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He smashed 42 off 18 balls to help Delhi Bulls off to a winning start

Aadam Patel24-Nov-2022Australia made one change from the XI that won the T20 World Cup final last year for their opening game of this year’s tournament. Tim David came in for a certain Steven Smith.David had made his debut for Australia just a month earlier – he had earlier turned out for Singapore in 14 T20Is – but such was potential that the management believed he warranted a place in the starting XI for Australia’s title defence.Related

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They failed to make it to the semi-finals, but the selection of David was in itself an indication of the direction the game is travelling in. David has never played a first-class match and is the first man this century to be picked for the Australia national team without either a state or a national contract.To date, he has played for ten teams in T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL, PSL, BBL and the Hundred. In the IPL this year, 16 of the 86 balls he faced for Mumbai Indians went the distance. That’s some way to go about repaying the INR 8.25 crore he was sold for at the auction.On Thursday evening, he made his debut in the world of T10. That it was his innings that helped Delhi Bulls to victory in their opening game against Northern Warriors in Season 6 of the Abu Dhabi T10 came as no surprise.42 runs. 18 balls. Five fours. Two sixes. Job done. Onto tomorrow.It is a format that suits him to the tee. “Yeah for me, it’s a similar tempo to T20, to be fair,” said David. “There’s maybe a bit more clarity in that once you get in, you’re trying to hit every ball for six. It probably doesn’t get much more complicated than that.”Dwayne Bravo’s Bulls fell short last year at the final hurdle, but now they possess one of the world’s most destructive batters and Thursday was a potent reminder of what the David can do.

“It was a great experience to be a part of a World Cup at home and it was brutal. We might not have been at our 100% best but we didn’t do a great deal wrong and we ended up getting knocked out.”Tim David

Across 14 T20Is for Singapore between July 2019 and March 2020, David faced 352 balls and smashed 76 of them to or over the rope.It’s somewhat remarkable to think that it was only last summer when David had his first experience with an overseas franchise and after Bulls’ victory in the second game of a triple-header on Thursday, he credited his breadth and depth of experience across the global franchise circuit for his dramatic rise.”I’m in a good place with my game. The IPL was great for my confidence,” the 26-year-old said. “You build a skill base of being able to start off with a new group which is obviously important on the franchise circuit as you’re always meeting new faces. You get to rub shoulders with some of the best players around and share ideas and pick things up from each other.”With Kieron Pollard calling time on his IPL career, David is perhaps in pole position to be his replacement at Mumbai, but for now his focus is on adding the T10 title to his CV.The past year or so has confirmed his status as a genuine power-hitter and now that he’s had that taste of playing for Australia at a major tournament, he’s keen to ensure that the opportunity comes again.”It was a great experience to be a part of a World Cup at home and it was brutal. We might not have been at our 100% best but we didn’t do a great deal wrong and we ended up getting knocked out,” said David.And for all his know-how in the franchise free market, David admitted that wearing the Australia colours added a whole new dimension to the game that even he couldn’t explain.”It’s definitely different to playing franchise cricket. It’s hard to put a pin on what exactly is different. T20 is a real inconsistent game and when you’re playing for your country, you want to win every game, so that’s one of the toughest parts,” said David.The story of Tim David is well known and undoubtedly different to the conventional pathway. He is the ultimate globe-trotting freelancer who has seized his opportunity and continues to do so. And as the landscape of the sport continues to evolve towards the shorter formats, David perhaps knows that he is ahead of the curve.

South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise around them but still came up second to England once again

