Crystal Palace manager Olivier Glasner has denied reports he has his heart set on taking over at Bayern Munich. The Austrian coach had previously been linked with Bayern in 2024 as the Bundesliga champions looked for Thomas Tuchel's replacement and claims he is still dreaming of sitting in the hot seat at Allianz Arena.
Manchester United’s academy has played a key role in their success over the years, as seen by their infamous Class of 92, with such a crop of players helping the Red Devils reach new heights.
The quintet played a huge role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s success at Old Trafford, but it’s safe to say the players who have made the jump in recent times have failed to reach such levels.
Marcus Rashford may have racked up over 100 goals during his time in the first time, but his attitude has led to his demise, resulting in various loan spells away from his boyhood outfit.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, before linking up with LaLiga champions Barcelona on a season-long loan for the 2025/26 campaign.
However, he’s not the only academy star who has seen his future come into question over recent months, with another player close to the exit door in recent days.
Kobbie Mainoo’s potential exit from United this summer
After his dream 2023/24 campaign, which saw an FA Cup final goal and a late strike against rivals Liverpool – no United fan would have imagined how Kobbie Mainoo’s time at the club would transpire.
The 20-year-old only made 25 Premier League appearances last season, 19 of which were from a starting role, with Ruben Amorim favouring other options in the midfield department.
He’s only featured in 45 minutes of league action so far this campaign, leading to the player himself coming out and stating he wanted a move away from Old Trafford before the recent transfer deadline.
Any move would’ve only been a temporary switch away from the Red Devils, but the club refused to let him leave, which has resulted in the player needing to fight for his place in the starting eleven.
Despite the window closing, the youngster’s future still remains up in the air, with another former academy graduate slipping through their clutches a couple of years ago.
The £500k United star who could’ve been the dream Mainoo replacement
Despite the success of the aforementioned talents, numerous United youngsters have struggled to make their own impact on the first team – subsequently having to leave the club to make a name for themselves.
James Garner is just one example, leaving the Red Devils to join Everton back in the summer of 2022, before going on to nail his place in their starting eleven in recent seasons.
He’s racked up just shy of 88 appearances for the Toffees – scoring three times, including in the opening game at their new stadium against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Englishman isn’t alone in that deportment, with midfielder Maxi Oyedele unable to break into the first-team, despite joining the Red Devils at the age of just eight.
He spent 11 years within the academy ranks, having multiple loan spells with the likes of Forest Green Rovers and Altrincham – but it wasn’t enough to catapult him into the senior side.
The board took the decision to permanently offload him last summer, allowing the 20-year-old to join Polish side Legia Warsaw – for a measly fee of just £500k.
Such a move allowed the midfielder, who’s been labelled “fantastic” by Bruno Fernandes, to make 24 appearances last campaign – five of which came in the Europa Conference League.
Games played
16
Minutes played
985
Pass accuracy
86%
Dribble success
69%
Tackles won
1.9
Duels won
5.9
Aerials won
1.1
Interceptions made
1.6
As a result of his impressive underlying stats, he secured a move to French side Strasbourg this summer, with the Ligue 1 outfit paying £5.2m for his signature.
If Oyedele continues his development in France, it would be no surprise to see him join Chelsea in the near future – especially given his current side are also owned by the same group as Enzo Maresca’s outfit.
The decision to sell him could prove to be a mistake in the years ahead, especially given the recent struggles at Old Trafford, which have been endured during the Amorim reign.
Given Mainoo’s current situation, he could leave the Red Devils in the years ahead – subsequently leaving a huge hole in the heart of the side and one that Oyedele could’ve filled had he remained at the club.
Amorim must axe Man Utd flop who earns more than Wharton & Baleba
Manchester United desperately need to clear some players off the wage bill in the months ahead.
1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 3, 2025
Tottenham Hotspur were forced to settle for a point at the AMEX on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Thomas Frank’s side had beaten West Ham United and Villarreal in their last two matches without conceding a goal, but they were unable to add to those wins with a third successive victory.
A late own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke ensured that the Lilywhites did not come away from the match without anything to show for their efforts.
Despite it being a fairly disappointing result, as they were almost beaten and only picked up one point, there were some positive performances across the pitch.
