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It is a hard world in which you do almost all that is asked of you only to find it is not quite enough. That, though, may be Somerset’s fate at some stage on Friday afternoon

Paul Edwards at Taunton22-Sep-2016
Scorecard1:34

A draw at Lord’s would give Somerset the title

It is a hard world in which you do almost all that is asked of you only to find it is not quite enough. That, though, may be Somerset’s fate at some stage on Friday afternoon.Chris Rogers and his players prepared for this game knowing that all they could do was beat Nottinghamshire and hope things went their way at Lord’s. That first task was completed at just before five o’clock when Imran Tahir skied Jack Leach ten yards behind the bowler and Peter Trego ran in to take the catch and complete the home side’s facile 325-run win.The margin of victory did no justice to Somerset’s superiority. They had won with a day and an hour to spare. For the first time this season they were top of the table. And yet their leadership may not last 24 hours.For the one point Somerset did not take from this game may determine their final fate. Their collapse late on the first day and their subsequent failure to collect five batting points meant if Yorkshire scored 350 runs inside 110 overs of their first innings and defeated Middlesex, Andrew Gale’s team would be champions. A Middlesex win was always going to take the title to Lord’s.So when the admirable Ryan Sidebottom clipped that boundary off Toby Roland-Jones the news spread rather quickly among Somerset’s supporters as they strolled on the County Ground’s outfield during the tea interval on what became the final afternoon of the season.And when Sidebottom and Jack Brooks took early wickets in Middlesex’s second innings their gloom deepened still more. As far as Somerset are concerned, of course, Sidebottom has form. It was he whose tough tail-end batting partly accounted for their being denied the Championship in 2010.Now, here he was again, admirable, accomplished and annoying. Exactly the opposite of most of Nottinghamshire’s cricketers in this game.Chris Rogers looks to his old mates

“My overriding feeling is one of immense pride in my team. We were favourites to go down at the start of the season and look where we are now.
“I’ll be texting a few of my old team-mates at Middlesex tonight, you can be sure of that. I know what is in their dressing room and I know they will fight all the way against Yorkshire.
“The title race is out of our hands, but neither side will role over at Lord’s so it’s going to be interesting.”

It is, of course, not quite settled yet. Somerset’s players and supporters will gather at the County Ground on the final day of the season, taking comfort from togetherness and praying beyond all cricketing logic that Yorkshire intransigence meets Middlesex cussedness to produce a glorious stalemate. Rarely, perhaps, can a group of sportsmen have gathered to watch a match burning with desire to see nothing happen and nobody win.It is a long shot but it is all that Somerset are left with. Well, maybe not quite. They are left with memories of a season which began at Chester-le-Street with swans on the Wear, spring barely a suggestion and their cricket in need of surgery. Yet five months later Somerset’s players were receiving a standing ovation from their supporters after this last game of the season.The poignancy of the autumn equinox was momentarily lost in the shared satisfaction of a campaign that will see Somerset finish no lower than second in the table. The ground staff were hugged and the spectators who had packed the stands saluted. Whatever happens tomorrow that counts for a great deal. This is not just a lovely ground; these are – the vast majority of them – lovely people.And at the end of it all Rogers confirmed that this would be his last game of professional cricket. At lunchtime spectators had risen to acclaim Rogers’ second century of the match and the 76th of his first-class career and now they will not see him score another run. But these wise, warm, appreciative folk were applauding more than Rogers’ hundreds.Somerset are losing more than an accomplished opener, albeit that their captain’s powers are not quite what they were. Rogers is quite a small man yet he is a giant. Somerset’s transformation from the uncertain, slapdash side that took the field at Chester-le-Street to the confident group of cricketers who outclassed Nottinghamshire has been mainly his work.That was clear in the way Somerset batted on the third day of this game and in their brilliant fielding during the afternoon.In the morning session Somerset scored 208 runs off 32 overs, thereby extending their 332-run overnight lead to a mammoth 540, a score which it seemed unlikely the current Nottinghamshire batting line-up might make in two innings. But declarations these days are based on the same principle that informs daytime TV adverts: you can never have too much insurance.Chris Rogers leads Somerset off for the final time•Getty Images