Firdose Moonda27-Nov-2020International cricket is back. In South Africa. And by South Africa. But England are still the masters of the white-ball.As recently as 12 days ago, this series was in danger of not happening and CSA was in danger of having its status as the national body of cricket in this country stripped away. The sports minister was ready to step in and potentially prevent them from fielding a team that could call itself South Africa.As recently as Thursday, South African cricket’s chief medical officer warned that if a significant number of players contracted Covid-19, matches could be called off. Two of the 24-man squad had returned positive tests so his fears were not entirely unfounded.And here we are. For the first time in almost eight months, the South Africa men’s team got on the park and it was clear they had something to prove. Until the 17th over of England’s innings, South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise. Like a team that wanted to end the wittering around themselves and their culture, the whispers around the administration and the crisis. And even in that over that cost 28 runs and put England on the path to victory, South Africa still played in a way that amplified the sound of bat on ball. Finally. There was cricket.ALSO READ: Bairstow 86* powers England to five-wicket winIn the lead up to this series, the conversation has been about sportsmen and social justice especially when it comes to racial prejudice. Given the history of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery, South Africa could be one of the countries that could best understands and embodies the antiracist doctrine, but it is still grappling with recent schisms and trying to find solutions.CSA’s attempt was to put up two large banners with the message “We stand in solidarity against racism and gender-based violence” and drape them over stands at opposite ends of the ground. But on the day that New Zealand and West Indies took a knee and Australia and India formed a barefoot circle, the absence of any gesture from South Africa was glaring. They are the only one of the six teams that were in action who have not symbolically shown their support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, even though they insist they are working on living out a doctrine of equality.On top of that, they also have other causes to be concerned about. The first 16 days of next month are dedicated annually as days of activism against gender-based violence and both teams wore black armbands to mourn those who lose their lives to abuse and those who have died from Covid-19. In South Africa, the latter has risen to more than 21,000 and with infection rates rising, there are fears of many more. Ten minutes before the start of play, flags were frantically lowered to half-mast, where they should have been flying since Wednesday. Among the many things that needed to be done as Newlands got ready for international cricket, it seemed someone remembered that one just in time.As South Africa lined up to sing their national anthem, directly in front of the SuperSport commentary team, they could hear JP Duminy being asked about BLM and supporting the activist sportsman. An aura of awkwardness settled over the opening salvo and when the final chords of “Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika” rung out, and everyone remained standing, it felt as though something had been left unsaid, or undone. History will judge South Africa’s (in)action and assess how well they have applied the principles of inclusion they have committed to.It may also see this season as one in which South Africa built on the foundation stone’s laid last summer, when a new coaching regime took over. Their tenure showed promise, with a Test victory but it was clear they needed time. The longest off-season since readmission may not have been exactly what they had in mind but it gave them room to reflect and reimagine the kind of team they want to be.We need more than one match to be able to see what their new approach of “aggressive, but smart,” means but we can already make some deductions. Faf du Plessis best demonstrated it with the bat when he twice went close to hitting one of the Egyptian geese that have made the Newlands outfield their home, but twice evaded them. While Harry the Hadeda, the avian superstar from England’s last tour, was nowhere to be found two adult and four teenage geese occupied positions from the covers to long-on, walking in to almost every ball and scurrying away as soon as it was hit.Kagiso Rabada’s catch gave George Linde a wicket•Getty ImagesDu Plessis played around them and in the same vein as he had been doing at the IPL. In the fifth over, he changed the tone of South Africa’s start from unsure, on a pitch where the ball was not coming on as quickly as might have been expected, to in control when he buried a ball in the construction site, smoked the new one down the ground and on to the railway stand, where the absence of fans meant the few in the ground could hear the ping as it hit a flagpole, and then mowed it through midwicket.The way George Linde, the debutant, was used was the other example of how the new style of play may reveal itself. Linde was tasked with opening the bowling and rewarded his captain with a wicket off the second ball and then switched ends to claim another as Rabada took a stunning low catch. South Africa seldom give a spinner or a new player that level of responsibility but Linde plays his franchise cricket here and has the experience of 81 domestic T20s so they trusted him and it paid off.More’s the pity that Linde did not have his home crowd cheering him on but these are the times. Newlands is not ready for visitors anyway as the construction of an office block continues. And who knows what commentary might have provided late in the game when, with England needing 84 runs from 48 balls, Quinton de Kock turned to Heinrich Klaasen to bowl at Ben Stokes. That was South Africa saying they thought they were so far ahead they could do anything. And they were wrong. Not aggressive, and definitely not smart.Klaasen conceded 14 runs, before de Kock went back to his premier spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. In hindsight, he should have let Shamsi bowl his full quota of four overs, although even that may not have stopped what happened later. Beuran Hendricks conceded 28 runs, including eight wides in an over where he lost control.Some will question why Anrich Nortje, who has just come off a fantastic IPL, didn’t play. Perhaps South Africa thought the pitch would better suit those who take pace off the ball – it looked that way when England was bowling. Perhaps there were transformation targets to consider, which could have been solved in other ways.Or perhaps still it’s that England, who are unbeaten in seven T20 series, are a bloody good team, who bat deep and back themselves until the very end. There is no better opposition to return to international action against. Welcome back, England. Welcome back, international cricket.