One player who caught the eye with his display in the middle of the park was summer signing Joao Palhinha, who started in the number six position for Spurs.
It was his fourth start of the Premier League season since signing on loan from Bayern Munich, and it is already clear what kind of player the club have brought in.
Why Joao Palhinha is not the perfect player for Spurs
Palhinha is an out-and-out defensive midfielder. If you were told to list the attributes you would want in a pure defensive midfielder, he has all of them.
The Portugal international is tall, mobile, strong, wins tackles well, competes in the air, and covers gaps in midfield. All of the things that you would associate with a defensive-minded midfielder.
So far this season, per Sofascore, Palhinha has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 65% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, which is evidence of his defensive strength in the middle of the park.
However, despite getting on the scoresheet against Manchester City, the former Fulham star does leave a bit to be desired with his use of the ball.
The best number six types in world football are not pure defensive midfielders, because they are expected to dictate play and be impactful in possession as part of a team that wants to win the biggest prizes.
Palhinha vs other DMs in their last full league seasons
Selected midfielders
Progressive passes per 90
Percentile rank vs CMs
Rodri (23/24 Premier League)
11.55
Top 1%
Vitinha (24/25 Ligue 1)
9.87
Top 2%
Frenkie de Jong (24/25 LaLiga)
9.45
Top 3%
Declan Rice (24/25 Premier League)
6.12
Top 17%
Ryan Gravenberch (24/25 Premier League)
5.16
Top 27%
Aurelien Tchouameni (24/25 LaLiga)
5.15
Top 33%
Joao Palhinha (24/25 Bundesliga)
3.94
Bottom 33%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, Palhinha falls well short as a progressive passer in comparison to some of the best defensive or deep-lying midfielders, whether they play as a number six or a number eight, across Europe.
This does not mean that the Portugal international is a bad player, by any means, but his lack of progressive play in possession may be why Bayern were willing to send him out on loan in the first place.
Palhinha may not be the perfect player, therefore, to deploy in matches when Spurs are expected to be the dominant force and need to break teams down, but may be ideal in the biggest games, like against Manchester City, when they need backs-against-the-wall defending.
Spurs did once have a promising young player, though, who had the potential to be a defensive monster like Palhinha, but with the progressive passing to make him the club’s own version of Declan Rice.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.
Given what has happened to him in recent years, it may seem ridiculous to suggest, but Oliver Skipp could have been Tottenham’s own Rice in different circumstances.
Why Spurs may rue selling Oliver Skipp
The English number six came up through the youth ranks at Spurs and made a smattering of appearances for the first-team before going out on loan to Norwich City in the 2020/21 campaign.
Skipp played in 45 of Norwich’s 46 Championship matches that season, per Sofascore, and played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League, winning the title in the process.
20/21 Championship
Oliver Skipp per 90
Percentile rank vs CMs
Passes attempted
59.32
Top 8%
Pass accuracy
87.6%
Top 1%
Progressive passes
4.86
Top 28%
Progressive carries
1.63
Top 29%
Passes into the final third
4.93
Top 16%
Tackles made
2.33
Top 19%
Shots blocked
0.49
Top 11%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international provided quality as both a progressive passer and carrier, whilst also excelling defensively with his ability to make tackles and blocks in his own third.
After that season with the Canaries, former Spurs striker Paul Stewart claimed that he could be as effective as Rice, who was at West Ham United at the time and ranked well above Palhinha in the earlier table for progressive passes for Arsenal last season.
The pundit stated: “You know what, I’d like to see him do what Declan Rice does. I think he’s got that in him and I think he showed that at Norwich. The plaudits that have come out of East Anglia have been massive about Oliver Skipp. I think he can go on and be as effective as Declan Rice at West Ham.”
Unfortunately, Skipp only started 37 Premier League matches in the next three seasons combined, fewer league starts than he managed in one season with Norwich, which meant that the midfielder was unable to really hit his stride in North London.
Ange Postecoglou opted to part ways with the English midfielder in the summer of 2024, selling him to Leicester City, and that is a decision that they should regret.
Skipp has failed to impress with the Foxes, having been thrown into a season that ended in his club being relegated from the Premier League, but things could have been so different for him.
