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Football is a fickle game, with October’s Premier League Manager of the Month, Ruben Amorim, now again facing scrutiny regarding his position at Manchester United.

Three draws, one defeat and a solitary win from the last five league outings has sparked concern that this United side is drifting back into old habits, fresh from a worst-ever Premier League campaign last time out.

Boos rang out at the full-time whistle following the 1-1 draw with relegation strugglers West Ham United in midweek, just ten days on from another abject Old Trafford display up against ten-man Everton.

A creditable comeback win against Crystal Palace may have been sandwiched in between those two frustrating results, although even at Selhurst Park, the performance was drab and dour, with club legend Roy Keane noting that the displays have been “desperate” across the last three or four games.

Still in the mix for European contention in eighth, it isn’t time to panic just yet – but could more drop points against bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday change the situation?

Why Ruben Amorim's future at Man Utd remains uncertain

Even amid the depths of the defeat to Grimsby Town, INEOS have appeared to back their man to the hilt, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe even suggesting earlier this season that Amorim would be given three years to make his mark in Manchester.

There has been gradual improvement this year – while the lack of attacking quality and depth must also be factored in to any criticism – although the Portuguese’s stubborn 3-4-2-1 system continues to grate on supporters.

Unwilling to take the handbrake off, even at home to both Everton and West Ham, the 40-year-old notably made four defensive-minded changes last time out, overlooking the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey on the home bench.

The treatment of Mainoo, in particular, has riled up the United faithful no end, a fact only enhanced by Amorim choosing to laugh off suggestions that the Englishman could have been an attacking change against the Hammers.

Yet to start a single league game in 2025/26, the 20-year-old is believed to be itching for a loan move in January, with his standing under the new boss having perhaps been evident right from the off, as Amorim selected Casemiro and Christian Eriksen ahead of him on that November night at Portman Road.

Quite what INEOS make of the handling of Mainoo remains to be seen, although there are whispers that the United hierarchy are plotting potential replacements, with reports this week indicating that the club are monitoring Palace boss, Oliver Glasner.

Also being eyed as a possible successor to under-fire title winner, Arne Slot at Liverpool, Glasner is a man in demand. Could the “incredible” coach – as hailed by Pep Guardiola – be the man to get United back on track, while reviving Mainoo in the process?

Why Glasner's appointment could be perfect for Mainoo

It would be somewhat ironic if United were to turn to one of the few managers Amorim has actually bettered this season, although the caveat to that result was the Eagles’ Conference League involvement just days earlier, having visibly tired as the game progressed.

Initially indeed, there looked like being only one winner in south London, with Jean-Philippe Mateta squandering a handful of chances, while Eddie Nketiah saw his one-on-one attempt denied by Luke Shaw.

Adam Wharton, too, could only fire his effort straight into the gloves of Senne Lammens, with the promising Englishman having run the show in that opening 45, amid suggestions that Casemiro looked “haunted” up against the elegant left-footer.

Wharton ranks highly among the biggest success stories of Glasner’s fruitful, FA Cup-winning tenure to date, having arrived as a player of potential from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024, prior to now solidifying himself as a £100m-rated asset and a leading target for those at United.

While a reunion might be in order if Glasner does take charge at Old Trafford, perhaps a cheaper outcome might be for the German to work his magic on United’s own England sensation, Mainoo, with the Red Devils still waiting to see their academy graduate thrive in that Wharton role in a midfield pairing.

In the case of both Three Lions starlets, when looking at their respective 2024/25 Premier League seasons, the statistics don’t jump off the page, with neither man an elite ball winner, nor necessarily a goal or assist machine.

What they are both adept at is providing that forward-thinking approach in midfield, albeit in slightly different ways.

Indeed, Wharton ranked in the top 7% of midfielders last term for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, while Mainoo ranked in the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90.

Wharton looks to thread the pass, while Mainoo has the magic to drive himself up the pitch. Either way, both are “generational” rising stars – as Mainoo has been lauded by Rasmus Hojlund – who should be the centre of the Premier League and England across the next decade.

And so, having helped his own midfield sensation blossom at Selhurst Park, could Glasner repeat the trick again at Old Trafford?

Not Mainoo: Amorim's use of Man Utd's "best player" is a sackable offence

Ruben Amorim’s questionable decisions as Manchester United boss could land him in hot water with INEOS.

