Tarkowski 'can't understand' handball call
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New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
Everton are tepid and tentative. They are a team still crying out for additions
David Moyes has spent most of the summer sounding alarm bells. After the 2-1 Premier League Summer Series defeat to his former club West Ham United, the Everton manager warned that 'until we add to this squad, we're going to be up against it. The league starts again and we're not ready for it'. Everton have strengthened their squad since then, notably bringing in midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish — the latter on loan from Manchester City — but Moyes' words ended up being prophetic. Advertisement At Elland Road on Monday night, Everton were not ready. Far from it, in fact. There will be much talk about the contentious decision to award Leeds United a late penalty, after a deflected shot struck captain James Tarkowski on the arm. Speaking afterwards, Moyes and Tarkowski both criticised the decision and they had a point. We spend so much time hearing about silhouettes and 'unnatural body' positions, but the central defender's arm was by his side. While he leaned into the ball, the deviation on the initial shot also should have served as mitigation. It took referee Chris Kavanagh an age to point to the spot, and even then Moyes claimed afterwards that he had been told by Kavanagh that the intervention had been from his assistant and the VAR. As far as Everton are concerned, though, the penalty decision should be seen as a red herring. A distraction from the bigger issues at play. Moyes' side were comfortably second best against their promoted opponents. They looked undercooked, under-strength and largely overawed by the occasion. The tactical battle was won by Daniel Farke. Leeds' frantic pressing exposed weaknesses in technique and composure, while big gaps in the squad were also evident. We all know about those holes by now. A right winger has been a priority all summer, but Everton are yet to sign one. Moyes would also like the strengthen in central midfield and at full-back, yet injuries to Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson left the stocks looking bare. The absence of Adam Aznou, the 19-year-old summer addition from Bayern Munich, has so far not been explained. Asked by The Athletic post-match if Aznou or Mykolenko had a chance of featuring in Saturday's home game against Brighton & Hove Albion, Moyes remained non-committal. It left Moyes with only one fit full-back in his squad, 36-year-old club captain Seamus Coleman, and Everton lacking width — both there and in more advanced areas. Jake O'Brien and James Garner were both deployed as makeshift full-backs but struggled to muster the requisite quality, particularly in attack. Advertisement The reshuffle also seemed to disrupt the balance elsewhere, notably in midfield. Put simply, Everton did not compete. They lost the physical battle and were bullied at times. A first-half tackle from Ethan Ampadu, which floored Dewsbury-Hall near the Everton box, served as a fitting metaphor for the home side's dominance. It is unusual to see an Everton side struggle in such a fashion, but they also remain overly reliant on the veteran Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the park. There were issues elsewhere, too. Everton never really got to grips with the raucous Elland Road atmosphere, the occasion or Leeds' pressing. They struggled both when going short or playing long. The tone was set when Michael Keane misplaced an easy pass to the left, but he was far from the only culprit. It was hard to discern much of a plan, or a calm head amid the maelstrom. Such were the issues, Moyes and assistant Billy McKinley convened early in the first half to look for solutions. Grealish was animated on the bench with backroom staff, seemingly gesturing about tactical positioning, while Coleman barked instructions from the touchline. At different points, Moyes and McKinley were both at the edge of their technical area imploring their players to push up and press Leeds. Much of the display seemed muddled and unclear. Up front, Beto, sporting the new No 9 shirt, was isolated and mainly anonymous. When he did receive the ball, he was unable to give the side a platform with his hold-up play. Behind him, neither Dewsbury-Hall nor Carlos Alcaraz was able to support sufficiently or help stem the tide out of possession. Alcaraz in particular continues to look like a square peg in a round hole on the right, and much better suited to a central role. The problem for Everton is that Moyes has already declared the £27.5million ($37.1m) addition Thierno Barry to be a work in progress. The Frenchman, he believes, is not yet ready. He has spoken similarly about Aznou at left-back. There is value in planning for the future, of course. All sides need to do it, particularly those like Everton who cannot spend like the division's elite. One of the only ways of closing the gap is by smart recruitment and adding value, which can in turn be used to create more PSR wiggle room. Yet Everton have lost so many players over the summer that they need at least some of their new signings to contribute immediately. And while they have padded out the squad, adding the quality of Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall in particular, many of the most glaring issues from the start of the summer remain unresolved. Advertisement Just as they were in May, Everton are crying out for additions in key areas. Moyes reiterated afterwards that Everton remain 'desperate' for more attacking quality. Reinforcements on the wing, in central midfield and at full-back remain vital if they are to put this false start quickly behind them. This tepid and lacklustre defeat only served to emphasise that these final two weeks of the window will be pivotal. 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Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vera Clinic Is an Official Partner of the Houston Rockets for 2025-2026 NBA Season
Istanbul, Turkey--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2025) - Vera Clinic, the 2021 European Medicine Award Winner for Medical Excellence in the Hair Transplant Surgery category, is pleased to announce its partnership with the Houston Rockets for the 2025-2026 NBA season. As the exclusive hair transplant provider for the Houston Rockets, the clinic has drawn attention across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. Vera Clinic is an Official Partner of the Houston Rockets for 2025-2026 NBA Season To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Vera Clinic was founded in 2013 in Istanbul by Kazim Sipahi. Since then, it has become a global name in hair restoration, known for its signature Sapphire FUE technique, Oxycure post-operative therapy, and transparent treatment packages trusted by over 40,000 patients worldwide. Rather than working with a local sponsor, the Houston Rockets selected a clinic based in Istanbul, reflecting the growing recognition of international providers in global healthcare. This moment reflects a shift in how Turkey is being seen on the global healthcare map. Once known mainly for budget-friendly