Latest news with #GabbyAgbonlahor
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ex-England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler joins Pro Am Padel Tour
Former England rugby union star Joe Marler has described his new found love for the racket sport padel since retiring last calling time on his playing career in November 2024, the former Harlequins prop said he picked it up during the 2023 Rugby World from Heathfield in East Sussex, claimed he was "no good" at it but wanted to "spread the padel gospel" in during a celebrity tournament, he said: "There's that one point, that one rally that you get and you feel good at it. I chase that moment." He said: "People think I'm really good, they book me to spread the Padel gospel, then they realise I'm not good at it!"Padel tennis is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, thanks to its basic skill level and social said: "It's going crazy, everyone and everywhere is padel mad. It's great for me!"He now takes part in the Pro Am Padel Tour, a tournament which sees celebrities and professional padel players team team, including former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor, came up against others including comedian Jason Manford, with the tour also featuring players like Great Britain number one padel player Aimee Gibson. The Traitors Team Manford emerged victorious and secured a £10,000 contribution to the Captain's Fund, a new charitable initiative where each captain selects a charity to added: "Joe is good actually, for a big man he's got some delicate shots, he's a good laugh. I'm sure he's storming around now we've beaten him."As England Rugby's player welfare manager, Marler said his life has not slowed down since finishing his playing career."It doesn't feel like retirement, I'm so busy. I'm trying my hand at several things and hoping something sticks," he has also been announced as part of the line-up for the celebrity version of hit BBC One show The Traitors, which airs this will appear alongside the likes of comedians Stephen Fry and Alan Carr, chat show host Jonathan Ross and Olympic diver Tom Daley.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jack Grealish bites back at critics on social media after being left OUT of Man City's Club World Cup squad as he nears Etihad exit
Jack Grealish has bit back at critics on social media and defended his recent record after being left out of Manchester City 's Club World Cup squad. The latest stub will allow the 29-year-old and his representatives will instead be permitted to focus on finding him a move away from the Etihad Stadium, as he seeks to force himself into England 's World Cup plans. Grealish started only seven times in what was a poor season for City by their own standards. While he has two years remaining on his £300,000-a-week contract, a repeat would do neither City nor the player any favours. Following reports of the omission, accounts on social media were keen to voice their opinion on the former Aston Villa star's situation - with messages of support as well criticism directed his way. Interestingly, Grealish took the opportunity to put his feelings on the record amid continued speculation over his future. Responding to a post from talkSPORT which claimed that Villa favourite Gabby Agbonlahor is 'not happy' with Guardiola for unfairly treating Grealish, the winger wrote: 'What u want me to do score a [hat-trick] in 20 [minutes]?' Grealish took to social media to make his view on the situation public after reports revealed he is set to be left out He also waded into a discussion between two users discussing his form for City this term. 'Dude, Jack has been bad lately and I'm not surprised Pep did that,' wrote one user on X. Another replied: 'Lately? Lol, been too long to be called lately. Let these people talk s***.' The England international chimed in with a defense of his recent displays, adding: 'Haha, I've been bad lately? Score 3 goals in my last 3 appearances over 45 mins but okie dokie love x'. Clubs in England and Europe are expected to be interested in the playmaker, although the fact that many are grappling with profit and sustainability issues may point to the likelihood of a loan deal, rather than a permanent move for a man who cost City £100m when he signed from Aston Villa for a British record fee in 2021. After Grealish was left out of City's final Premier League fixture at Fulham, Guardiola said that officials would work with Grealish and his representatives to find a solution that suited both sides.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'No-brainer' – Gabby Agbonlahor names 'outstanding' player Chelsea should sign this summer
Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed it's a 'no-brainer' that Chelsea should sign Victor Osimhen this summer. The Blues are once again set for a busy summer and could look to fund their business by selling as many as seven or eight players. Advertisement Chelsea face a critical window with the club looking to sign a striker, centre back and right footed attacker to strengthen Enzo Maresca's squad. Agbonlahor urges Chelsea to sign Osimhen A striker is the main priority this summer, and the Blues have paid the price for not signing an alternative to Nicolas Jackson both last summer and in January. The Blues pursued Osimhen for the majority of last summer and the Nigerian is a player the fans would love to see arrive. Osimhen has scored 35 goals this season. (Photo by) John Obi Mikel has claimed Osimhen wants to play for Chelsea, and now Agbonlahor has stated it's a 'no-brainer' the Blues should sign the 26-year-old. Advertisement 'I think Osimhen is a Chelsea player,' he told talkSPORT as cited on 'He's a better option than Nicolas Jackson, a better finisher. He's outstanding in the air and can hold the ball up and get in behind as well. Surely that's a no-brainer to go and get.' Osimhen has scored 35 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions for Galatasaray this season and is believed to have a release clause of around €75m. Delap and Sesko targets Chelsea have most strongly been linked with Liam Delap and the 22-year-old is available for just £30m this summer following Ipswich's relegation. The Blues are admirers of Delap, but it's thought Manchester United are now ahead in the race for the England under-21 international. Advertisement More Stories / Latest News 'No-brainer' – Gabby Agbonlahor names 'outstanding' player Chelsea should sign this summer 16th May 2025, 08:15am Premier League club want €45m Chelsea star, impressed by his mentality and dedication 16th May 2025, 07:45am Report: Chelsea monitoring £60m rated Premier League star, Liverpool and Man United interested 16th May 2025, 07:15am Benjamin Sesko is another name under consideration and the RB Leipzig man has a release clause of around €80m. It's vital Chelsea bring in a top striker who can finish the chances they create, whilst it would also be beneficial for Jackson to have someone to learn from.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Will Watkins fire Villa back into Champions League?
While he's still some way off Aston Villa's all-time top scorer Billy Walker - who netted 244 goals between 1920 and 1934 - Ollie Watkins has now become the club's record Premier League goalscorer, with 75 goals in 182 league reached the milestone in almost half the appearances it took the previous record holder, Gabby Agbonlahor, who managed 74 goals in 322 games - a stat that also reflects Villa's accelerated progress in recent Watkins grabbed headlines with his dramatic winner for England in the Euro 2024 semi-final, Villa fans will now be hoping the next step in his evolution is becoming the kind of clinical big-game finisher the club can rely stakes in Villa's final two league games are certainly on a similar level, giving the England striker an instant platform to make such a up is a rare Friday night double-header, with Villa and their direct Champions League rivals Chelsea each taking on teams who have one eye on their own quest for a Champions League spot through winning the Europa League both Spurs and Manchester United will prioritise resting players for next week's final, but will one be weaker than the other?Villa will play both finalists in their last two league games, so a Watkins winner against Spurs and a legendary hat-trick at Old Trafford would be just the tonic to help Villa snatch a top-five only would it also give Watkins his 20-goal target for this season, but it would set him up nicely in attempting to cross the 100 Premier League goals line next more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Not relaxing' - how Watkins continues to improve at Villa
There were two words from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery when asked about record-breaker Ollie Watkins after their win over Bournemouth - "Fantastic. Brilliant."The striker himself admitted: "I said when I joined the club, that was what I had my eyes on."Now it is official. He is Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer, scoring his 75th league goal for the club to see off the Cherries and move one clear of Gabby Agbonlahor's previous record the England international guided Morgan Rogers' low cross into the bottom corner with a deft touch, it was also his 16th Premier League goal of the season - no other Englishman has is key. Watkins has scored at least 10 league goals in all five of his seasons at Villa, helping him move ahead of Dwight Yorke, Dion Dublin and Juan Pablo Angel in the club's top-scorer marks a dramatic return to favour for the 29-year-old, who joined from Brentford in he equalled Agbonlahor's record in April, Watkins said he was "fuming" with his lack of game time - calling out his manager four matches later, he is once again Villa's main man with his boss calling his achievement "very fantastic".The Spaniard said in his post-match interview: "We are here collectively achieving our objective and individuals are very important."We have to support and help each individual player to get their objective as well. "Ollie Watkins is very fantastic. How he plays consistently here and his career as a player, he is very humble and trying to improve every day. He is not relaxing - he is always trying to do his work. His work is fantastic."[It is] not just his scoring because he also played in the way we needed to stop them and he did a fantastic job."Read more about Watkins' record-breaking goal here