By
Ethan Lamb

6 days ago

Mumbai registered their fifth win; Bengal lost 9 for 38 to be bowled out for 96 against Puducherry

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2025

Sanju Samson fought a lone battle by scoring 73* off 56 balls as Kerala limped to 119 against Andhra in Lucknow. But KS Bharat killed the chase by smashing a rapid 53 off 28 balls, and taking his side to victory with seven wickets and eight overs to spare. Samson, who is likely to open the batting for India against South Africa if Shubman Gill isn’t fit, carried his bat after opening the innings and losing one partner after another.Kerala were 79 for 7 in the 17th over, with the highest partnership until then being 17 for the seventh wicket. But Samson got enough support from No. 9 Biju Narayanan to add an unbeaten 40, as Kerala huffed and puffed to a small total. The next highest score after Samson’s was MD Nidheesh’s 13, and Bharat ensured there was no contest, having smashed his fifty within the first nine overs. Ashwin Hebbar (27) and Pyla Avinash (20) also played their parts to hand Andhra their fifth win in six games.Vyshak, Padikkal star but Saurashtra win thrillerVijaykumar Vyshak got 3 for 28, and nearly sealed the game with bat in hand. However, Karnataka lost to Saurashtra by one run in a thrilling finish in Ahmedabad. Chasing 179, Karnataka were reduced to 49 for 3 in the seventh over, before Devdutt Padikkal and Ravichandran Smaran added 54. Ankur Panwar got Padikkal for 66 to break the stand, and Karnataka lost their way again. Vyshak and Shreyas Gopal took it all the way during their tenth-wicket partnership, but couldn’t take their side past the finish line.Earlier, Vyshak broke a 55-run opening stand for Saurashtra. Contributions from Siddhant Rana (42), Vishvaraj Jadeja (40), Harvik Desai (28) and Jay Gohil (27) helped Saurashtra to 178. They were 76 for 1 after seven overs and looked set for a bigger total, slowing down later even though Rana and Gohil added 66 for the fourth wicket. In the end, the total turned out to be just enough.File photo: Shardul Thakur got 3 for 19•BCCI

Shardul, Mhatre and Rahane shine for MumbaiShardul Thakur took three of the four wickets to fall in the powerplay as Mumbai eased their way past Chhattisgarh in Lucknow. Mumbai captain’s 3 for 19, alongside two wickets each for Suryansh Shedge, Atharva Ankolekar and Tushar Deshpande, bowled Chhattisgarh out for 121 after Mumbai opted to bowl first.Chhattisgarh were 59 for 7 at the start of the tenth over, having also lost Shashank Singh for 10. Shubham Agarwal and Mayank Yadav added 38 for the eighth wicket, but Shedge struck in back-to-back overs to halt Chhattisgarh’s brief recovery.Ayush Mhatre and Ajinkya Rahane then lay the foundation for the 122 chase by adding 82 for the first wicket. Agarwal got Rahane for 40 in 28 deliveries to break the stand, but by then, Mumbai were well on track for their fifth win in the group stages. Agarwal also dismissed Siddhesh Lad for 5, but Mhatre remained unbeaten on 69 off 49 balls, which included five sixes. Mumbai eventually won with eight wickets and 25 balls remaining.Jayant trumps Shami as Puducherry thrash BengalBengal suffered a collapse of 9 for 38 to be bowled out for 96 in pursuit of 178 against Puducherry in Hyderabad. Offspinner Jayant Yadav bagged 4 for 28, which included the wicket Karan Lal, who top-scored with 40. The collapse started when Abhimanyu Easwaran was run out for 12, with no Bengal batter from Nos. 4-11 getting into double-figures.The win was set up by Puducherry’s captain Aman Khan, who smashed five fours and seven sixes in his 74 off 40 balls. Aman added 68 for the third wicket with Jashwanth Shreeram, who scored 45 off 34. Their stand was broken by Mohammed Shami, who, after getting Shreeram in the 15th over, also dismissed Aman in the 19th. Shami finished with 3 for 34, following up 4 for 13 in the previous game against Services.

Will impending reset undo the gains that tournament has provided for women’s cricket?