And at least the first two hours’ cricket saw Peter Trego and Rogers reach a thousand Championship runs for the seasons, achievements which were rather more than statistical flotsam. Trego has successfully brought a new discipline to his batting this season while Rogers become one of the many Australians who have made a noble contribution to Somerset cricket.That group includes great players like Sammy Woods, the Australian anglophile, who had the habit of burying bottles of ale on the route of his country walks in Somerset and digging them up when in need of refreshment; or Bill Alley who, so the late Peter Roebuck testified, would arrive at pre-season nets having worked the winter on his farm and drop his first delivery at April’s nets on a sixpence just outside off stump.Rogers’ achievement has been different. However Somerset’s season ends, much of the credit should go to this tough, approachable Sydneysider, who has addressed his team’s deficiencies and toughened his players up.Nottinghamshire were set 541 to win and never suggested they could get near their target. Only Billy Root’s 66 showed anything like the necessary application; the rest of Chris Read’s players were on a different highway. Perhaps it was the road to nowhere. Until Root batted well, the visitors’ performance in this game had recalled , Jack Nicholson’s follow up to . But there was nothing Messrs Libby and Ball could do to prevent their side being hammered on this last afternoon.Somerset’s players, by contrast, were purposeful and dynamic. Substitute fielder Max Waller’s direct hit ran out Libby for 26 and Trego’s sharp throw inflicted a similar fate on Tom Moores. When Roelof van der Merwe trapped Michael Lumb leg before with the second ball after tea, a three-day finish became probable. Jack Leach’s four wickets made it a reality. Root collected his half century and very soon afterwards his colleagues collected their kit and went home. There is a lot for the Trent Bridge hierarchy to ponder.Somerset’s players, by contrast, will turn up at the County Ground on the final day of the season ready to ride an emotional switchback. Who knows what awaits them and their recently-retired skipper, a true leader of men?

Manchester United are ready to step up their efforts to sign Mason Mount and will offer Chelsea £55m to get a deal done, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

Who is signing Mason Mount this summer?

The Blues playmaker has struggled to hit the same heights and the same numbers that he managed during the last Premier League campaign, with both he and his club faltering in the top flight. Whilst Chelsea have dropped to 12th in the standings ahead of their clash at Old Trafford on Thursday, Mount's tallies have also dropped, with the player managing only three goals and two assists in 24 games.

It's a far cry from last time around, when the England international had a career-best campaign. With 11 goals and ten assists in 32 appearances, the midfielder managed a superb average of 0.80 goals or assists per 90 minutes. It helped dragged the Blues to third and put the 24-year-old on the radar as one of the brightest talents in the division.

Even though he has struggled to achieve the same feats this season, it hasn't put off any other teams. With the player's deal set to expire next summer, teams are now queuing up to add him to their ranks – as long as the Blues are prepared to cash in on Mount for a fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer and fail to agree a new deal with him.

One of the interested parties is Man United, with a report from the Daily Mail stating that the Red Devils are prepared to initiate talks over a potential transfer for the midfielder. In terms of a fee, it adds that Erik ten Hag's side would be willing to offer Chelsea £55m, and whilst that falls short of what the club are thought to be demanding – they want around £30m more than that total – it is believed United could up their offer as they are keen to try and bring the England international to Old Trafford.

Are Man United signing Mason Mount?

If the Red Devils do manage to pull off a deal for Mount – who was hailed as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole last season, it could vastly improve their midfield options – and add to their creativity up front.

Even in a side that has faltered this campaign, the midfielder remains a player capable of using his expert vision to pick out a pass. For example, his rate of 1.3 key passes per game ranks him as the best among his teammates who have featured in 15 games or more.

Meanwhile, his tally of three goals is still the joint-third best in that area, and although that isn't a great amount, it shows he is at least contributing as one of the better players in the side during what has been a tumultuous campaign.

