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Fit, adaptable and supremely confident, England’s Test team continue to walk the talk

Matt Roller11-Oct-20241:26

Miller: England have found perfect tempo to be ruthless

It was a collapse that could only be explained by its context. Pakistan lost this Test on the fourth evening when they slipped first to 41 for 4 then 59 for 5 and 82 for 6 in the third innings. Impressive as England’s bowlers were across the match, these were unexpectedly easy wickets to come by on a blameless pitch.But Pakistan’s batters were beaten by the time they had even reached the crease, run down by the dual burdens of their recent struggles and 150 overs being run ragged in the field. Saim Ayub spooning Brydon Carse’s first ball to mid-off was the worst of a series of grim dismissals, which were the culmination of mental and physical exhaustion.It is one thing to spend around 150 overs in the field, as both sides did in their first bowling innings. It is another for them to be spread across three days, and to spend them chasing after the ball as the opposition score at more than five runs per over: England scored 478 non-boundary runs in their first innings, compared to Pakistan’s 276.Related

• Pakistan, a graveyard for Test bowlers – in numbers

• Abrar in hospital after falling ill during Multan Test

• Stats – Rare England innings win in Asia, Pakistan losing streak continues

• Leach four-for consigns Pakistan to historic innings defeat

• England further expose Pakistan's mental and tactical fragility

Joe Root and Harry Brook’s partnership ground them down, a 454-run epic spread across 86.3 overs. Brook’s gear change after lunch on the fourth day – he hit 99 off 65 balls in the second session – compounded Pakistan’s weariness, and left them floundering in the mid-afternoon heat. “It had a massive effect, which is what Test cricket is about,” Chris Woakes said.”Here in the subcontinent, you can have three supposedly dull days and then the game can happen quickly. That was always the plan: once we were able to get ahead and run them ragged in the field, it was always going to be hard for them, even on that surface. We know how much it takes out of you.”Root and Zak Crawley’s partnership across the final 18.4 overs of the second day was a vital phase in the match – not least after Aamer Jamal’s spectacular catch to dismiss Ollie Pope. It enabled Brook to start his innings fresh on the third day, and gave Ben Duckett’s thumb time to heal before he came out to bat at No. 4.”The way that Ducky and Creeps [Crawley] go about their business has such a good impact on the changing room,” Brook said. “Watching them go out there and put immense amounts of pressure on their two best bowlers in Shaheen [Afridi] and Naseem [Shah]… it gives you comfort going out there, thinking that the pitch is probably better than what it is.”Touring the subcontinent as an England cricketer in 2024 is completely unrecognisable to what it once was: the team are travelling with their own chef, and are staying on a luxury hotel with a neighbouring golf course. There is still a mental adjustment to make from playing in front of full houses back home to the banks of empty seats this week, which England made impressively quickly.Harry Brook and Joe Root laid the platform for England’s innings win•Getty ImagesThis win was testament to their players’ fitness, and their ability to adjust from the start after coming from a wet, cold autumn back home to the stifling heat of Multan. England insisted in the build-up that three tough training sessions would be enough for them to acclimatise and so it proved, as they coped far better than Pakistan with the oppressive conditions.Brook worked tirelessly on his fitness in the early months of this year, when he missed England’s tour to India and the IPL to be with his grandmother on her deathbed. By his own admission, this was not an innings he could have played without that dedication: “If I hadn’t done that, I’d have probably got to 150 and just slogged one up in the air.”None of England’s seamers had played a Test match in Pakistan before but Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse comprehensively outbowled Afridi and Naseem. Carse was particularly compelling on debut, bowling at high pace and finding some reverse-swing: England have moved on from James Anderson and Stuart Broad with impressive speed.The Test match run has lost its value almost as quickly as the rupee in Pakistan, but even in the context of a high-scoring match on a lifeless surface, England’s total of 823 for 7 declared was remarkable. There were seven sessions between them losing Pope to his second ball in response to Pakistan’s 556 and their winning moment on the final morning.But just as Pakistan’s third-innings failure carried an air of inevitability after their recent results, England’s players were not intimidated by a big score. This was the third time since Brendon McCullum took over as coach two-and-a-half years ago that they had conceded more than 500 in an innings: they have now won all three.”You take confidence from those previous performances, when you’re that far behind in the game,” Pope said. “We try not to think about the end result too much during the game, especially if we’re behind… That’s allowed us to go and put together these performances and good wins in situations where potentially, in the past, we wouldn’t have got over the line.”England’s series results under McCullum have been a mixed bag: they have beaten teams they would expect to, drawn with Australia, and lost heavily in India earlier this year. But it is their style and approach that has made them such a compelling team to watch: asked if this was his favourite Test win, Pope claimed it was “definitely top three” – and then named three others.Along with their victories in Rawalpindi two years ago and in Hyderabad in January, England have won three Tests in Asia that few other sides could hope to. McCullum has dismissed the idea that Bazball has been “refined” in any way beyond personnel but this was a reminder of its central tenet: that athletes perform at their best when imbued with immense self-belief.It is not totally foolproof, and there are times when England’s tactical approach has overstretched. But they have now won 20 of their last 30 Tests – and there remains an intoxicating sense that the best is yet to come.

