Latest news with #Palmer
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders not a '100% lock' to make Cleveland Browns roster per NFL insider
By all accounts, Shedeur Sanders has performed well throughout his first offseason as a Cleveland Brown. Even as a fifth-round pick, the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback seemed to have a legitimate chance to challenge for the starting quarterback position. The Browns' quarterback competition is crowded with veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel all having a chance to start Week 1. Advertisement However, recent reporting from NFL insider James Palmer suggests that Sanders may not even make the Browns' 53-man roster. "Fifth-round picks are not a lock to make the roster," Palmer said. "So, no, I don't think he is 100% a lock." Palmer went on to say that he does think Sanders will ultimately make the roster, but it is not a guarantee. Flacco and Pickett appear to be the leading candidates to get the starting nod, and with Gabriel being drafted in the third round, he has a leg up on Sanders. Palmer seems to be taking a general stance that statistically, fifth-round picks are not guaranteed a roster spot, which is not a knock against Sanders. Advertisement Sanders' draft slide and criticism aside, he has been the most talked-about draft prospect since the draft, and his popularity is without a doubt helping the Cleveland Browns franchise. Making the final roster is a long shot, but if he keeps up, the Colorado star will force his way into the conversation for an opening week slot. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Shedeur Sanders' roster spot in jeopardy per NFL insider
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Forget the Best XI - These Were the Most Disappointing Players of the Season
Forget the Best XI - These Were the Most Disappointing Players of the Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's at this time of the year that journalists roll out their "Team of the Season" picks, with Salah, Palmer, Isak etc leading the way. But just as disappointed in the Premier League in 2024/25? Advertisement It would be tempting to simply pick the entire Southampton team, with a few Ipswich and Leicester players thrown in for good measure. But here at Athlon Sports, we're not interested in the relegation duds upon whom nothing was expected (and who over-delivered on that metric). Instead, here's our list of "good" players who one might have expected to shine but instead spectacularly failed to live up to their price tag or previous form. Note, a player had to have played at least 10 games to make the cut. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (Chelsea) - A close second was Manchester United's André Onana, a man capable of the the spectacularly bad. But Chelsea have spent nearly $200m on goalkeepers in the last six years, only to end up with Sanchez who has made five errors leading to goals and has built an unfortunate reputation for flapping at crosses and giving away possession. Defenders Kyle Walker (Manchester City) - Once the best right back in the country and an England regular, time has simply caught up with Walker and at 34 his blistering pace is no more. His stock fell so far that City loaned him out to AC Milan and replaced him with the inexperienced youngster Rico Lewis. Advertisement Andy Robertson (Liverpool) - This is harsh given that Liverpool won the league, but there's a reason Arne Slot is rumored to be in the market for Bournemouth's left back Milos Kerkez. Robertson has previously been a reliable provider of assists and even chipped in with goals in previous seasons. In 24/25 he had none of either. Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal) - After a promising start to life at Arsenal last year, he's struggled defensively this season and has failed to hold down a regular place in the team. The good led to the emergence of the talented 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly. Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United) - Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, the $50m signing managed just 14 starts and has faced criticism for inconsistent form, fitness and physique. Midfield Phil Foden (Manchester City) - In 2023/24, Foden was named the PFA Player of the Year. But the 2024/25 season will be one he wants to forget. He's suffered with both physical injuries and mental issues away from the pitch and City (and England) will be praying he regains his dazzling form. Advertisement Jadon Sancho (Chelsea) - Things didn't work out at Man Utd who loaned him out to things didn't work out either. The permanent deal he craved at Chelsea now looks unlikely. He probably should have stayed in Dortmund where he thrived. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - Perhaps the effects of that infamous title celebration have lingered longer than expected. One goal in 19 games would suggest so and he's dropped down the pecking order in Pep's team selection. Son Heung-min (Spurs) - Another who's suffered from injury and a dramatic loss in form, going from 17 goals in 23/24 to seven this season. He's been symbolic of Spurs decline and they will need him back firing on all cylinders to have any hope of surviving in the Champions League next year. Forwards Rasmus Højland & Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United) - No need to look much further than Man Utd's frontline here. Both players have just three goals from 28 and 32 appearances respectively. A dismal return for players who cost a combined $146m. You can't win soccer games if you don't score goals. Manchester United have not been winning many soccer games. Substitutes Dominic Solanke (Spurs); Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea); Raheem Stirling (Arsenal on loan from Chelsea); João Félix (Chelsea); Niclas Fűllkrug (West Ham); Jacob Ramsay (Aston Villa). Manager Ruben Amorim (Manchester United) - This was a coin flip between Spurs' Ange Postecoglou and Amorim with both managers leading two of the supposed biggest clubs in England to near the foot of the table. But Ange got the last laugh in the Europa League Final, so the "award" has to go to the Man Utd man. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Conference League victory a ‘starting point' for Chelsea, says Maresca
PA Media/dpa London Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said his team's victory in the Conference League final can be a 'starting point' as he looks to guide the club back to former glories. The Blues turned around a half-time deficit to triumph 4-1 against Real Betis in Wroclaw with Cole Palmer the key factor in turning the game around. The England forward set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson before Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo turned it into a procession, as the team built on their Champions League qualification on Sunday. 'Hopefully it can be a starting point to build a winner mentality,' said Maresca. 'You need to win games, you need to win competitions. And for sure, the trophy we won tonight is going to make us better.' 'But also, I'm very proud about the path or the journey we have done in the Premier League. But for me, it's the most difficult competition in the world. You have to be consistent in 38 games. And these players, they showed.' 'That's why after Nottingham Forest, my outburst was a little bit exaggerated. But the reason why is just because in 38 games, you need to be consistent. And with the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, it's something unbelievable.' Chelsea scored 45 goals in their 15 matches, including the play-off round, 19 more than Betis and the greater quality of Maresca's side ultimately showed - though not before the Blues were given a mighty scare. They looked overawed in the first half, Betis supporters creating a wall of noise and comfortably outnumbering Chelsea fans. The atmosphere seemingly got to Malo Gusto, whose mistake let in Abde Ezzalzouli to score after nine minutes and who almost gifted a second to Johnny Cardoso who spurned a golden chance. The game swung on five-minutes of brilliance from Palmer. Chelsea were seemingly sleepwalking towards defeat and to a miserable anti-climax following Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest that clinched Champions League qualification, when from nowhere Palmer delivered a magnificent ball into the box that was head in by Fernandez. The equalizer woke up Chelsea and spurred on Palmer. Within minutes, he had set up Jackson with another excellent cross, and the striker adjusted his feet well to meet the ball with his shoulder and put Chelsea ahead. It seemed to drain Betis and from there the Blues had it easy. Sancho came off the bench to bend a wonderful finish into the top corner and effectively seal it, then Caicedo landed a further blow on beaten Betis with a fourth in stoppage time. 'We all know that (Palmer) is a top player,' said Maresca. 'We need to help him to be in the right position in the right moment. And then he's a quality player. He can decide with a goal or with an assist, and as you said, the two assists have been both very nice.' 'I said many times, we're going to try to win the competition where we are in, where we play. This season, many times, people were talking about Champions League, Europa League.' 'But you cannot win that competition if you play conference. So our target was to win conference. Now, next season, we're going to play Champions League. And we'll see.'
