde was out of position based on his performance up against the Premier League champions – albeit the hurt champions – with the midfielder enjoying an impressive display.

Aurelien Tchouameni – 7

Like Valverde, Tchouameni performed well out-of-position and highlighted how Madrid have been doing well to solve problems of their own in recent weeks.

Raul Asencio – 6.5

A young defender alongside an out-of-position midfielder, not many will have any complaints about Asencio’s performance at The Etihad as he largely kept Manchester City at arm’s length.

Ferland Mendy – 6

Whilst he didn’t struggle defensively, Mendy was guilty of spurning a chance that should have been converted in the opening period which Carlo Ancelotti would have wanted to fall to almost anyone else.

Rodrygo – 7

Mbappe and Bellingham will get the credit, but Rodrygo stood out in his own right throughout a frantic affair.

Eduardo Camavinga – 7

As the old guard in Real Madrid’s midfield bow out, Camavinga has stepped up on the biggest stage to make his mark in their place.

Dani Ceballos – 6.5

Back on English soil, Ceballos loses marks for conceding the penalty on what was otherwise an well-rounded evening from the former Arsenal man.

Jude Bellingham – 7.5

The match winner to turn a quiet game into an electric evening, Bellingham was always likely to have his say at The Etihad and that he did.

Vinicius Junior – 7

In front of fans who were quick to remind him about his recent failures, Vinicius was among the stars of the show as he laid down a marker in front of an on-watching Rodri.

Kylian Mbappe – 7

Although wasteful at times, Mbappe still made his mark with a well-timed equaliser in somewhat scrappy fashion.

Substitutes: Luka Modric – 6, Brahim Diaz – 8, Fran Garcia – 7

Sheffield United made a bigger mistake than Bogle by selling £6m "mountain"

Sheffield United would have been watching on with awe on Monday night as automatic promotion rivals Leeds United dramatically beat Sunderland 2-1 to return to the top of the competitive Championship table.

Chris Wilder’s Blades do have an opportunity to return to the summit when the Whites come to town next up in what could be the second tier’s most tantalising contest to date this campaign.

Jayden Bogle will also be relishing the prospect of getting one over on his former employers here, with the 24-year-old defecting over to West Yorkshire in the summer to pursue promotion glory with Daniel Farke’s men, instead of sticking it out at Bramall Lane after relegation.

Jayden Bogle's numbers this season

There would have been some anger in the air when Bogle was allowed to move to Leeds, with the right-back still having a positive campaign for the most part last season even as the Blades finished bottom of the top-flight pile.

In total in South Yorkshire, Bogle would pick up 12 goals and four assists from his familiar right-hand side, with his presence in the Leeds team last time out helping Farke’s men beat Regis Le Bris’ tricky side.

Amassing 91 touches across the course of the high-energy 2-1 win, Bogle was committed throughout to the cause, with tackles and duels won aplenty as 11 tackles and duels were successfully won, alongside also completing two successful dribbles to push his team further up the field to mount a spectacular comeback.

Whilst he didn’t score or assist in this one, Bogle’s numbers in the Championship this season still stand at an impressive six goal contributions regardless, before analysing further his obvious strengths as a defender when collecting a hefty 16 clean sheets.

Wilder has bemoaned the lack of depth available to him in the right-back spot, hence the loan signing of Harry Clarke in the recently closed transfer window, but he will be equally displeased – if not more enraged – at the fact that one centre-back star was moved on when Bogle exited.

United's centre-back situation

After all, if it hadn’t been for the deadline day loan signing of Rob Holding, the promotion chasers would have been entering into a crunch few months in the division with just two available centre-backs.

That’s where Auston Trusty could have eased some nerves, with the American defender sold to Celtic in the wake of United’s demoralising drop down to the second tier.

Trusty was thrown straight into the deep end donning a United strip, considering his only full campaign at Bramall Lane was when the Blades leaked an atrocious 104 goals, but he still managed to win himself a big £6m move to Scotland.

Indeed, the ex-Arsenal man would walk away from that pitiful relegation campaign with his head held high still, with his numbers in Glasgow to date proving that he would have done a competent job in the chaotic Championship, instead of Wilder and Co having to take a punt on the forgotten Holding.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Trusty

Matches played

16

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches*

126.3

Accurate passes*

106.3 (93%)

Ball recoveries*

3.6

Clearances*

3.3

Total duels won*

7.0

Clean sheets

10

Looking at the table above, Trusty has effortlessly slotted into the Celtic team as a stylish but staunch operator at the back, with his hefty seven duels won on average in league action this season even seeing him be heralded as a “man mountain” by football journalist Ryan McGinlay.

The compliments don’t end there, with ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton lauding Trusty as “phenomenal” when the 26-year-old helped the Bhoys overcome RB Leipzig 3-1 on a famous Champions League night in November, which is a far cry from his troubles at the bottom of the Premier League in South Yorkshire.

Whilst Wilder will be pleased with what he has at his disposal at the back after some last-ditch buys, both Bogle and Trusty would have undoubtedly been in and around the first-team picture if they remained in Sheffield to this day.

Value has soared 190%: Wilder has hit gold on “class” Sheffield United star

Sheffield United are already reaping their rewards for this excellent purchase.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 17, 2025

Com o retorno de Marcos Rocha, Palmeiras se reapresenta e mira na Copa do Brasil

MatériaMais Notícias

Na manhã desta terça-feira (21), o Palmeiras se reapresentou após vencer o São Paulo de virada por 2 a 1, pelo Brasileirão. Com uma boa novidade no campo, os comandados de Abel Ferreira “viraram a chave” e já miram nos jogos decisivos naCopa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoRenata Fan e Denilson analisam gol polêmico de jogo entre São Paulo e PalmeirasFora de Campo21/06/2022Fora de CampoNa web, torcedores rasgam elogios ao Palmeiras após mais uma vitóriaFora de Campo21/06/2022Palmeiras‘Chama as Crias’! Autor de gol em final, Fernandinho celebra título da Libertadores Sub-14 pelo PalmeirasPalmeiras21/06/2022

GALERIA

>Gómez no pódio! Lista atualizada de zagueiros-artilheiros do Verdão

TABELA

> Clique e confira a tabela e simulador do Brasileirão 2022!

Marcos Rocha voltou a treinar com o grupo depois de ser substituído ainda no primeiro tempo na partida contra o Coritibal. Ele desfalcou a equipe palmeirense nos últimos dois jogos. O lateral-direito trabalhou em tempo integral com o restante dos companheiros pela primeira vez desde que sentiu uma mialgia na coxa direita.

Raphael Veiga, por sua vez, deu sequência à transição física com o Núcleo de Saúde e Performance, inclusive no gramado.

Já o atacante argentino José Manuel López, novo reforço do Verdão, fez aquecimento com os colegas de elenco e na sequência colocou em prática um trabalho físico separadamente.

Por fim, aqueles jogadores que atuaram menos de 45 minutos ou não estiveram em campo contra o rival no Morumbi, realizaram atividades técnicas em dimensões reduzidas sob os olhares dos auxiliares de Abel Ferreira, afastado por conta da Covid-19.

O Palmeiras agora concentra as atenções no próximo confronto diante do São Paulo, desta vez pelo jogo de ida das oitavas da Copa do Brasil, que acontece nesta quinta-feira (23), às 20h, novamente no Morumbi.

continua após a publicidade

Game
Register
Service
Bonus