Sri Lanka captain pledges to carry on after young team fails in spirited bid for semi-finals

Firdose Moonda19-Feb-2023It started with a sensational win over South Africa in the tournament opener and ended with a whimper as they were dismissed for their third-lowest total in T20Is. It’s fair to say Sri Lanka came, saw, conquered and then crashed out. For Chamari Athapaththu, it’s not a calamity.”The world has not ended. The sun will come up tomorrow. I want to build a good team for the future. Today the feeling is not good but my focus is the next tour,” she said, still smiling, afterwards.That Athapaththu can even talk about the next tour is a win for Sri Lanka. They went without fixtures between March 2020 and January 2022 and know what the effects of a prolonged absence from the game can do for a team’s momentum. Now, thanks to the first ever women’s FTP, they have visits from Bangladesh (which did not take place prior to the World Cup as initially scheduled) and New Zealand to look forward to, as well as a tour of England later this year. “The youngsters need some experience. They need to play more cricket in future,” Chamari said. “We have to play a lot of cricket against the top four teams.”Chamari’s youngsters include under-19 captain Vishmi Gunaratne, who is only 16, offspinner Kavisha Dilhari, who has 10 more T20I caps to her name than her age of 22, and her opening partner, 24-year-old Harshitha Samarawickrama. All of them were excited about the prospect of reaching the semi-finals and anxious about beating New Zealand after losing to Australia, even if that result had been somewhat priced in.”I’m not worried about the Australia games but I’m a little bit worried about today’s game,” she said. “It was a very crucial game for us and I felt some of the girls in my team put too much pressure on their shoulders. I think they didn’t handle that pressure very well.”Sri Lanka’s nerves showed almost immediately. They missed a run-out chance that would have seen Bernadine Bezuidenhout dismissed for 7 and then dropped her on 19. She went on to score 32 and share in a 46-run opening stand with Suzie Bates that set up New Zealand’s innings. They also dropped Bates, on 37, as her 56 off 49 balls propelled New Zealand to a score above 160. In response, Sri Lanka were completely shell-shocked. They played their big shots too early and picked out fielders and once Athapaththu was dismissed, it became a procession as the last five wickets fell for 25 runs.Their opposition knows exactly what that feels like. It was less than a week ago that New Zealand were bundled out for 67 – the second-lowest T20I total – two days after Australia had dismissed them for 76 to all but end their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals. They were particularly distressed after their 65-run defeat to South Africa – a match that had the weight of a quarter-final attached to it – and captain Sophie Devine emphasised the need to figure out and discuss where things were going wrong. Athapaththu may be tempted to do the same but Amelia Kerr, who was part of Devine’s team’s talks, had some advice. “When there is emotion involved, sometimes you don’t know what to say and it’s better to review it the next day.”When New Zealand did that, they came up with a mantra for their last two games: “be tougher when things get tough,” Kerr explained. “There was nothing wrong with the talent we have in this room, it was just to have that belief and be tough.”That may work for New Zealand, who have a fairly developed professional structure as opposed to Sri Lanka, whom FICA’s annual global employment report said had “not professional structures”, and both Athapaththu and Kerr acknowledged the gap is growing.Unsurprisingly, they both cited Australia as the benchmark and while Athapaththu zoned in on the domestic structure, Kerr looked at T20 franchise leagues that have made the difference. “Australia has a good domestic structure. They play a lot of cricket – domestic tournaments and schools tournaments,” Athapaththu said, while Kerr described the resources the Australian players have as “outstanding”.Related