Valkerie Baynes01-Sep-2025It feels like the only constant in women’s cricket in England and Wales over the past five years has been change.A successful short-format competition was ripped up, reimagined and merged with a corresponding men’s tournament. A separate regional competition was established to stage the two traditional white-ball formats, then it was thrown out and realigned with established counties and their men’s teams.Unsettling? Certainly. Bad? Surely not.The regional domestic T20 and 50-over competitions introduced unprecedented professionalism to the women’s game in this country amid ongoing expansion which will continue into 2029 after becoming a county-based format as of this year.The Kia Super League was the T20 predecessor to the Women’s Hundred and only lasted four seasons from 2016 to 2019, but the Hundred has introduced a new audience to cricket, attracted some of the biggest names in the sport and offered salaries ranging from £10,000 to £65,000 for a month’s work (more on that later).So it’s with a mixture of excitement, trepidation and uncertainty that many women’s players are anticipating changes to the Hundred under private ownership, which will affect the men’s teams too.Sophia Dunkley bats during the Kia Super League in 2019•Getty ImagesThe new Hundred board meets today, less than 24 hours after Northern Superchargers won a maiden women’s title and Oval Invincibles lifted the men’s trophy for a third straight time.As defeated captain, Southern Brave’s Georgia Adams would like to change plenty about Sunday’s women’s final at Lord’s, played before a record crowd of 22,542, but she is wary of the changes already in motion.Renaming teams, “resetting” squads and possibly reverting to a T20 format eventually have all been mooted and it’s understandable that the women’s teams are apprehensive about tinkering with a product that has been upheld as a huge success story, for them in particular.”Everyone feels like it’s just starting to take off and then we keep changing things, that’s been what’s gone on in the women’s game in the last few years,” Adams said. “Every time we see something really start to take off and work and flourish, it then gets changed or altered again. Hopefully they don’t change too much, but we’ll just have to wait and see what’s thrown at us.”Hampshire-based Brave have qualified for four women’s finals in the five-year history of the Hundred, winning the title in 2023 before falling to the bottom of the table in 2024 and bouncing back to runners-up this year.Plans to reconfigure squads are less foreign to the women, whose squads were overhauled after the second season of the Hundred while the Invincibles men have maintained a consistent group of core players.A bid to reduce predictability in results, possibly through switching from a draft to a WPL/IPL-style player auction, also isn’t unusual.Georgia Adams made a century for Hampshire against Essex in the County One-Day Cup in May•Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket”We’ve got a really great group of people and we’re really comfortable and confident in the group we’ve got moving forward,” Adams said. “I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll be able to keep the majority of this group together.”There’s going to be some changes, but I think that’s to be expected now in franchise cricket… the nature of what we’re doing now in this day and age is you’ve just got to roll with what’s happening, roll with the changes, be open to change.”It’s understandable for players to be protective of competition that, in Adams’ words, “put us on the map”.Figures released by the ECB on Sunday show that of the 2.5 million people to have attended the Hundred in its first five years, 1.5 million of them went to a women’s game and 203,000 bought tickets to their first-ever cricket match. Some 349,401 people attended the women’s competition this year, a record for total attendance at a women’s cricket competition.Over the weekend, the Hundred showed off its platform for unearthing new talent through 18-year-old Davina Perrin, who scored a scintillating 42-ball century for Superchargers in the Eliminator, witnessed by 13,623 at The Oval.For players like Adams, who is 31 and has played just twice for her country, the Hundred has offered salaries, recognition and longevity that none of them dreamed of at the beginning of their careers.Davina Perrin’s century against London Spirit was the stand-out innings of the Hundred•Philip Brown/Getty Images”It’s amazing for me as a domestic cricketer, not an England player, to go to the local shop and get stopped by people saying, ‘we’re loving watching you this summer’,” she said.”It’s been so important for women’s sport and providing free-to-air games, every game on YouTube, and young female cricketers having role models that they can actively see and watch.”Clare Connor was one of my biggest role models and I don’t think I ever saw her play a game of cricket. But she was my role model because of what she’d done for the game, and I think having people in front of you, seeing that, watching that is so important.”Similarly, Nicola Carey, who is also 31 and flew into the Hundred as a late replacement for injured fellow Australian Georgia Wareham, has expanded her opportunities after a 50-game international career ended in 2022. Her unbroken 60-run partnership with Annabel Sutherland took Superchargers over the finish line on Sunday.Related

• Rebooted women's county game seeks the pros of progress

• Superchargers bank second place ahead of Eliminator with Spirit

• Brilliant Perrin century powers Superchargers into Women's Hundred final

• Clash of generations, as Devine and Perrin prepare to headline Hundred final

• Cross, Sutherland level up as Northern Superchargers clinch Women's Hundred title

“This group’s been together for a few years now and it’s such a good group,” Carey said. “It’d be a shame to pick that apart and get other people in, because they’ve got a good thing going. I’d love to see them stick together a bit longer and see what else they can do in the next few years.”Lauren Winfield-Hill expressed similar concerns when the new three-tier women’s domestic county competition launched this year, which followed the Hundred’s model of aligning women’s teams with the men’s at the existing counties.”They’ve tinkered with women’s cricket enough now,” Winfield-Hill told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year. “We’ve had that many structures, that many leagues, the Super League, then we’ve had the Hundred, then we’ve had regional, then we’ve had county.”I just hope this is the last of the tinkering and you can really build something. That’s the biggest challenge, how things have changed so frequently, you’re trying to build a core of players and get roles, and players are finding places to live and all this sort of stuff. Just leave it alone now.”Many reservations centre on the fear of the unknown. Unless the ECB and new franchise owners communicate effectively with players, it will abound.Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England captain, last month called for the Hundred to maintain its momentum and “sense of belonging” in the women’s game under new ownership. “More investment should help both the men’s side and the women’s side,” she told the BBC. “We don’t know the details of what that will look like and what’s going to happen, but I’m sure that it will be really positive.”The growth of the women’s game had been the standout good news story of the Hundred. However, the valuations that teams attracted during the sale process – ranging from £275 million for London Spirit to £79 million for Sciver-Brunt’s Trent Rockets – has overshadowed that narrative.Of the four IPL franchises who own stakes in Hundred teams, only the Ambani-family-run Mumbai Indians, now partnered with Oval Invincibles, and Delhi Capitals, who have bought into Southern Brave, have WPL sides.The revenue from the Hundred’s sale is set to be divided between counties, the MCC and recreational cricket. Salaries in the Hundred are also expected to rise, with figures yet to be confirmed. But in lieu of detail on the split between men’s and women’s set-ups, there is a fear that the sums offered to the women will be mere scraps from the men’s table.The PCA are pushing for a narrowing of the gender salary gap but the gulf remains stark as of 2025, when the top earners in the men’s competition received a 60% increase to £200,000, compared to a 30% rise in the top women’s bracket to £65,000.As long as the women who form an integral part of the competition are heard and included, there is no reason why they can’t benefit from the huge levels of investment in their teams and be rewarded for their part in growing the game. For the sake of the progress that the women’s game has made over the past five years, they simply must be.