If Mount did end up at Old Trafford, it could potentially allow him to get back to his previous figures if he is at a side that are flourishing. It could therefore be worth splashing out the cash required to sign the player.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a double swoop for Southampton's Gavin Bazunu and James Ward-Prowse this summer, with the latter player set to be available, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Despite the fact they do not have a permanent manager in place, Tottenham still appear to be active in the transfer market, as they look to replace goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with FC Porto's Diogo Costa now emerging as a target.

A new creative midfielder is also of interest to Spurs, having been linked with a move for Leicester City's James Maddison, as well as RCD Mallorca's Kang-in Lee, who they are said to be leading the race for.

With strengthening those two positions in mind, the Lilywhites could look to raid recently-relegated Southampton, and a new update has now emerged on their pursuit of Bazunu, having recently turned their attention to the 21-year-old goalkeeper.

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are now hopeful that a bid of up to £15m would be enough to land the starlet in the summer, with the Saints keeper viewed as a strong candidate to replace Lloris.

The youngster fits the profile of a rising star who could develop under the helm of a new manager, and he is not the only Southampton player being eyed by Spurs, as they are also keen on signing Ward-Prowse.

The club captain is expected to leave this summer, with the Saints likely to have a fire sale of their top talent following their relegation from the Premier League.

Should Tottenham sign Bazunu and Ward-Prowse?

It is a little strange that the Lilywhites are now being heavily linked with Bazunu, given that he has not impressed for Southampton over the past year, letting in far more goals than he should have.

The £41k-per-week Irishman ranks in the lowest percentile possible for his save percentage and post-shot expected goals per 90, which indicates he is nowhere near ready to make the step-up to a club the size of Tottenham.

On the other hand, Ward-Prowse would be an excellent addition to the squad, having been hailed as "unbelievable" by manager Ruben Selles for his performances this season.

In all competitions, the Englishman has weighed in with ten goals and four assists, more goal contributions than any other Southampton player, and he could go on to record even better numbers if given a platform at a club like Spurs.

Sheikh Jassim submitted a world-record bid of more than £5bn to take control at Manchester United on Friday evening, Sky Sports report.

When did Jassim make his final offer for Man United?

Jassim, who previously made two bids for the Red Devils, has always been confident of completing a takeover. It was previously believed that his third offer could be in the region of £4.5bn, but it seems as if it has broken the £5bn barrier.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol shared an update from Manchester United shortly after the deadline, confirming that Jassim’s bid was placed just before 10pm.

He said that a “significant” part of the bid is that Jassim still has finance available to improve Erik ten Hag’s squad as well as make changes to the infrastructure, with people close to Jassim “convinced” their offer is the best one.

“The bid went in very close to the deadline, just a few minutes before 10pm. It is a world-record bid, we believe it is worth just over £5bn.

“People close to Sheikh Jassim have been telling me today and also this evening, they are convinced this is the best bid for Manchester United.”

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

As well as Jassim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe also placed a final bid at Old Trafford, with the two appearing to be the main frontrunners to take control from the Glazers.

The ball is now firmly in the court of the current owners, and there is expected to be a quiet few days in the process. According to Ben Jacobs, no decision will be made over the weekend, although there is confidence that things can move quite fast in May.

Ten Hag may well be hoping that is the case with the transfer window just around the corner, and with Jassim looking at signing players such as Neymar and Jude Bellingham, he could be hoping the Qatari group are successful.

Manchester United return to Premier League action today, as they travel to face a Nottingham Forest side fighting for their life.

Having overseen a late collapse in their mid-week European bout with Sevilla, whilst also suffering additional casualties, Erik ten Hag has something of an injury crisis on his hands as they enter the run-in. With the initial promise shown this season slowly dwindling, the Dutchman's focus will likely shift to ensuring that at the very least his side are playing Champions League football next term.

The Red Devils must crawl over the finish line with just nine games left to play, and to do so they must win these 'easier' games against far weaker opposition.