• Athapaththu, spinners help Sri Lanka pull off an upset in T20 World Cup opener

• Pressure of expectations bogs South Africa down; freedom gives Sri Lanka wings to fly

• Samarawickrama's 69* helps SL make it two wins in two

• West Indies take heart from small gains to keep faint World Cup hopes alive

• Sri Lanka crash out of T20 World Cup after 102-run thumping by New Zealand

But they also pointed to the growing prowess of India as a signal to the rest to speed up their development. “In terms of what we are seeing around the world, with the Hundred in England, the WBBL in Australia and now the WPL, it’s going to strengthen those countries a lot,” Kerr said. “We are heading in the right direction: our match fees being equal to the men, and it allows us to earn more money so we can train more. Most of us do cricket full-time which is only going to help our game. We are behind those countries but if all countries can get that opportunity it is going to help grow the women’s game.”And for Athapaththu, that is especially significant for the other teams on the subcontinent, which could have just one representative – India – in the final four. “India has a good structure but in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, we have to develop our structure,” she said.Because she wants to be part of that process, Athapaththu herself has committed to at least another T20 World Cup – the next tournament is in Bangladesh in September/October 2024 – and perhaps even another 50-over tournament.”I want to build a good team for Sri Lanka for the future, so that’s my goal,” she said. “I want to encourage the youngsters and be a role model. I always try to lead them from the front, so my target is playing another one or two years for Sri Lanka. That’s what I want to do.”

Plus a fourth-innings hundred from Asif Iqbal, and brisk legspin from two charismatic Pakistan allrounders

Osman Samiuddin20-Apr-2020What We’re WatchingWaqar announces himself
Thank you, Kamran Wasti, for WhatsApping me the first link. Kamran is a repository and archive in human form of all things Pakistan cricket, especially from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. He’s the guy to go to for remembering the smallest detail of a match or a player’s career. This video is bits of Waqar Younis in the 1990-91 home series against New Zealand, his official coming out as a phenomenon. With a moustache.Globally, the series is recalled for ball-tampering but Kamran passed on the link with typical myth-busting instructions: “I doubt the new-ball strikes are because of ball-tampering… there is big seam movement because of the hard, pronounced seam… outswing (inswing to left-handed).” There’s pace and bounce too, as well as – already – changes in angle at delivery and action. In short, not just old-ball reverse (though there’s plenty of that too).Pandemonium in Perth
For creepy algorithmic reasons, that link led me to the highlights of an ODI between Pakistan and West Indies in Perth, part of a quadrangular event in 1986-87. It’s creepy because why and how does YouTube know that these exact highlights are the ones I watched the most in the summer of 1987? So much that not only do I remember commentary (“I’m 6’6″, I can’t get any higher,” says Bill Lawry of Courtney Walsh) or Qasim Umar kissing his edge, or Viv’s jive-walk back after a catch, I wore the tape out.It’s a great game, and is a lesser-known entry into the of fame (geddit?). Pakistan struggle to 199, and West Indies coast to 105 for 2 before a comedy run-out, and boom, before you know it, West Indies are letting Shoaib Mohammad and Mudassar Nazar share five wickets and it’s over.The seesawing ’70s at Sabina
A decade before that, the same sides played out a lively, much-remembered but little-seen series. Forty-three minutes’ worth of footage from the last Test in Jamaica has found its way to YouTube, although, going by the difference in broadcast quality of the two games, the gap feels like a century.The series is a poster child for the era: unbuttoned shirts, fast-scoring batsmen (Asif Iqbal brings up his hundred off 119 balls; the lowest innings run rate in this Test was 3.5, the highest 4.27), faster bowlers, and lots of bouncers. As an accompaniment, it’s worth reading Simon Wilde’s , which chronicles these bouncer wars so well.Wasim Raja: he swung in the ’70s•PA PhotosAs a nerdy side note, check out Joel Garner’s slower ball around the 32-minute mark: they existed even back then. The disguise is so bad, it’s clear, even with footage of this quality, that he slows his arm down in release. Otherwise, a very Pakistan chase: losing wickets at critical moments, raising hopes, puncturing it. Consolation: Wasim Raja swag.Dashing legspinning allrounder porn, part 1
As we’re on Raja’s swag, a personal algorithm brings up this from Adelaide, 1981. This is Pakistan’s first ODI win over West Indies, after eight successive losses (many of them close, mind you). This is another bit of : West Indies 85 for 3, with Clive Lloyd going strong on 28 when he sweeps Ijaz Faqih, only for Tahir Naqqash to take an outstanding catch. It’s Faqih’s first ODI wicket and it turns the game.But we’re watching this for Raja’s legspin, and who does it remind you of? The speed, the hustle, the trajectories, the way batsmen can’t figure out something very basic about it, and even glimpses of the action, it’s all quite Shahid Afridi.Stray observation: note the development of Imran Khan’s action as a trilogy, from 1977 through 1981 to 1987.Dashing legspinning allrounder porn, part 2
Which brings us to the great man himself – Afridi, that is, not Imran. This is from his Test debut, when, not for the first time and definitely not the last, he would do exactly what you didn’t think he could do, or was picked for.Afridi was selected as an opener and ended up with a debut five-fer. All five of his wickets are here but, let’s be honest, the second one on loop would suffice. Steve Waugh, second ball, plumb to the faster ball. Legspin? As with everything about Afridi’s cricket, yes, but not as you know it.For more such curated YouTube playlists, click here.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw is headed to the All-Star Game for the 11th time in his decorated career, as MLB commissioner Rob Manfred included the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander on the roster as a "Legend Pick" for all that he's achieved in a likely Hall of Fame career.