It is all hypothetical now, but what if the defensive midfielder had been given a real run of games to show what he could do after returning from that superb loan spell with Norwich? Maybe he would have become the club’s own version of Rice in the number six position, as a player who could progress play as well as disrupt it.
Instead of cashing in on him, Spurs could have given him a chance to nail down a place in the side and get his confidence back. Now, playing in the Championship, it seems like his career is heading in the wrong direction.
He's outperforming Kudus: Spurs' star was offloaded by Postecoglou for £0
Tottenham Hotspur may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart the club for free.
ByEthan Lamb Sep 22, 2025
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be without key first-team players following a series of injury blows, with their extended 2024/2025 as a result of the Club World Cup appearing to have dire consequences.
There were concerns about how the squad would react to both a summer tournament after an already-long campaign last term, not to mention their extremely limited pre-season.
Defender Levi Colwill will be out for the majority of this season after tearing his ACL at the end of a Cobham training session, prompting Stamford Bridge chiefs to briefly consider the possibility of signing a new centre-back on loan in the summer transfer window (Simon Phillips).
Meanwhile, midfield general Moises Caicedo has been spotted with a strapped-up knee training in Ecuador — adding further concerns for Maresca ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League return against Brentford at the bizarre kick-off time of 20:00 on Saturday.
Chelsea fans are also sweating over the fitness of Cole Palmer, and there is a real lack of clarity when it comes to the extent of his injury or when he’ll be available for selection once again.
|
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season |
Average match rating |
|---|---|
|
Cole Palmer |
7.33 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
7.02 |
|
Enzo Fernández |
6.95 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
6.88 |
|
Noni Madueke |
6.82 |
|
via WhoScored |
|
In some better news for Maresca, Benoit Badiashile and Roméo Lavia have returned to training this week, meaning it cannot be long before both men are ready to be selected in Chelsea’s matchday squads. Some west London insiders are backing Badiashile in particular to stake his claim under Maresca and play a role this season (Ben Jacobs),
However, in the last 24 hours, Chelsea were dealt a major blow with news that summer signing Liam Delap will be out until November after his hamstring injury in the win over Fulham.
The striker is poised to miss some huge games in the next two months, including a trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a London derby against Tottenham and a crucial face-off against English champions Liverpool.
|
Games Liam Delap is expected to miss |
|---|
|
Brentford (H) – Premier League Bayern Munich (A) – Champions League Man United (A) – Premier League Lincoln City (A) – EFL Cup Brighton (H) – Premier League Benfica (H) – Champions League Liverpool (H) – Premier League Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League Ajax (H) – Champions League Sunderland (H) – Premier League Tottenham (A) – Premier League Qarabag (H) – Champions League |
Delap’s injury prompted Chelsea to reconsider loaning Nicolas Jackson to Bayern, but they eventually agreed to the Senegalese departing for Bavaria on better terms whilst deciding to instead recall Marc Guiu from his temporary spell at Sunderland.
Now, Maresca can add another summer signing, Dario Essugo, to their list of absentees.
Chelsea have confirmed that the 20-year-old has undergone surgery on a thigh problem he sustained on international duty with Portugal’s Under-21s, with Essugo now set to undergo extensive rehab.
Taking to social media, the “exciting” midfielder has claimed that he will be out “for a while”.
“I didn’t want this”. Those were the words of Erik ten Hag last year, reflecting on Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli on a £30m deal in the summer of 2024.
The Scotland star was fresh off the back of a standout season at Old Trafford, having scored ten times in all competitions, yet with just a year remaining on his contract, the club hierarchy opted to cash in – the PSR profit from that academy sale likely the deciding factor.
While Manuel Ugarte – the less said about him, the better – was acquired as his replacement, McTominay has gone on to soar to unimaginable heights in Italy. Serie A champion. Ballon d’Or nominee. An icon in Naples.
For a player often derided for what he couldn’t do in Manchester, the 28-year-old has been worshipped for what he can do in his new home. The sight of an adoring crowd bellowing his name at last season’s Scudetto celebration was one to warm the heart.