However, the big miss for today's clash will be Lisandro Martinez, who was carried off in that aforementioned 2-2 draw with the Spanish outfit. It has since been revealed that their Argentine stopper will not play again this season, further compounding the expected absences of Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane.

Therefore, some tactical gymnastics will have to be enforced to ensure a competitive side is put out that can look to add solidity around any glaring weaknesses within the team.

Simply by avoiding defeat the Tricky Trees can climb out of the relegation zone, however, with the backing of a raucous City Ground, they will be quietly confident of snatching more.

How could Manchester United line up against Nottingham Forest?

De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia; Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Martial, Sancho.

Ten Hag is expected to fashion four changes from that side that drew at Old Trafford on Thursday, with some enforced and others purely rotational.

David De Gea will remain between the sticks, however, the back four in front of him is to see wholesale changes.

Tyrell Malacia will be the only player retained from last time out at the back, as both centre-backs who did start are now unavailable. Therefore, the troubling inclusion of both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof is a necessary evil. Diogo Dalot will seek to offer some more attacking impetus in the place of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

If the Manchester outfit are to claim a win today in Nottingham, it is likely in midfield where the game will be seized. That is due to the immense quality they are expected to boast, with their first-choice three all back in contention.

Casemiro returns from his suspension, and the fit-again Christian Eriksen could be thrown straight back into the mix. Bruno Fernandes will therefore cap off a fine engine room trio.

Marcel Sabitzer is an unfortunate casualty of this refresh, as the £210k-per-week loanee nearly won the last game on his own with two goals. Having been branded a "match-winner" by journalist Stefan Bienkoswki back in 2022, the Austrian should have been so again if not for a disappointing late collapse.

Their front three will likely remain unchanged, however, again due to a lack of competition for places given the threadbare nature of Ten Hag's squad of late.

Jadon Sancho and Antony will aim to impress on the flanks, seeking to supply Anthony Martial up front.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is now set to decide on the future of his Swedish centre-back Victor Lindelof ahead of the summer window.

Could Lindelof leave United in the summer?

The 28-year-old defender will enter the summer transfer window with just one-year remaining on his current deal with the Red Devils.

And this will come at a time when United are being linked with other centre-backs in an attempt to strengthen their options at the back.

Ten Hag decided (via ManchesterWorld) in favour of keeping Lindelof over the January transfer window as he blocked a potential exit from Old Trafford for the Swedish defender.

However, with the summer transfer window approaching, Fabrizio Romano has suggested the Dutch manager will once again be made to decide on the future of his £120k-per-week centre-back:

"From what I understand, Erik ten Hag, at the end of the season, will make a decision on two players. One is Victor Lindelof, because speaking with the Swedish national team, Lindelof said that he wants to play.

"In January, he had two possibilities – one was Inter and one was Atletico Madrid – but Lindelof decided to stay because Erik ten Hag said no. Ten Hag said the player is going nowhere.

"And so in January, nothing happened. But for the summer, now it is Ten Hag who has to make a decision and speak to Lindelof to decide the future."

Should Man United sell Lindelof in the summer?

Having been made to stay at Old Trafford over the January transfer window, there is likely some frustration on the Swede's part at the lack of game time he has been handed.

Since the winter window closed, Lindelof has played just 101 minutes of football in the Premier League and has not featured since the middle of February (via Transfermarkt).

In Lindelof's last start in the Premier League for United, he received a lot of praise from some of his teammates following the game with Bruno Fernandes labelling him "elite".

And it certainly was an impressive display from the Swede with the defender clocking up eight clearances, four interceptions and three tackles against Leicester City (via Sofascore).

It is apparent Ten Hag has his favoured pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane with the possibility of breaking that partnership up slim.

However, Lindelof has shown he is more than capable of putting in a shift when required for the Red Devils.

But the issue lies in those chances in the starting XI potentially not coming frequently enough for a player who will be wanting to impress ahead of next summer's European Championship.