And while Kershaw is certainly grateful for the honor, he also doesn't necessarily believe it was deserved on his part.

"Obviously, I don’t deserve to get to go this season, haven’t pitched very much," Kershaw, who has made just nine starts this season, quipped according to the . "I don’t know if Doc [Dodgers manager Dave Roberts] was going for the surprise factor or not. But I had no idea until he said it.

"You never take for granted getting to go to an All-Star Game, regardless of the circumstances. At the end of the day, it’s weird but cool, so I’m just going to enjoy it."

The 37-year-old didn't pitch until May 17 this season after undergoing surgeries on his knee and toe following the Dodgers' World Series victory this past season. Kershaw is 4–0 with a 3.43 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched.

Kershaw, who on July 2 became just the 20th pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts, joins retired sluggers Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as players to receive the "Legend Pick" as an entry into the All-Star Game.

Pujols and Cabrera both went on to retire that year. Kershaw has not specified exactly when his retirement will occur, but has made clear that he will spend the rest of his career with the only organization he's ever known.

"The Dodgers have stuck with me," Kershaw told reporters after notching his 3,000th career strikeout. "It hasn't been all roses. I'm super grateful now. To say that I got to spend my whole career here, and I will spend my whole career here. I have a lot more appreciation."

The MLB All-Star Game is on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Manchester United’s struggles in recent years have been difficult for the fans to process, especially given the success previously endured in previous generations.

The Red Devils ended last season in a record-low 15th place in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to have a positive impact during his first season in the role.

As a result, the club have now failed to win a single league title since the 2012/13 season campaign, with Sir Alex Ferguson the last manager to finish top of the table.

Their inability to secure top-flight glory hasn’t been through a lack of trying, especially as seen by their spending in the transfer market, which has seen over £800m spent in the last four years.

One player has remained ever-present despite the heavy spending in the market, arguably still being Amorim’s key man in the club’s hunt for sustained success.

The stats behind Bruno’s success in 2025/26

Bruno Fernandes is a player who has constantly impressed during his near six-year spell at United, with the midfielder being the shining light throughout last campaign.