A man without a defined role under Ten Hag, and those before him, McTominay was something of a 12th man at Old Trafford. A player who could prove so valuable, yet didn’t have a clear route to a starting berth. Is that now being repeated?
How McTominay compares to Man Utd's midfielders
With the new season still in its infancy, let’s take things back to 2024/25 – a campaign that many at United would likely wish to erase from their brain.
One takeaway – as we’ll come onto – was that Amorim’s side were crying out for reinforcement in the centre of the park, yet despite interest in Carlos Baleba this summer, no such move was made.
If a repeat of last term is to occur, that decision could certainly come back to bite those at boardroom level. There might be some shiny new toys in attack, but the engine room is stuttering and smoking.
That was evident in 2024/25, with Bruno Fernandes the only real shining light of the current crop, amid his haul of 38 goals and assists in all competitions – eclipsing McTominay’s own record of 19 goal involvements under Antonio Conte.
No other midfielder comes close to McTominay’s return, however, with an injury-hit season seeing Kobbie Mainoo register just two goals and one assist in 37 games.
Ugarte, meanwhile, scored twice and provided six assists in 45 outings, yet the Uruguayan didn’t even feature in the Europa League final to mark his diminishing status.
There was to be a mini-revival for Casemiro, particularly in Europe, although the Brazilian was again far from McTominay’s level, with just five goals and three assists in 42 appearances.
It also proved another miserable year for Mason Mount, excluding his three goals late on in the campaign under Amorim, with the Englishman now in danger of falling into McTominay territory.
Man Utd's new McTominay
For all the naysayers and doubters – with club legend Roy Keane once describing the infamous ‘McFred’ partnership as “not good enough” – McTominay retained the love of a succession of United managers.
Indeed, Jose Mourinho conjured up his own award to gift to the homegrown talent in 2018. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described him as a “physical monster”. Ralf Rangnick suggested he was of future “captain” material. Ten Hag, meanwhile, was perhaps most effusive in his praise in 2023:
For all the plaudits, under Ten Hag, in particular, McTominay was more of an impact man than a regular fixture, starting just 43 of 85 games under the Dutchman in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
A player loved by managers, but not always by supporters, Mount also falls into that category.
This is a player who started Champions League and Europa League finals under Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate in 2021. Even Keane was dishing out the plaudits at the time, stating in that same year that the Englishman is “like Paul Scholes” as he “plays like a kid on the street”.
Fast forward to the present day, however, and the £55m capture of the 26-year-old in 2023 is now teetering toward disaster territory. Into the start of his third season, the ex-Chelsea has suffered yet another injury setback.
The versatile playmaker had started the first three league games of the campaign, yet was forced off at the break in the 3-2 win over Burnley. His return date has yet to be specified.
In all, just four goals and two assists have come his way in 50 games for the club, with Transfermarkt noting that he has missed 52 games through injury since his arrival just over two years ago.
Much like McTominay before him, he retains the backing of his managers regardless. Upon joining United, Amorim singled the midfielder out as a “proper footballer”. Ten Hag also described him as a “high-class player”, ahead of the 2024 Community Shield.
The problem – aside from his inability to stay fit – is that it is difficult to see a space for Mount in United’s best XI, just like McTominay last term, if everyone is fit and available.
Indeed, he appears to be vying for a number ten berth with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, two players who look a shoo-in to start if available. Yes, as the early weeks of the season showcased, Cunha can be nudged into a number nine berth to accommodate Mount, yet with Sesko in the picture, that shouldn’t be a permanent fix.
As he showed off the bench against Athletic Club last term, following his stellar brace to book United’s place in the showpiece, Mount at his best can make an impact, particularly off the bench.
As his performance in the final itself displayed, however – in which he was replaced just after the hour mark – the £150k-per-week talent, as per Capology, is rarely as effective from the off.
Minutes
71
Touches
25
Pass accuracy
73%
Dribbles
1/1
Key passes
0
Ground duels
5/6
Aerial duels
0/1
Possession lost
6
Like McTominay, he is seemingly a manager’s dream, albeit with it difficult to see a regular starting role emerging for him. Amorim may wish to utilise him more regularly – as did Ten Hag likely planned to do with McTominay – but who gives way for that change is another matter altogether.