If you didn’t believe that Manchester City were bona fide title contenders, well, you surely do now.

On Sunday, the serial champions crushed the reigning champions 3-0 at the Etihad, doing so with plenty to spare.

Despite the fact Erling Haaland saw an early penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, this merely momentarily delayed the Sky Blues onslaught.

Haaland headed home the opener soon after, before Nico González’s deflected shot deservedly doubled the Citizens’ advantage in first-half injury time, with Jérémy Doku curling home a clinching third; more on the brilliant Belgian in a bit.

The match marked Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th match in management and took his tally to 716 wins, which isn’t bad.

Now eyeing a seventh Premier League title, Manchester City are just four points adrift leaders Arsenal, after Mikel Arteta’s team were denied victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday night by Brian Brobbey’s last-gasp equaliser for Sunderland.

if Man City are going to become champions of the land once again, they’ll need two of their stars from Sunday to continue to perform.

Jérémy Doku's performance against Liverpool

As noted by Opta, Jérémy Doku won 11 duels, completed seven dribbles, created three chances and registered three shots on target against Liverpool.

If you think that sounds impressive, well, that’s because it is. He is the first player to rack up such an impressive figure in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard against West Ham in April 2019.

Doku’s thunderous strike capped off the victory as well as his own sublime display, with Gary Neville, speaking during commentary for Sky Sports, saying never before had he awarded the player of the match after 62 minutes, until today.

David Hytner of the Guardian asserted that the winger was ‘unplayable’, praising his ‘blur of tricks and direct running’, with Doku tormenting Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, the Northern Irishman having pocketed Vinícius Júnior just a few days before.

This was Doku’s 100th appearance in sky blue, scoring just his 17th goal for the club, previously netting against Napoli and Swansea this season, his previous Premier League goal coming at Portman Road against Ipswich in mid-January.

Now though, perhaps the 23-year-old is showing signs of realising his full potential so, while he was the obvious star of the show, an under-the-radar Man City player also deserves to be heralded for their display.

Pep Guardiola's unsung Man City hero

12 months ago, when Manchester City were in complete free fall, all the talk was about how this team cannot win without Rodri.

Well, despite enjoying a brief cameo off the bench against Bournemouth last weekend, the Ballon d’Or winner was not even in the matchday squad against Borussia Dortmund nor Liverpool subsequently, which was one of the major talking points prior to kick off on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Guardiola once described Nico González as like a “mini-Rodri”, and the midfielder helped ensure his compatriot was not missed.

Nico scored the second goal, a hammer blow for Arne Slot’s team coming on the cusp of half-time, and put in a generally imperious performance, as the numbers support.

Goals

1

1st

Accurate passes

51

3rd

Passing accuracy %

88%

5th*

Defensive actions

8

3rd

Tackles won

3

2nd

Duels won

6

4th

Ground duels won

5

3rd

Touches

72

2nd

SofaScore rating

8.3

2nd

*minimum 30 passes completed.

As the table highlights, the midfielder ranked in the top four when it came to a wide variety of statistics, registering more touches than any other player in sky blue, winning five of the six ground duels he contested as well as completing 51 of 58 passes. Truth be told, this was probably his best display in blue, dominating one of the best sides in the division.

The Manchester Evening News awarded him an 8/10 for his performance, noting that the Spaniard took ‘charge of the game’.

This, in truth, should not be overly surprising.

The midfielder joined from Porto back in January for around £50m and did so with a big reputation, given that he is a La Masia graduate, breaking into the Barcelona team with fellow mononymously known midfielders Pedri and Gavi, rated as highly as both when they were teenagers.

Nevertheless, it is still invaluable for Man City that Nico is able to take a step forward in his development and has the quality to operate as a one-man midfield, allowing their attacking stars, namely Doku, Haaland and others, to shine.

With Rodri and his obvious back-up Mateo Kovačić both struggling due to ongoing injury issues, while Tijjani Reijnders appears ill-suited to the role, Nico has been thrown in at the deep end in the number 6 position, but is gracefully swimming like a swan, rather than sinking like a heavy stone, to continue that analogy.