Lindelof has only played 539 minutes of Premier League football this season with only five league starts under his belt (via Transfermarkt).

With reported interest coming from German side Eintracht Frankfurt in January, it will be interesting to see if the player pushes for an exit over the coming months.

West Ham have been criticised for their transfer business in recent years but it seems clear now that the east London club did brilliantly to sell Andre Ayew for £18m.

How did Andre Ayew do at West Ham?

The Hammers would sign the Ghana international from Swansea City in 2016 for a then club-record deal worth £20.5m, having scored 12 Premier League goals for the Welsh side the season prior.

However, his time at West Ham would prove far less successful, as he managed just 12 goals and five assists in 50 appearances before being sold back to Swansea in January 2018, with the Swans also paying a club-record fee of £18m to bring him back to the Liberty Stadium.

Although the Hammers were forced to take a loss on Ayew, his disappointing displays as a Hammers player suggested that they did well to sell him for as much as they did at the time.

His subsequent performances emphasise that further, as he failed to score in 12 appearances for Swansea in the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign, as they were relegated back to the Championship.

The veteran forward's career has largely been downhill since then, as he would endure a difficult loan spell with Fenerbahce in Turkey, scoring just five goals in 38 appearances, before twice failing to achieve promotion with the Swans, despite hitting a combined 31 league goals.

A spell in Qatar would follow for Ayew, where he would manage an impressive 22 goals in 40 appearances for Al-Sadd, but he failed to produce the goods for his country at the World Cup, averaging a woeful 6.25 rating from WhoScored across his three group stage appearances, which included a woeful penalty against Uruguay in the crucial deciding match.

He would sign for Nottingham Forest on a £45k-per-week deal in January and has done little to impress thus far, failing to score and assist in any of his six appearances, which included another "pathetic" penalty – as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor – in the 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

As per Football Transfers, the 33-year-old is now valued at just £2.1m, so it seems clear that the Hammers deserve some credit for getting £18m for him just five years ago, particularly when you consider how he has declined since his London Stadium exit.

Aston Villa have had the pleasure of bringing through a host of talented young players through their excellent academy system over the years.

The likes of Gary Cahill, Gareth Barry, and Jack Grealish came through the youth set-up at Villa Park while current first-team star Jacob Ramsey is a product of the academy.

One gem who the club may have mixed feelings over, however, is right winger Marc Albrighton as the bulk of his success has come since departing the Villans.

The Englishman made his first-team debut in the 2008/09 campaign and went on to play 102 matches in all competitions for the club – scoring nine goals and assisting 19.

His best season for Villa came in 2010/11 as the wizard produced five goals and eight assists in 29 Premier League appearances. The now 33-year-old showcased his ability to deliver goals and assists from out wide but was unable to keep up those high levels in the subsequent years – scoring just twice in the following three league seasons.

This led to the club, managed by Paul Lambert at the time, deciding to release him on a free transfer in the summer of 2014 – 16 years after the dynamo joined the team’s academy set-up.

Where is Marc Albrighton now?

Albrighton is currently on loan at West Brom in the Championship but his spell in the second tier comes after an incredibly successful period as a regular for Leicester at the top level.

The Foxes snapped him up for nothing in the summer of 2014 after his exit from Villa Park and that turned out to be a sensational piece of business by them.

He managed two goals and three assists in 18 top-flight outings during his debut campaign with Leicester and helped them to avoid relegation from the top flight.

His most iconic season with them, though, was the following year in 2015/16 as the 5 foot 9 attacker played in all 38 of their matches and contributed with two goals and seven assists to help them win the Premier League title.

It was a stupendous achievement for both Leicester and Albrighton and the English midfielder was a huge part of the side that managed it – starting 34 of the 38 fixtures. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 and created a whopping 11 ‘big chances’ for his teammates, which shows that the gem consistently delivered good performances and was a creative force for his side.

Albrighton also won the FA Cup in 2021 and played in five of their matches during the run to the final, including the showpiece at Wembley, where Youri Tielemans’ goal was enough to beat Chelsea.