For the colloquially named ‘McSauce’, the major obstacle to his attacking midfield berth was Fernandes, with the same now arguably true for Mount.
Perhaps, as his ex-teammate has done, the Cobham graduate might have to depart for pastures new in order for his talents to truly be recognised.
No Dorgu, new role for Amad: How Amorim can save Man Utd job & keep 3-4-2-1
Ruben Amorim appears intent on sticking with his 3-4-2-1 formation at Man Utd, but could he at least change the personnel within it?
ByRobbie Walls Sep 17, 2025
Gazi Group, Legends of Rupganj, Gulshan Cricket Club and Agrani Bank also progress
Mohammad Isam13-Apr-2025
Agrani Bank progressed despite being promoted from the lower division only this season•Remark Herlan Sports
Key takeawaysDespite having the same points as table-toppers Abahani Limited, but behind on net run rate, Mohammedan Sporting Club finished the first phase of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2024-25 with a psychological edge. On Sunday, Mohammedan beat Abahani after nine years in the Dhaka derby, thus breaking an 11-match losing streak. Both Abahani and Mohammedan qualified for the tournament’s Super League phase, where the top six teams will play each other again to decide the champions.Gazi Group Cricketers (third) and Legends of Rupganj (sixth) also enter the next stage of the competition, along with Gulshan Cricket Club and Agrani Bank Cricket Club, who surprisingly progressed despite being promoted from the lower Dhaka First Division Cricket League only this season.Meanwhile, big spenders Prime Bank Cricket Club and Dhanmondi Sporting Club (formerly Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club) ended up having disappointing seasons, as they both failed to reach the Super League stage.Best battersAnamul Haque finished the first stage as the tournament’s highest run-getter, with 655 runs at an average of 72.77. He also finished as one of six batters to score two hundreds each. Mohammad Naim (618 runs at 61.80) and Parvez Hossain Emon (569 runs at 71.12) were impressive too and followed Anamul in the run charts. Shadman Islam, known more for his red-ball experience, was also among the top five run-getters.Best bowlersLeft-arm spinners Rakibul Hasan and Taijul Islam ended as joint-leading wicket-takers with 23 wickets each. Three bowlers were joint-second, including offspinner Mosaddek Hossain, and medium-pacers Shoriful Islam and Asaduzzaman Payel. Against Brothers Union, Shoriful picked up 6 for 40, which were the best bowling figures of the tournament.Best matchGulshan beat Dhanmondi by two wickets in a chase that went into the last over. Tailenders Moinul Islam and Nihaduzzaman took Gulshan to victory with two balls to spare after senior pro Naeem Islam’s half-century kept the 259-run chase afloat. Earlier in the game, Asaduzzaman and Mehedi Hasan took three wickets each to restrict Dhanmondi to 258 for 9 in 50 overs.Points to ponderWhile the top six teams enter the Super League, two of the bottom three sides – Partex Sporting Club, Brothers Union and Shinepukur Cricket Club – will be relegated. Partex finished with six points, and thus tenth among the 12 teams after beating Dhanmondi in their last match, but there have been some reported infighting in their setup.Meanwhile, Shinepukur, who ended at the bottom of the table, also have another problem to deal with, with the BCB investigating a controversial stumping during their match against Gulshan.Partex, Brothers Union and Shinepukur will play each other to decide which team continues in the tournament and which of the two will be relegated.Players to watchThree batters aged under 22 finished with more than 300 runs in the tournament: Brothers Union’s Mahfijul Islam (406 runs) and Aich Mollah (302 runs), and Partex captain Ahrar Amin (365). While Mahfijul made a century and three half-centuries, Mollah struck two fifties and Amin three.Among the young bowlers, Mahfuzur Rahman took 14 wickets for Abahani. Tofael Ahmed, meanwhile, was the most impressive among the pace-bowling allrounders, as he took ten wickets and scored 269 runs for Gazi Group.