When Manchester City return to action after the international break, they’ll do so with a tricky trip to St James’ Park, but victory over Newcastle would cut the gap at the top to just one point, ahead of the North London derby the following day.

For the here and now, on the occasion of Guardiola’s 1,000 match as a manager, it was probably fitting that a diminutive Spanish defensive midfield shone.

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Arsenal are now ready to submit an offer for Valencia star Javi Guerra, with it emerging the midfielder could be available for a bargain fee.

The Gunners bolstered their options in the middle of the park considerably during the summer transfer window, bringing in Martin Zubimendi and Oliver Norgaard, and they now have two midfielders ranked among the best 15 in the world.

Declan Rice, who has been likened to a modern-day Patrick Vieira, has also continued to impress, with Micah Richards saying: “He’s taken his game to the next level now where you’re taking about one of the best in world football.

“It is so good to see and if Arsenal do win the Premier League this season it will be because players like him. I said at the start that it’s a team game but he’s just exceeding all expectations.”

Despite Mikel Arteta being blessed with a number of top-quality options, however, the north Londoners remain keen on bringing in another central midfielder…

Arsenal ready to submit offer for Javi Guerra

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now ready to submit an offer for Guerra, with it being revealed Valencia could be willing to listen to bids in the region of just €20m (£18m), despite the €100m (£88m) release clause in his contract, meaning the Gunners could get a £70m discount.

Atletico Madrid have also emerged as one of the strongest contenders to sign the midfielder, with the Spanish club preparing a move, alongside the Gunners, who have been closely monitoring his performances.

Valencia have tied the 22-year-old down to a contract which lasts until 2029, which should put them in a strong negotiating position in theory, but Arteta’s side could get a bargain deal over the line if they move quickly.

The Spanish maestro has been impressing in his home country for quite some time, catching scout Ben Mattinson’s eye courtesy of a solid display against Real Madrid during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Valencia-born star has remained an important player this season, setting up two goals in 11 La Liga outings, and he places in the 83rd percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 0.17.

With the likes of Zubimendi, Rice and Norgaard on the books already, Guerra may not be a necessary signing, but a deal would not break the bank at around just £17m, and he would be a fantastic back-up option for Arteta in midfield.

Declan Rice named in top 10 of 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

Lionel Messi has been named Landon Donovan MLS MVP for the second straight season. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner produced 48 goal contributions – the second-highest total in league history – and carried Inter Miami to third place in the Eastern Conference. He is the first player to win the award in back-to-back years.

• AFP
  

  An all-time season…

  Messi capped his season by winning MLS Cup last weekend, delivering two assists and earning MLS Cup MVP as Inter Miami lifted the first league title in club history. That performance was the final chapter of a dominant year in which Messi also collected his second straight Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, becoming the first player in league history to win it in back-to-back seasons.

  Across the 2025 regular season, Messi produced 48 goal contributions (29 goals and 19 assists) in 28 matches, the second-highest total ever recorded, and averaged 1.78 goal involvements per 90 minutes, a mark only surpassed by his own 2.18 from 2024. He also became just the second player in league history to lead MLS in both goals and assists in the same season, matching Sebastian Giovinco’s 2015 feat.

  Messi set multiple league records during the campaign. He became the first MLS player to record 10 multi-goal games in one season and generated at least three goal contributions in nine different matches. He also scored multiple goals in five consecutive games from late May through mid-July, the longest multi-goal streak in MLS history.

  His dominance translated directly into awards. Along with MLS Cup MVP and MLS MVP, Messi won the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals, earned three MLS Player of the Month honors, and was recognized six times as MLS Player of the Matchday. Over his MLS career, he now has two MVP awards, two Best XI selections, two All-Star selections, a Golden Boot, 12 Player of the Matchday honors, and five Player of the Month awards.

  Messi’s season resulted in a landslide MVP vote. He secured 70.43 percent of the total ballot, finishing comfortably ahead of Anders Dreyer, with Denis Bouanga, Evander, and Sam Surridge rounding out the top five.

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• Getty
  

  The full MVP vote

  Name	Media Vote	Player Vote	Club Vote	Total Vote
  Lionel Messi – Inter Miami CF	83.05%	55.17%	73.08%	70.43%
  Anders Dreyer – San Diego FC	6.78%	18.97%	7.69%	11.15%
  Denis Bouanga – LAFC	3.39%	6.90%	11.54%	7.27%
  Evander – FC Cincinnati	2.26%	12.07%	0.00%	4.78%
  Sam Surridge – Nashville SC	1.69%	1.72%	3.85%	2.42%

• Getty Images Sport
  

  In historic company

  Messi is only the second player in league history to win the award twice and the first to do so in back-to-back seasons. The only other two-time winner is former Kansas City Wizards midfielder Preki, who collected MVP honors in 1997 and 2003. Preki now serves as an assistant coach for the Seattle Sounders, the team that defeated Miami in the Leagues Cup final in August.