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Chelsea dominates Betis 4–1 to win Conference League title
Chelsea sparked into life in the second half as they came from behind to claim the Conference League trophy with a 4-1 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday. Their revival was inspired by the creativity of Cole Palmer at the Wroclaw Stadium. Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson - both set up by the excellent Palmer - plus late strikes from Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured the silverware after Betis went in 1-0 up at halftime thanks to an early Abde Ezzalzouli strike. The 23-year-old Palmer's two assists in five minutes during the second half turned the match around for Premier League club Chelsea and his efforts saw him named Player of the Match. The victory means Chelsea are the first team to have won all three European competitions, having lifted the Champions League twice along with two Europa League trophies in their history. They have also won the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup. "I am very happy. I was a little bit frustrated in the first half because I think we approached the game in the wrong way," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told TNT Sport. "In the second half we played much better." The result had no bearing on European qualification for next season, with Chelsea having secured a Champions League spot and Real Betis a Europa League place via their domestic leagues. Even before the match started, Betis fans set off green flares, their vibrant glow embodying the fervour and historic pride of the club's debut appearance in a European final. However, Betis appeared nervous in the opening minutes before they went ahead when Isco found the unmarked Ezzalzouli at the edge of the box in the ninth minute, giving him plenty of time to break the deadlock with a powerful low shot. Betis nearly doubled their advantage minutes later when Marc Bartra's long-range effort forced Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen to tip the ball over the bar. Johnny Cardoso then received a perfectly weighted pass that put him in an ideal position to score another goal for Betis, but a moment of hesitation allowed Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile to block his attempt. Second-half Turnaround In the first half, only one team had been in the ascendancy as Betis pushed forward and Chelsea were outplayed. However, it was a different story in the second period as Chelsea seized control, dominating midfield and orchestrating a series of attacks that left Betis scrambling. The pressure bore fruit in the 65th minute when Fernandez slipped between two defenders to head home a pinpoint Palmer cross for the equaliser and ignite a roar from the Chelsea fans. Five minutes later, the match had completely turned around when Palmer cleverly turned his marker near the byline and again delivered a precise cross that enabled Jackson to bundle the ball into the net off his chest and put Chelsea ahead. Sancho effectively ended the contest in the 83rd minute by firing into the far corner and Caicedo put the icing on the cake with the fourth goal in stoppage time to delight the fans and secure the London club's seventh major European trophy.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Cole Palmer a big fish out of water at Chelsea
These tensions have seldom been far from the surface. Palmer has cut a detached, almost disinterested figure at times this season, morphing from a player who scored 14 goals in his first 23 games to one who suffered a 16-match drought. His influence waned in all departments: between January and mid-April, he failed even to register an assist. The air of dissatisfaction was magnified when he posted a reminder on Instagram of his four goals against Everton 12 months earlier, captioning footage of that display with one word: 'Enjoyment.' A sign that he was tiring of Maresca's system, and pining for a return to the free role he enjoyed under Mauricio Pochettino? In public, he did nothing to challenge that theory. It is hardly as if Palmer is unfamiliar with Maresca's methods: after all, they have worked together since their days with Manchester City's under-21s. How long can the lovelessness last? But at this unforgiving level, you question how long such a loveless relationship can last. Palmer, Wythenshawe born and bred, has taken time to settle at Chelsea, giving the impression of a young man parachuted into the Surrey stockbroker belt and wrenched away from his childhood friends in Manchester. Although the club found him a home, he said once that he did not even know what the M25 was – a fairly startling admission, given the location of Chelsea's Cobham training ground, just a mile from Junction 9. Is he secretly hankering for a return to the North West, just two years after he left City? For the moment, any such motivation is difficult to establish. In any case, it would require an outrageous offer even to begin to extricate him from his golden-handcuffs deal at Chelsea, extended until 2033. Palmer has, though, dropped the odd hint that home is where the heart is. 'Manchester's better,' he said, when we met a few months ago in Weybridge, near his Esher flat. 'It's quiet here, no distractions.' The comment did little to inspire confidence that he regarded Chelsea as his great passion project. And it should serve as a warning that Maresca can ill afford to stifle him much longer.