Mohammed Shami’s numbers in IPL 2025 are poor, and he has also not been able to get his lines right consistently, which has traditionally been one of his strengths
ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-20252:36
Chopra: If Shami struggles, his England ticket will be in doubt
Earlier this month, Mohammed Shami almost broke an IPL record. That of the most expensive four-over spell in a game. He conceded 75 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), just one fewer than Jofra Archer’s 76 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). You do go for runs in T20 cricket, but Shami hasn’t looked himself in IPL 2025, and as Aakash Chopra put it, “he’s not looking good” right now, keeping in mind India’s Test tour of England not long after the IPL.Shami didn’t play the last IPL after he was sidelined with an ankle injury and underwent surgery in his right foot in March 2024. In IPL 2023, he won the Purple Cap for his 28 wickets for Gujarat Titans (GT). On Friday night, against GT, he went 3-0-48-0. That took his season’s numbers to six wickets from nine matches at an average of 56.17 and an economy rate of 11.23. Combined with much else, Shami’s poor run with the ball has been one of the reasons for SRH’s dismal season.”You’ve had a big surgery like that, I think psychologically for a start [it gets you down],” Danny Morrison said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out after SRH’s latest defeat, which left them on the brink of elimination. “And then you’ve got to come back and pace yourself, I just wonder: he is no 29-year-old anymore, is he? So there are all of those things that are stacked against you.”Related
Shami unlikely to make India's Test squad for England tour
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Powerplay malfunction puts SRH on the brink
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If Morrison chose to be kind, Chopra didn’t.”That’s a big question there, no, because it’s not like he came back from an injury last week or last month. He started playing domestic cricket last year and this is May already,” Chopra said. “He’s played an ICC event [Champions Trophy] in between. He’s played a lot of games. If he’s still off the boil, and that has something to do with the injury – and we’re all assuming that it is – then there is a serious question mark with regards to what happens next.”Of course, [SRH] is one story. The other is the tour of England. All of us were harping about the fact that [at the] Border-Gavaskar Trophy, [Jasprit] Bumrah was alone, there was no Shami, and if there was Shami how things would have been different. But will there be Shami [in England] is the question. And what kind of Shami?”This tournament is such that it doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re not delivering the goods, you will be taken to the cleaners. And right now, what I see with Shami is, pace down is one bit, second is not enough balls getting bowled in the same area. Mohammed Shami was always that. That is his only strength [and], it is phenomenal.”
“He may just be subtly guilty – and it could be anyone – that if I am not just getting through the crease, pace has come down – sure, all those things – whether you are wholeheartedly getting through your action”Danny Morrison on Mohammed Shami
For the record, Shami returned to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy late last year for Bengal, and after being a part of the Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) and the (50-over) Vijay Hazare Trophy squads for Bengal, was back in international cricket with the T20I series at home against England in January-February. The biggest high in all this was picking up 5 for 53 against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy, where he was India’s highest wicket-taker with nine wickets, as his team went on to win the tournament.In that same Champions Trophy, Shami opened the bowling against Pakistan and bowled five wides in the first over. His lines were off on Friday night too. He drifted into Shubman Gill’s pads – and was flicked for six – and gave width to B Sai Sudharsan, and even bowled a 20-run over, the third of the GT innings.3:03
Have Sunrisers been the most disappointing team this season?
“Going back to that game against Pakistan, where he bowled five wides in the first over – okay that happened also 45 days ago or, maybe more, two months ago [on February 23] – so if he’s still not able to get the ball right… because he’s not someone who will get flicked for a six; you can drive him for a four, cut him maybe – he doesn’t give you that much width by the way – but very seldom will he bowl those that you’re flicking for a six and you’re happy facing the [next] ball. So yeah, he’s not looking good,” Chopra said.Morrison was also concerned and provided a glimpse of a fast bowler’s mindset when it comes to returning after an injury with form, fitness, and age not on your side.”Sometimes, there’s a saying, you just put it there rather than you bowl it,” he said. “And follow through, and present to the crease well, and all those sorts of things. He may just be subtly guilty – and it could be anyone – that if I am not just getting through the crease, pace has come down – sure, all those things – whether you are wholeheartedly getting through your action.”SRH have four games to go. They aren’t mathematically out of the race for the playoffs yet, but are close to it. Four more games for them to do something about their season, and four more games for Shami to show he’s still got it. The IPL shouldn’t be the base for Test selection, but Shami hasn’t played Test cricket since June 2023. So, to repeat, “he’s not looking good”.