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• Getty
  

  Converting it into team success

  Despite Messi’s brilliance, Miami’s season was anything but smooth. They were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Vancouver, lost to Seattle in the Leagues Cup final, and failed to defend their Supporters’ Shield title. But after navigating those setbacks, the Herons found form at the right time, surged through the postseason and ultimately won the first MLS Cup in club history.

Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run across all competitions has now extended to three games across all competitions after Tuesday’s Champions League win over Slavia Prague.

The Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory in Europe after penalties from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and an own goal from opposition defender David Zima.

Thomas Frank looks to have finally found a winning formula, as seen in recent weeks, after previously failing to win in any five matches, four of which came in the Premier League.

Some may argue that the Dane is starting to get the best out of his current playing squad, with a period of adaptation evidently needed after his summer appointment.

However, despite the three-goal triumph in North London last night, the manager will no doubt have seen some glaring flaws that will need correcting in the weeks ahead.

Spurs's biggest underperformers against Slavia Prague

After starting each of the last four games on the substitutes bench, winger Wilson Odobert was handed the chance to start from the off against Slavia Prague.

However, the Frenchman struggled to make the desired impact, as seen by his tally of 86% duels lost, leading to his withdrawal in the 76th minute of the clash.

Other figures, such as zero dribbles completed and two big chances missed in the final third, also highlight his lack of positive impact despite Frank’s faith shown in the youngster.

He wasn’t alone in struggling to deliver during the win, with Pedro Porro unable to produce the regular attacking quality the fanbase have become accustomed to in recent years.

The Spaniard only managed to complete one of his five attempted crosses, whilst completing just 66% of the passes he attempted – largely being ineffective when in possession.

He also failed to win any tackles against the Czech side, whilst failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – showcasing his lack of quality at both ends of the pitch in North London.

Spurs star needs to be dropped after Slavia Prague

Spurs have spent heavily over the last couple of years to try and be competitive in the Premier League and try and compete for titles under Frank in the years ahead.

In the recent summer alone, the Lilywhites hierarchy backed the manager with over £120m worth of funds to make an immediate impact during his first year at the helm.

Xavi Simons was just one of the additions made by the hierarchy during the off-season, but he’s struggled to make an impact across various competitions in recent months.

He went 17 games without a goal until last week, but the Dutch star has started to find his feet – as seen by his tally of two goals in his last two games for the Lilywhites.

The same can’t be said for striker Richarlison, who has constantly struggled for consistency after his own £50m transfer from Everton back in the summer of 2022.

The Brazilian international has been Frank’s starting centre forward for the majority of 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to net a total of seven goals across all competitions.

Whilst such a tally may seem respectable, he’s often gone missing in major moments this campaign, as seen against Slavia Prague in the meeting on Tuesday.

He was once again handed a start at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to provide the goods in front of goal and was subsequently replaced in the 68th minute.

Richarlison was only able to register a measly tally of 22 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 50 – showcasing his lack of impact in North London.

Minutes played

68

Touches

22

Passes completed

9

Possession lost

7x

Big chances missed

1

Aerials won

50%

Passes into final third

1

Fouls committed

2

He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost possession on seven separate occasions, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the Champions League clash.

The Brazilian also missed one big chance in front of goal and won just 50% of his aerial battles, often struggling to provide the focal point Frank has massively craved.

As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold, further showcasing his struggles in North London.

After such a showing, Frank must certainly be left with no choice but to drop the forward and hand the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani the chance to stake their claim for the number nine role.

Richarlison has no doubt been a decent option for Spurs over the last couple of years, but it’s becoming increasingly evident week on week that he’s not at the level needed for success.

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Ivan Toney’s much-speculated reunion with former Brentford boss Thomas Frank is increasingly unlikely, with the striker reportedly now expected to remain at Al-Ahli beyond January, and potentially beyond next summer. The 29-year-old forward has adapted seamlessly to life in the Saudi Pro League since joining the Jeddah club in 2024 for around £40 million ($53m), and a potential return to English shores is currently not on the cards.

Toney expected to remain in Saudi Arabia

Toney's tally of 42 goals in 62 matches, including 12 this season, has made him one of the division’s most prolific imports. He also fired Al-Ahli to the Asian Champions League title and netted 30 goals across all competitions last campaign. But with the 2026 World Cup creeping into view and England manager Thomas Tuchel offering no assurances over selection, speculation has intensified over whether Toney might seek a return to the Premier League. Spurs, West Ham, and Manchester United have all held early discussions about the possibility of bringing him back to England. However, every indication from Saudi Arabia suggests he is going nowhere, as revealed by

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAl-Ahli dig in: No sale in January

Al-Ahli’s new sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, has absolutely no intention of sanctioning a sale or loan in January. The club, backed by significant state investment, would only consider parting with Toney if an elite-level replacement were secured, something they regard as extremely unlikely mid-season. The Saudi side are also buoyed by Toney’s contentment in his current surroundings. talkSPORT reports that his camp has communicated to interested Premier League clubs that the striker is settled, well-paid and not currently pushing for a move. His contract runs until 2028, and his financial terms, worth over £400,000 per week tax-free, create a barrier to any potential return. Moreover, Toney must remain abroad until at least April 2026 to retain his non-UK tax residency status. Any premature return would incur significant tax liabilities, further complicating any approach from English clubs.