Despite the struggles, the Portuguese international notched a total of 37 combined goals and assists, which no doubt saved the club from a relegation battle.

In 2025/26, the 31-year-old has been forced to operate in a deeper midfield role, but it hasn’t stopped the fan-favourite from producing some incredible numbers in the Premier League.

Bruno has created 3.1 chances per 90 in England’s top-flight to date, with such a tally higher than any other player in the division after the first 15 games of the season.

He’s also registered 2.8 shots per 90 and made 6.1 recoveries per 90, highlighting his efforts at both ends – subsequently placing him in the top 10% of midfielders in the league.

United’s latest showing against Wolves further showcases how impressive he’s been in 2025/26, with the club captain notching two goals and an assist in the 4-1 triumph.

Bruno also completed 55 passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates, with both of the aforementioned tallies the highest of any player on the pitch at Molineux.

The United star who’s showing shades of Park

Ji-Sung Park was just one player who was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad over a sustained period, with the South Korean star a massively underrated player at Old Trafford.

During his seven years in Manchester, the midfielder racked up a total of 205 appearances in all competitions, often featuring in a variety of different positions.

He often started out wide, in the number ten or even a number eight position, often handing Ferguson a versatile option across numerous key areas of the pitch.

Park registered 55 combined goals and assists during such a time, with his best strike arguably being against Wolves at Old Trafford back in the 2010/11 campaign.

During his time managing Park, Sir Alex often paid the South Korean countless compliments, even once labelling him as the “ultimate professional” due to his attitude and reliability.

However, since his departure in 2012, the club have lacked a player of his stature, but Amorim does currently have a similar player in the form of Mason Mount.

The Englishman has struggled to nail down his place in the United first-team since his £60m move from Chelsea in 2023, with injuries often plaguing the 26-year-old.

However, the 2025/26 season has given him a new lease of life, with the midfielder already racking up 12 Premier League appearances this season and catching the eye with his displays.

He’s already netted three goals to date, including one against Wolves on Monday, subsequently repaying the faith shown in him by Amorim in recent months.

Like Park, he’s often featured in countless positions at Old Trafford, including a number eight role and a number ten – with the midfielder now looking like a crucial part of the squad.

Amorim has also sung his praises in recent times, dubbing him a “proper footballer” and saying that he “believes in him a lot” – highlighting the faith he has in the Englishman to succeed.

His recent showing against Wolves, in which he scored, has showcased why he’s as important as Bruno, with Mount completing 90% of the passes he attempted at Molineux.

He also completed 100% of the long balls he attempted, whilst also making five recoveries and being fouled three times – often providing a constant nuisance to the opposition.

Minutes played

85

Touches

46

Pass accuracy

90%

Long balls completed

100%

Goals scored

1

Recoveries made

5

Fouls won

3

Touches in opposition box

2

Mount’s ability in front of goal over recent weeks has certainly given the manager food for thought, which could see the former Chelsea star now be a key member of the side once again.

He and Bruno have clearly struck up a superb partnership at the heart of the side, which could be crucial in any success achieved during the Amorim tenure.

Mount’s similarities to Park are there for all to see, with the midfielder now having the chance to back up the manager’s faith, just as the South Korean did at Old Trafford in years gone by.

100% pass success & 100% duels won: Man Utd star is as undroppable as Bruno

Manchester United have unearthed another star after yesterday’s win over Wolves at Molineux.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

Tottenham have expressed a real interest in signing one star from Barcelona ahead of 2026, according to a new report.

Spurs shortlist attacking targets with big-names on the radar

Spurs are preparing significant investment in attackers for January and beyond, with media sources indicating a new forward or two will definitely arrive at the club next year.

Indeed, Thomas Frank’s side have identified multiple targets as they attempt to revive their campaign.

Tottenham have significant funds available for the right acquisition, with the club willing to test the waters for elite talent. The recruitment team, led by co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, are expected to prioritise signing a wide forward rather than a central striker, though no final decision has been confirmed as they approach the January window.

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo remains the primary target, with the Lilywhites now intensifying their interest ahead of January.