علق طلعت يوسف مدرب الاتحاد السكندري الأسبق، على قرار ييس توروب المدير الفني لـ الأهلي مع لاعب الفريق خلال مباريات الفريق الأحمر.
قال طلعت يوسف في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون أي: “أنا مع الوسطية في كل شيء، اللاعب لا يجب أن ينفعل بشكل مبالغ فيه على زميله داخل الملعب، لأن الانفعال الزائد قد يؤثر على أداء بعض اللاعبين بالسلب”.
وأكمل: “وهناك أخرون قد يتقبلون التوجيه بانفعال محدود، فالأمر يعتمد على شخصية اللاعب وكيفية تعاملك معه كقائد داخل الملعب”.
طالع.. الخطيب يوضح سبب فشل الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية.. وموقفه من تعيين ريبيرو والانسحاب أمام الزمالك
وأضاف: “بعض اللاعبين لو أخطأوا في هدف، الأفضل ألا تتحدث معهم لأنك قد تُخرجهم من أجواء المباراة تمامًا، بينما آخرون يحتاجون تعنيفًا بسيطًا”.
وأردف: “بالنسبة لياسر إبراهيم، لاحظت في الفترة الأخيرة مبالغة في هذه الانفعالات، وأنا دربته في سموحة وكان مختلفًا تمامًا، وكان من المقربين ليّ على المستوى الشخصي، لكنه في الأهلي تغيّر، خاصة بعد رحيل رامي ربيعة، ربما لشعوره بالمسؤولية كونه الأقدم في خط الدفاع”.
وأتم: “ياسر يحتاج لإعادة تقييم انفعالاته وتوجيهه لزملائه بهدوء أكثر، ولذلك أنا متفق تمامًا مع رؤية توروب في هذا الأمر”.
Manchester United are struggling to put together a run of results under Ruben Amorim and have now been urged to hire a Champions League winner as his successor, or another shock name.
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim is under pressure
Nobody likes to see a manager lose their job, but the Red Devils are struggling under Amorim and they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League with four points from four matches played.
Tasting defeat at Manchester City in comprehensive fashion on Sunday has only amplified calls for something to change. Nevertheless, Amorim is keen to try and turn things around with his current system rather than changing tact.
He stated after the 3-0 loss to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook: “The system is not the problem. You are here, and you saw Manchester United playing with a different system. Most of them, 4-3-3, and (it) was more or less the same result.
“I will try to do my best in the way I see the game, I don’t see the system as you guys see the system, so I will try to do my thing.”
More coaches than ever are willing to die on the hill of their tactics. Ultimately, football is a game of opinions, and Amorim will put trust in the Red Devils’ early season underlying numbers as something to work with moving forward, given they ranked first in the top-flight XG table with a score of 6.78 before their collapse at the Etihad Stadium.
Either way, not everyone is convinced by the former Sporting boss and his methods, prompting a former Premier League striker to make a suggestion about a potential alternative.
Charlie Austin says Man Utd should appoint Zinedine Zidane or Sean Dyche
Per The Express, Charlie Austin has suggested that Manchester United should target Zinedine Zidane to replace Amorim if their form continues, while the former Burnley and QPR striker also put Sean Dyche’s name out there as a surprise tip to steady a leaking Old Trafford ship.
He said: “I think he’s got to go, if it’s my decision, I’m going after Zinedine Zidane. Ultimately, there are a different set of managers that you’ve got to be looking at, because the situation Manchester United are in, I would take Zidane but is he the right man for the job and how we see them, probably not.
Zinedine Zidane
Sean Dyche
Wins: 190
Wins: 195
Draws: 63
Draws: 138
Losses: 47
Losses: 208
Preferred formation: 4-4-3
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Trophies won
Trophies won
3x Champions League 2x La Liga 2x UEFA Super Cup 2x FIFA Club World Cup 2x Spanish Super Cup
Championship 2015/16
“In my honest opinion, you have to look at the job Sean Dyche did at Burnley, what he did at Everton. For me, he stabilised the club, at least he’s going to put structure in there.”