The now-veteran, who journalist John Bennett once hailed as “underrated”, left Villa and ended up winning a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and featured in nine Champions League matches.

So, whilst the club may see a young player coming through the ranks and playing over 100 games for the first team as a success, the Villans had a nightmare in allowing the forward to leave when he did.

Indeed, based on his outstanding time at Leicester. the maestro could have had much more to contribute on the pitch.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter may not have the backing of Todd Boehly after ‘one or two whispers’, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future

The Premier League manager was appointed at Stamford Bridge in September 2022 but has had an underwhelming, impact having won just nine of his 23 league matches in charge.

The Blues boss has received many calls for the sack from unhappy fans, with former managers Jose Mourinho and Thomas Tuchel having both been linked with a return.

Despite the poor run of form, several outlets have claimed that the 47-year-old still has the support of Boehly, though an update has now emerged contrary to those reports.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Speaking to talkSPORT, Crook delivered a significant update on Potter’s future at Chelsea. Quoted by their official website, he said:

“I was there on Saturday and it turned quite toxic with boos at half-time and full-time. Chelsea fans around the press box were calling for Graham Potter’s head.

“The briefings coming out of Stamford Bridge on Sunday were saying that Graham Potter retains the backing of the board and that it is a long-term project.

“I’m just hearing one or two whispers to the contrary that Todd Boehly may have a different opinion to that.

“They have a huge game against Borussia Dortmund next week, basically their season could come down to that.”

The Verdict: Time to go…

Chelsea opting for Potter in the dugout was a huge risk, and unfortunately for them, it looks like it’s one that’s not paid off.

The Solihull-born coach has taken just 34 points from a possible 75 during his spell in the dugout and is currently averaging just 1.36 points per match (Transfermarkt).

The Blues are also 11 points outside of the top four, so securing qualification for the Champions League at this stage looks unlikely.

Potter was a huge success at Brighton but the jump up to Chelsea may have been a step too far, so Boehly would be making the right decision by letting him go before it’s too late.

Newcastle United are expected to launch a summer move for the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves in the summer.

What’s the latest?

The Toon’s January transfer window was not exactly a hugely exciting one with only two new faces coming through the doors of St. James’ Park.

But significant money was still spent with Anthony Gordon costing the Magpies in the region of £45m with £40m of that sent to Everton in one lump sum.

However, there was speculation surrounding potential interest in Neves as his contract at Molineux continues to wind its way down to its conclusion next summer.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Craig Hope has mooted a potential swoop for the Portuguese midfielder in the summer with Wolves possibly sweating over his contract situation:

(6:00) “I wouldn’t be surprised to see them revisit perhaps maybe from a Premier League perspective a Ruben Neves-type. I know he’s got admirers within the club.

“He’ll have a contract situation with only 12 months to run come the summer. Now again, you know, they’ll probably be a premium price on that. And there’ll be a lot of competition, but I know, he’s certainly got admirers within.”

An opportunity to be had

Aforementioned, Neves is now just 18 months away from his contract at Molineux running its course which means this summer will be the last opportunity for Wolves to really cash in on the midfielder.

And this is a player – hailed “extraordinary” by Cristiano Ronaldo – who has received reported interest from some of the biggest clubs around with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona said to be interested in signing him.

However, if Newcastle continues on their upwards trajectory they could be in a position to offer the Portuguese midfielder Champions League football for next season.

Neves has ranked highly among other midfielders for his defensive contributions with the 25-year-old in the top 10 percentile for interceptions and top three percentile for clearances (via Fbref).

And in comparison to Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, the Portuguese star has provided more tackles and passes per 90 as well as more goals this season.

Considering Newcastle saw Jonjo Shelvey leave over January without any midfielders coming through the doors, it is a position which will likely need to be addressed in the summer.

And given there is still a reported interest in a potential big-money swoop for the attacking midfielder of James Maddison, a cheap option in Neves could prove a real steal to beef up Howe’s options.