The Ghana international has seriously impressed this season with his blistering pace and proficiency, which will definitely appeal to Frank as he seeks to add more creative spark.

Semenyo’s new deal also includes a tempting £65 million release clause which will be active early next month, but this has piqued rumoured interest from the likes of Liverpool and Man City as well.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as another concrete target, viewed alongside Semenyo as possessing the energy and attacking versatility suited to elevating Tottenham’s forward line.

However, sources indicate Ndiaye is considered more likely as a summer acquisition rather than a January signing.

More ambitious names include Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

Tottenham tipped to strike Grealish-like deal for player who'd 'jump' at chance to join

Spurs could get him on loan in January.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 5, 2025

Tottenham are believed to be exploring a potential January deal for Rodrygo, who himself would consider a move to north London as he instructs his representatives to find him a new club.

Aghehowa, who’s been in monstrous form since joining Porto from Atlético Madrid in 2024, also has huge admirers at Spurs, amid reports that they’re also prepared to make a winter move for the Spaniard.

Paratici and Lange appear to be drawing up a shortlist of credible attacking targets as the Lewis family look to kickstart a new era post-Daniel Levy, with Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford now also on their radar.

Tottenham 'determined' to sign Barcelona star Marcus Rashford

Rashford finds himself at a career crossroads following his impressive revival at the Camp Nou, with Tottenham now emerging as serious contenders to lure the forward back to the Premier League.

Despite his outstanding form in Spain, Barcelona remain indecisive about the £30 million purchase option in his loan deal from Man United, creating uncertainty that several English clubs are eager to exploit.

His Barça renaissance has persuaded the Calatans’ hierarchy to at least contemplate activating the permanent deal clause, but their precarious financial situation complicates matters.

While the £30 million fee appears affordable on paper, Rashford’s long-term future hangs in the balance, and Spurs could offer him a route to London.

That is according to Spanish media sources, who report that Tottenham have identified Rashford as the ‘ideal’ profile to rejuvenate their attack.

Spanish newspaper AS, as referenced, claim that Spurs are ‘determined’ to sign the 27-year-old and ready to offer him an ‘immediate leading role’ in the team — though any transfer would have to wait until the summer considering he’s still on loan in La Liga.

Rashford’s wages, reported to be around £325,000-per-week, present a pretty major roadblock for Frank’s side, but his proven Premier League experience and versatility would undoubtedly improve the team.

The United academy graduate, during spells of superstardom at Old Trafford, earmarked himself as an England regular before falling out of favour and impressing on loan at Aston Villa last season.

For the last three days, one run has been enough to defeat the Cincinnati Reds. And that's exactly what has happened.

Yes indeed, the Reds have lost their last three games by a score of exactly 1–0, falling 1–0 to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday, and opening a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with another 1–0 loss on Thursday.

According to Stathead, the Reds are the sixth team in MLB history to lose three consecutive games by a score of exactly 1–0, and the first since 1960. The others? The 1908 Brooklyn Superbas, the 1909 St. Louis Browns, the 1909 Washington Nationals, the 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1960 Philadelphia Phillies.

“They’re trying their [tails] off. Maybe too hard," Reds manager Terry Francona said after the game [via Charlie Goldsmith]. "They’re fighting. We’re not going to have a situation where it’s ‘us’ when we win and ‘they’ when we lose. We’ll do this together. We’ll figure it out together. Nobody is happy about what’s happened the last three games. We’ll figure it out together. I feel strongly about that."

Through seven games, the Reds are 2–5 and sit tied for last place in the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have scored 24 total runs in those seven contests, although over half of that offensive production occurred in a 14–3 win over the Rangers on Monday.

The Reds return to the diamond Friday for a rematch against the Brewers in hopes to plate at least one run. Or perhaps it will be yet again at American Family Field.

أصبح ريال مدريد يعاني من ضجيج كبير خاصة بعد غيابه عن تحقيق الانتصارات في آخر مباراتين ضد ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا ورايو فاليكانو في الدوري الاسباني.

وتعرض ريال مدريد للخسارة بهدف نظيف على ملعب أنفيلد في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وكذلك التعادل ضد رايو فاليكانو سلبياً في الدوري الاسباني.