treatments, Turkey is now attracting international attention for its medical quality, innovative procedures, and certified specialists, particularly in the fields of cosmetic surgery, hair restoration, and regenerative therapy. The partnership builds global trust by placing Turkish medicine on a world stage. It highlights innovation by showcasing Turkish contributions to medical science, such as Sapphire FUE and Oxycure. It repositions the narrative, shifting perceptions of Turkey from simply affordable to medically advanced. It contributes to national growth, with Turkey's medical tourism sector contributing over $2.5 billion annually as of 2024, fueled by cross-border partnerships and international certifications. "Partnering with the Houston Rockets is a reflection of what has been built over the last decade," said Kazim Sipahi, the CEO of Vera Clinic. "From day one, transparency, science, and ethical care have been priorities. To be acknowledged by an institution like the Rockets means the standard is global." When a top NBA team places its trust in a clinic, fans and followers take notice. For patients who travel to Istanbul, Vera Clinic offers full-package solutions. Airport transfers, hotel stay, translator services, surgery, post-operative checkups, and medications are bundled into one fixed price, ranging from €2,500 to €6,000 depending on technique and graft count. Vera Clinic is an Official Partner of the Houston Rockets for 2025-2026 NBA Season To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The collaboration was based on medical outcomes and clinical trust, rather than promotional endorsements. The Houston Rockets and Vera Clinic agreement reflects a larger trend in which medical credibility is transcending borders. A basketball team is investing in scientific care, clinical transparency, and global outcomes; not just sponsorship optics. Patients are increasingly searching for clinics with real metrics, therapies backed by measurable outcomes, and partnerships that signal clinical trust rather than financial arrangements. The collaboration between the Houston Rockets and Vera Clinic aligns with that model. Contact Info:Name: Mouheb BouzgarrouEmail: mouheb@ Vera ClinicAddress: Kartal Polyclinic: Kordonboyu, Turgut Ozal Blv. No: 47, 34860 Kartal/IstanbulPhone: +90 542 743 54 08Website: To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
CNBC
40 minutes ago
- CNBC
American money pours into Europe's soccer giants as club valuations soar
European soccer is a bigger business than ever, with clubs in the continent's five top leagues raking in 20.4 billion euros ($23.7 billion) in revenue in the 2023-2024 season — and American investors have been eyeing a piece of that pie. U.S. investors now own, fully or in part, the majority of soccer teams in England's Premier League. That now includes four of the traditional Big Six clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal all attracting U.S. investment. Rapid growth in revenues has been the key attraction. In the 1996-97 season, when the Premier League was established in England, revenues across the five biggest European leagues totaled 2.5 billion euros, according to Deloitte analysis. In 2023-24, that figure ballooned by 750%. That growth has led to sharp increases in valuations for Europe's biggest soccer teams. The Glazer family, which also owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bought Manchester United for £790 million ($1.07 billion) in 2005. In 2024, a minority stake sale to billionaire Jim Ratcliffe pegged the club at around £5 billion, or the biggest valuation in world soccer. Kieran Maguire, associate professor in football finance at the University of Liverpool, told CNBC on Wednesday that the rising levels of U.S. ownership in European soccer have been driven by higher wealth aggregation Stateside. "It's actually a bit of a no brainer … what else you can do with your cash? You can only have so many helicopters, you can only have so many super yachts." According to Maguire, the small number of top professional sports teams available to purchase has also contributed to rising demand, with investors unable to meet the multi-billion dollar price tags attached to NFL or NBA teams in the U.S. looking to European soccer as an alternative. More than 36 of clubs in Europe's five biggest leagues now have private equity, venture capital or private debt participation through majority or minority stakes, including a majority of clubs in the Premier League, according to PitchBook research. The data shows a sharp increase in M&A deal activity in European soccer clubs, from just 66.7 million euros in 2018 to almost 2.2 billion euros in 2024. Many private equity investors in soccer have looked to the multi-club ownership model to boost their investments. Speaking to CNBC, PitchBook Senior EMEA Private Capital Analyst Nicolas Moura said many U.S. investors want to "build a variety of different football clubs," and that the model can have marketing and financial benefits. But the increasing prevalence of multi-club ownership has risked the ire of regulators, with Moura saying that European soccer body UEFA is "starting to crack down on clubs." This summer, England's Crystal Palace was barred from participating in UEFA's Europa League competition due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules. American businessman John Textor owns a stake in the English club as well as in France's Lyon, which also qualified for the competition. Moura says the decision — which Crystal Palace labelled as an "injustice" — could become more of an issue as more clubs involved in multi-club structures move into Europe's top divisions. The growth of soccer revenues has slowed in recent years, with Deloitte saying it sees income "plateauing" in the 2025-26 season on the back of slowing growth in the value of sports media rights. That has left commercial revenue — up 6% in the 2023-24 season, per Deloitte — as a main driver, as clubs clinched new sponsorship deals and looked to utilize stadiums for non-soccer events. Moura says lots of U.S. private equity investors are "looking to do their stands, their entire stadiums" in a bid to diversify away from broadcast income. The search for growth in commercial and match day revenues could see more clubs holding regular matches overseas. Spain's La Liga will take its first regular season game abroad this season, as current champions Barcelona prepare to play Villareal in Miami. Italy's Serie A is also considering an international game, with the country's governing body approving plans for a match in Australia. Until now, games in domestic leagues have not been allowed to be played outside of their home country, with global governing body FIFA considering a formal change to its rules on overseas matches. Maguire says Premier League clubs will eventually look to hold games overseas to compete with rival European leagues, and that the money generated will mean games "will be sold to the fan base … effectively as a fait accompli." The Premier League has not publicly entertained the idea of taking regular season games out of England, with CEO Richard Masters telling CNBC the league is "very different" from American peers when it comes to international games.