Zidane and Dyche are starkly different bosses, but Austin’s clear overriding emotion stems from change being needed to halt a run of results that has left Manchester United needing to fix a slow start to the campaign.
Persistence will be key for now, though a victory against Chelsea this weekend could be critical for Amorim to quell any lingering doubts over his future.
Jurgen Klopp has, having previously criticised the spending power of Manchester City, addressed Liverpool’s elaborate recruitment drive in the summer of 2025 that saw them smash records while splashing out £450 million ($603m). Ex-Reds boss Klopp claims that he would “never, ever” have asked for that kind of money from the Anfield board during his time at the helm.
Klopp delivered Liverpool trophies on a tighter budget
Klopp was able to make Liverpool competitive across his nine-year tenure, with Premier League and Champions League crowns being captured. His coaching CV would have been even more glittering were it not for the presence of Pep Guardiola and City – with the Sky Blues investing heavily in a squad that enjoyed domestic domination during Klopp’s time in England.
Liverpool have now shown that they are prepared to compete in the transfer market, with huge sums of cash being parted with when securing the signatures of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Klopp has told podcast: “I had no clue that this is possible. Nobody ever told me that it’s possible that we can spend like that. My last year at Liverpool, we obviously (had) the adidas deal, the new stadium, all these kind of things – they earn more money. But never, ever I could have asked for that amount of money, but that’s not a problem. In that time it was not there, no problem at all.”
AdvertisementGOAL What Klopp said about Man City spending
Back in 2022, as City prepared to march their way towards a historic treble, Klopp said when asked if Liverpool could compete with Guardiola’s expensively-assembled squad: “Oh, you won’t like the answer. You will not like the answer, and you all have the answer already. Nobody can compete with City in that.
“You have the best team in the world and you put in the best striker on the market [Erling Haaland]. No matter what it costs, you just do it. I know City will not like it, nobody will like it, you’ve asked the question but you know the answer. What does Liverpool do? We cannot act like them. It is not possible. Not possible. It is just clear and again you know the answer.
“There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It’s legal and everything, fine, but they can do what they want. They will say: ‘Yeah but we have…’ but it’s exactly the fact. We have to look at it [and say]: ‘We need that and we need that and we have to look here and make it younger, and here a prospect and here a talent’ and that is what you have to do. And you compete with them.”
Isak & Wirtz backing: Klopp expects expensive stars to shine
Klopp has no complaints at seeing purse strings pulled a little tighter during his tenure, with that approach making his trophy triumphs even more fulfilling. He went on to say: “I love the fact that we were as successful as we were and built new stands and built a training ground, because we talk now about a transfer window in the way you want to talk about it, spend a lot of money, but there’s no discussion about the stands and no discussion about the training ground. They are second to none. The training ground and the stands are wonderful. In the same place where Anfield is, they could build pretty much a new stadium without leaving the old one, so that’s a fantastic story. And that will stay forever.”
Liverpool are yet to enjoy the return they are after from big-money additions to Arne Slot’s ranks, but Klopp is convinced that proven performers will come good. He added: “Isak is an incredible striker. Florian Wirtz, you will eat your words if you use the wrong words. He is an incredible talent. Ekitike is an incredible player. It’s a really, really, really good squad.
“If the young centre-half (Giovanni Leoni) doesn’t get injured, it’s a perfect squad. Now he’s injured, that doesn’t help. But besides the centre-half position, it’s a perfect squad. Two super left-backs, a really super-right back. That’s how you set a team up.
“Now you have to deal with the situation. They’ll all think they have to start the game but that’s a normal job. You’ll have this discussion of who will start in a week or two, and then in the third week one is injured and you’re happy that the other can start. That’s the world a football manager is living in. We don’t have to worry about Liverpool. They will be fine.”
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GettyLiverpool wobble: Four successive defeats under Slot
The Reds are enduring an uncharacteristic wobble at present. Having burst out of the blocks in 2025-26 with seven straight victories across all competitions – with the history books being rewritten by a flurry of late goals – Slot’s side have suffered defeat in each of their last four fixtures. A dramatic loss was endured at the hands of Manchester United last time out, with Liverpool set to be back in action on Wednesday when facing Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.