وكان ريال مدريد حقق الفوز على برشلونة في الكلاسيكو، وبدأ تحول جذري بعد ذلك يثير التساؤلات حول كل ما يحيط بالفريق من أزمات داخلية.

ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية أن أحد هذه الأزمات يتعلق بالبرازيلي فينيسيوس جونيور قبل أن يتم حل الصراع بالحوار واعتذار البرازيلي عما قام به في مباراة برشلونة وقد تقبلت غرفة الملابس ذلك.

أقرأ أيضاً.. مبابي عن أزمة ريال مدريد: ليس لدي ما أقوله

أما بشأن باقي الأمور، فإن الواقع بعيد كل البعد عما تمت إثارته خلال الأيام الأخيرة والشائعات المتداولة التي ليس لها أي أساس من الصحة بشأن أداء ريال مدريد وتشابي ألونسو.

وقد تحول ما يمر به ريال مدريد من إحباط إلى تحليل شامل لكل شيء في النادي، ولا يزال النادي يحافظ على ثقته في تشابي ألونسو قوية.

ولا يزال أمام ريال مدريد الوقت لاستعادة ميزته التنافسية والتي لم يتم ترسيخها بعد، ويعد تشابي ألونسو أول من يدرك ذلك حيث يعرف النادي جيداً وما يعنيه ويدرك أن اللحظة القادمة حاسمة بالنسبة له والتي تتمثل في استعادة قوة الفريق التي تظهر بشكل متقطع والتي يجب أن تعود لتستمر هذا الموسم وتعد هذه النقطة هي التحدي الذي يواجه المدرب الشاب وطاقمه الفني.

It would be fair to say that it’s not exactly the best time to be a West Ham United fan at the moment.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have lost their last three games and currently look on track to be relegated from the Premier League.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom as it’s still early in the season and the Hammers do have a number of very talented players in their squad.

Moreover, while they sold one of their star players, Mohammed Kudus, in the summer, the manager has another player who is far better than he’ll ever be, and it could even be said that it was the right decision to sell the Ghanaian.

Why selling Kudus was the right decision

Now, the first thing to say is that on his day, Kudus can be a real game-changer, and during his first campaign for West Ham, he was exactly that.

For example, across 45 appearances for the Irons in 23/24, he racked up an impressive tally of 14 goals and nine assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.95 games.

However, as many a West Ham fan will report, the former Ajax star was only a useful player to have when the going was good, as in challenging moments he’d often go missing entirely.

This is exactly what happened in his second season at the club.

For example, in 35 appearances across all competitions last season, the Accra-born international was only able to score five goals and provide four assists.

Appearances

45

35

Goals

14

5

Assists

9

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.51

0.25

That means his average dropped from a goal involvement every 1.95 games to one every 3.88 games, and worse yet, his fifth goal of the season came in the final league game against an already relegated Ipswich Town, when nothing was on the line.

Moreover, his underlying numbers were just as unimpressive, so he wasn’t just getting unlucky.

According to FBref, he only ranked in the top 32% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for shot-creating actions, the top 37% for non-penalty expected goals and progressive carries, the top 43% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

In short, while he might have been useful this season, West Ham were probably smart to sell him for £55m, especially as Nuno has another more talented star who will give his all for the badge when things get tough.

The West Ham star miles better than Kudus

Now, West Ham do have a few players who could help them get out of trouble by the end of the season, including Lucas Paqueta, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Mateus Fernandes.

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However, when it comes to the most important star of all, and the one who is still comfortably better than Kudus, it’s obviously Jarrod Bowen.

The modern legend has already cemented his name in club folklore with that Conference League Final-winning goal, but he continues to be the most dangerous attacker in the squad.

For example, since joining the Hammers in January 2020, the former Hull City ace has racked up a sensational tally of 77 goals and 53 assists in 248 games, averaging a goal involvement every 1.90 games.

Moreover, while Kudus was letting the fans down with his performances and output last season, the Englishman was picking up the slack and consistently delivering, scoring 14 goals and providing ten assists in 36 games, which is a goal involvement every 1.5 games.