Braz said: "Ivan Toney is a top player, a top striker. The rumours around his possible exit in January are not based on reality. It’s just not true. We’re counting on him, it makes zero sense to address this subject in November."

Toney still holding out hope for England recall

Despite diminishing international minutes, Toney remains optimistic that strong form in Saudi Arabia can help him re-establish himself in the England squad before the World Cup. Between March and July 2024, he earned five caps and even contributed at Euro 2024, assisting Harry Kane’s extra-time winner against Slovakia and scoring in the shootout win over Switzerland. Yet since moving to the Middle East, he has been called up just once and played only in England’s 3-1 loss to Senegal. However, Toney insists he has not sought clarification from Thomas Tuchel regarding his standing in the squad.

He said: "I have to concentrate on myself, give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country, but if not I’ll be cheering the boys on. I don’t expect to have a conversation with him. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance."

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AFPSaudi League detractors brushed aside

With criticism of the Saudi Pro League coming from sections of the European football community, Toney has staunchly defended the competition’s standard. 

"The standard in Saudi Arabia is high. They can play football here. The players are not as known as in the Premier League, but there are many who can play there," Toney told in September.

After a brief break, Toney will be back in action against Damac in the Saudi League on December 19. Meanwhile, Tottenham will look to bounce back to winning ways after two heavy defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain when they host Fulham on Sunday. 

Celtic are in the process of attempting to make Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers, who left the club last month.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the Hoops are in talks with the French manager over a move to Parkhead, as they look to get a deal done in the days and weeks to come.

Celtic are due to play St Mirren away from home in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday and the club have already confirmed that Martin O’Neill will take charge once again as the interim manager.

Once Nancy is in the building, should a deal get done, it will be interesting to see which players fail to make the cut if he goes with the system he has played in the MLS.

Players Wilfried Nancy might drop from Celtic's squad

Per Transfermarkt, the Frenchman’s preferred formation is a 3-4-2-1 and that would be interesting to see play out with the wide and full-back options that Celtic have.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey played at right-back last time out, but is a centre-back by trade, and could drop into a back three alongside Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.

That would free up a right wing-back spot. Anthony Ralston, who has no assists in 11 appearances this season, does not have the offensive quality to play in that role, so Nancy could use a player like Forrest to be an attack-minded wing-back.

That could see Ralston drop out of the squad, as he is not suited to playing as a centre-back or as a wing-back in that system, but he was only on the bench against Kilmarnock, so it would not be a major change to the squad.

An even bolder move that could be made by Nancy would be to instantly ditch Sebastian Tounekti from the starting line-up for his first match in charge, whenever that ends up being.

Why Wilfried Nancy should drop Sebastian Tounekti

It may seem like a bold call to suggest that the winger should be dropped from the team, because he has provided the supporters with some excitement since his move to the club from Hammarby in the summer.

Earlier this season, pundit Michael Stewart described the Tunisia international Celtic’s “danger man” and claimed that he “unsettles defences”, thanks to his direct and aggressive play out wide.

However, Tounekti has only scored two goals and has failed to provide any assists in 13 appearances in all competitions for Celtic, per Sofascore, which shows that there has been a lack of quality in the final third to back up his exciting build-up play.

The 23-year-old forward started on the left flank against Kilmarnock for O’Neill last time out in the Premiership, and put in a rather dismal display for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, Tounekti lost the ball a staggering 23 times in 78 minutes on the pitch, without creating a single chance for his teammates in that time.

A wasteful performance like that could see Nancy immediately remove him from the starting line-up, on top of it potentially being a sensible decision for tactical reasons.

If the Frenchman goes with the aforementioned 3-4-2-1, Kieran Tierney or Marcelo Saracchi would offer the width as the left wing-back and Celtic would need a player to play more centrally as a left-sided ten behind the striker, which is not Tounekti’s style.

Instead, those two ten roles may be more suited to Arne Engels, as explained in the linked article below, and Daizen Maeda. This, along with his performance against Kilmarnock, is why Nancy should instantly ditch Tounekti from the starting XI if and when he has his first game in charge.

Nancy could turn "world-class" Celtic star into the new Matt O'Riley

Celtic have a “world-class” star who could explode under Wilfried Nancy at Parkhead.

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Nov 16, 2025

As if things were not bad enough at Celtic right now – amid Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday night – they’re enduring a major injury crisis.

During last Thursday’s Europa League victory over Sturm Graz, both Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Alistair Johnston hobbled off in the first half, before Cameron Carter-Vickers departed the scene on a stretcher, with Rodgers later revealing that the United States international had suffered an achilles injury that’ll see him sidelined for five months.

Meantime, Jota remains in the treatment room due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and Daizen Maeda is also a doubt for next Sunday’s Old Firm in the League Cup semi-finals.

On top of this, Sebastian Tounekti, one of the few attackers who has looked dangerous this season, will miss matches over Christmas, including the New Years’ Glasgow derby, due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Thus, in summary, the Hoops are not in a good place right now, eight points adrift run-away Premiership leaders Hearts, after the Jambos’ 3-1 victory over the Celts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

So, with Falkirk visiting Parkhead on Wednesday, before that aforementioned massive clash with Rangers at Hampden on Sunday, should interim boss Martin O’Neill give one summer signing an opportunity to stake a claim?

Is Johnny Kenny good enough for Celtic?

Earlier this year, Celtic had both Kyōgo Furuhashi and Adam Idah as centre-forward options, but the pair have been sold without being replaced.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

So, with Ịheanachọ and Maeda currently unavailable, Johnny Kenny was the man tasked with leading the line in Edinburgh for Sunday’s top of the table clash.

Well, the Irishman made little impression on proceedings, touching the ball only 17 times during an hour on the field, losing possession on nine occasions and failing to muster a single shot.

During his loan spell at Shamrock Rovers, Kenny showed genuine promise, scoring 26 goals for the other green and white hoops, of which seven came in European competition, on target against Víkingur Reykjavík, Larne, The New Saints, Rapid Wien and Borac Banja Luka, an eclectic list of clubs.

Since returning to Celtic though, in limited minutes, he has so far scored just twice in 17 outings, on target during a 5-1 demolition of Aberdeen at Pittodrie in May, as well as in August’s 3-0 win over Livingston.

Following Sunday’s defeat to Heart of Midlothian, Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman asserts that he ‘lacks the proper gravitas of a Celtic number nine’, while Ben Banks of Glasgow World believes it is a ‘big ask for him to be the leading man with the team in its current guise’.

So, while Kenny may be the best centre-forward option at the minute, a damning indictment on Celtic’s summer squad build, should O’Neill give an alternative the opportunity to showcase what he can do against Falkirk?

Celtic's new Daizen Maeda

Celtic signed 11 new senior players this summer, including four during the final few hours of the deadline, so the arrival of Shin Yamada in mid-July for around £1.5m has rather been forgotten.

He has seen just 177 minutes of action in hoops so far, his sole start coming when Rodgers heavily rotated against Livingston in August, with the half an hour he saw off the bench at the weekend actually his second-longest appearance.

Nevertheless, at previous club Kawasaki Frontale, he was certainly a key figure, helping the Sky Blue and Blacks reach their first-ever AFC Champions League Final earlier this year, dumping out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semi-finals, before a 2-0 defeat to Al-Ahli in the final, a match in which Yamada was introduced off the bench at half time.

The striker was at his best during the 2024 J League season, as the table below documents.

Minutes

2,012

156th

Goals

19

3rd

Shots

80

12th

Shots on target

37

5th

Shots on target per 90

1.66

3rd

Goals per shot

0.21

5th

Big chances missed

14

8th

As the table notes, only two players, namely Brazilian duo Anderson Lopes and Léo Ceará, scored more J League goals than Yamada last season.

This is despite limited minutes, as well as the fact he attempted just 80 shots, leading to an impressive goals-per-shot ratio, the best of anyone to score 12 or more goals.

Upon his arrival in Glasgow, manager Rodgers labelled him a “strong player who can score goals and create goals for others”, impressed by his “power, athleticism and intensity”.

Meantime, a report by Target Scouting described him as a ‘pure goal poacher’ while, despite his small stature, he relishes a ‘physical battle’, concluding that his primary attribute is his ‘exciting… off-the-ball movement’.

These all sound similar characteristics to those of a certain Daizen Maeda, who hit the ground running when he arrived in January 2022 under Ange Postecoglou, scoring four minutes into his debut against Hibs, having bagged 23 goals during his final J League season with Yokohama F. Marinos, four more than Yamada last year, but in 800 more minutes.

Yamada has very much not had a similar instantaneous impact but, due to limited options, definitely deserves a chance to stake a claim.

When compared to Kenny, the Japanese forward has proven himself in the J League which, according to Global Football Rankings, is the 15th strongest league in the world, while the League of Ireland, where Kenny impressed, is outside the top 75.

For context, that places Ireland’s top division below the SPFL Championship, while the Scottish Premiership is 32nd, just above the Saudi Pro League.

Thus, with O’Neill back in the dugout on a temporary basis, he should give Yamada a chance when Falkirk travel to Glasgow this week and, who knows, if he impresses he could earn a starting spot against Rangers on Sunday.

Rodgers could unearth his new Daizen Maeda in Celtic's rarely-seen "animal"

With Daizen Maeda and Kelechi Ịheanachọ injured for Sunday’s top of the table clash with Hearts, Brendan Rodgers should unleash Celtic’s “animal”.

ByBen Gray Oct 25, 2025