What about this year, though? How does the Leominster-born star’s output stack up to the Ghanaian international’s?

Well, in 13 appearances for his new side, the former Hammer has scored one goal and provided five assists.

That comes out to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.16 games.

For his efforts, the Irons’ “unplayable” talisman, as dubbed by Thomas Frank, has scored three goals and provided two assists in ten appearances.

Appearances

10

13

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.46

Amazingly, that means that, despite playing for a team threatened with relegation, Bowen has maintained a better average of a goal involvement every other game.

Therefore, while Nuno might have been able to tune out of Kudus at West Ham, he already has a far better player at his disposal, and one that will fight to the end for him and the team.

Nuno must now finally ditch West Ham man who's "national league standard"

Nuno has to make some changes to save West Ham’s Premier League status, and one of them is to drop the poor performer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 28, 2025

Napoli are reportedly plotting another transfer raid on Manchester, with United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo registering on their recruitment radar once more. The reigning Serie A champions were able to acquire Kevin De Bruyne over the summer, after seeing him leave City as a free agent, but the Belgian midfielder is currently ruled out with a thigh injury.

• Napoli require cover for injured De Bruyne

  Antonio Conte is eager to reinforce his engine room, as Napoli compete on domestic and continental fronts, with collective sights being cast in the direction of proven Premier League performers.

  According to , Napoli’s interest in Mainoo is “for real”. They are reportedly working on a deal that could be pushed through in the January window. It is claimed that “the question of a departure is now more than ever on the table” when it comes to Mainoo and United.

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  Mainoo to join McTominay? January transfer being discussed

  The England international midfielder, who burst onto the scene after stepping out of the fabled academy system at Old Trafford, has been restricted to just eight appearances this season. His only start came in the Red Devils’ humbling Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby.

  Mainoo is yet to make a starting XI in the Premier League during the 2025-26 campaign, with Ruben Amorim favouring alternative midfield options in his 3-4-3 system. Serious questions were asked of the 20-year-old’s future over the summer, but no deal was done. With game time proving limited, he is ready to reassess his options.

  It is reported that “United are not considering a permanent transfer”, but Napoli are pushing for an initial loan agreement that includes a purchase option. claim that the Red Devils have “opened the door to a compromise”. Mainoo is said to be “tempted” by the opportunity to work with former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Conte.

  A permanent deal for Mainoo could be pushed through in 2026 if certain terms are met, with the amount of appearances he makes over the second half of the season set to determine whether or not he remains in Italy alongside fellow United academy graduate Scott McTominay.

  United are said to have “made it clear they would prefer to see the player in a foreign league rather than in the Premier League”, with several options that would keep Mainoo in English football being “ruled out”.

• More departures: Zirkzee linked with return to Serie A

  Mainoo may not be the only United star swapping the Premier League for Serie A during the winter window. also report on how Joshua Zirkzee could be treading that path. He only left Bologna for Old Trafford in the summer of 2024, but is another forward to have found the going tough in Manchester.

  The Netherlands international is also yet to start a top-flight fixture for the Red Devils this season, with just five appearances being made in total. He has no goals to his name this term, having registered only seven across his debut campaign in England.

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  Roma lead chase for Zirkzee but AC Milan are also interested

  Zirkzee is said to have “told his entourage to find him a loan deal in January to revive his career”. He is considered to be “highly regarded” in Italy, having registered 12 goals for Bologna in the 2023-24 season.

  Roma are considered to be the side most likely to do a deal for the Dutch forward, with talks already taking place. Zirkzee’s representatives have discussed a “salary agreement” with the Giallorrossi, with it likely that he will need to accept a serious pay cut in order to make a move possible.

  The Netherlands international is reportedly willing to pass up financial gain in order to get his career back on track. While Roma are leading the chase for his signature, it is also being suggested that AC Milan could join the race as they look to bring in more firepower at San Siro alongside the likes of USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Portugal international Rafael Leao. Any deal for Zirkzee would leave United short on striking options – having already allowed Rasmus Hojlund to join Napoli – with Benjamin Sesko being backed up by 17-year-old Danish wonderkid Chido Obi.