Over eight hours and 42 minutes, the senior pro led the way as Bangladesh showed they are capable of out-batting strong opponents away from home

Mohammad Isam24-Aug-2024Nineteen years at the highest level. Eighty-nine Test matches. Mushfiqur Rahim has seen it all, but there was some unfinished business. Like scoring a century against Pakistan. His preparations leading up to the Rawalpindi Test showed it meant something big to him.He played for Bangladesh A for the first time in 16 years just to prepare for the Test series. He was always the last to leave practice sessions leading up to the Tests. And then, fully prepared, with eyes on the ball, Mushfiqur got going like classic Mushfiqur. Every shot meant something; even when he left the ball, it was an attempt to wear down the bowler. He went on for eight hours and 42 minutes and constructed a modern Bangladeshi epic.His 191 in Rawalpindi took him past Tamim Iqbal’s records for most runs and centuries in overseas Tests for Bangladesh. It was also Mushfiqur’s first overseas ton in seven years. Test batting in overseas conditions is an elevated challenge for Bangladeshi batters. They don’t play a lot abroad. Of late, run-making has been difficult in their home conditions too, so they tend not to build up much confidence before going on tours. It was all on the seniors to do something big, and Mushfiqur stepped up to the challenge.Related

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• Mahmood: Rawalpindi pitch 'didn't play like we thought it should'

Mominul Haque, who scored a fifty on the third day, felt that Mushfiqur’s experience allowed him to assess circumstances faster than the rest.”Mushfiq is a very dedicated individual,” Mominul said after day three. “Whatever I will say about him will not be enough. He plays very differently than the rest of us. He bats every ball with a lot of care. It shows his vast experience. Watching him bat is a lesson in how he manages the innings with the rest of us.”As pleasing as Mushfiqur’s milestones were the partnerships Bangladesh strung together in this Test, having come into the game after struggling with the bat over the last 12 months.Every shot Mushfiqur plays seems to mean something when he’s batting at his best•AFP/Getty ImagesWhen Mushfiqur walked in to bat on the second morning, Bangladesh’s 147 for 3 was a reminder of their problems of the last 12 months: a good start followed by a cluster of wickets. Mushfiqur had missed Bangladesh’s last Test series against Sri Lanka, in which they only crossed 200 just once.Mominul believes Mushfiqur’s arrival at the crease impacted the way Shadman Islam went about his innings. Shadman was batting on 57 off 132 when Mushfiqur walked in. He soon moved up the gears, and scored 36 off his last 51 balls at the crease. He had reached a point in his innings where he felt comfortable unfurling his drives and cuts, and Mushfiqur’s solidity at the other end must have helped free him up.”When I got out, (Mushfiqur) immediately assessed the situation to make sure there wasn’t much trouble from that point,” Mominul said. “He must have said something to Shadman because he started to accelerate shortly after Mushfiq arrived at the crease. He played an important role.”Shadman fell for 93, after adding 52 for the fourth wicket with Mushfiqur. It was a critical innings for the left-hander, who is looking to cement his place after coming back into the side as a replacement for the injured Mahmudul Hasan Joy.Bangladesh then lost Shadman and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession either side of the tea break. Pakistan may have thought the game was in their hands after Shakib’s wicket, particularly since the batter to follow, Litton Das, had not had a great few months. Litton had only scored one fifty in his last 29 international innings across formats, and had even been dropped once from the ODI side.Now, however, he strode out and played with purpose, initially looking to rotate strike before opening up against Naseem Shah late on the third evening. He took 18 runs off one over, including a pulled six that deposited the ball outside the stadium. Mushfiqur and Litton added 114 for the sixth wicket.Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim added 196 for the seventh wicket•AFP/Getty ImagesWhen Litton was out on the fourth morning, Bangladesh were still 116 runs behind Pakistan. The home side may have sensed an opening, but Bangladesh had, at No. 8, a cricketer who has come a long way since his early bits-and-pieces days.Mehidy can now walk into the ODI side as a batter and has gained enough exposure in Tests to be considered an allrounder. Bangladesh see him as more than just their last line of defence at No. 8, and he was just the right kind of batter at the other end for Mushfiqur. They piled on the misery for the Pakistan bowlers, adding 196 runs, a Bangladesh record for the seventh wicket.At the end of day four, Mehidy gave an insight into Mushfiqur’s calming effect on his partners.”I was quite nervous about the wicket when I reached the crease,” he said. “Mushfiq really helped me. He gave me a briefing about the wicket, telling me to make sure I play out a few deliveries. I will get used to the pace. I liked the wicket. I started to rotate the strike. I think I played 160-170 balls, but it was only possible because I was batting with Mushfiq . We were also the last recognised pair. We only had bowlers left. My target was to bat as long as Mushfiq was at the crease.”It’s a rarity for Bangladesh to out-bat the opposition away from home in this manner. Pakistan may be tearing their hair out looking at how little this Rawalpindi pitch has responded to their efforts, but the Bangladesh batters have played a significant role in amplifying their struggle. For Bangladesh, this performance couldn’t have come at a better time.How unsurprising it was, though, that it was Mushfiqur who led this batting resurgence, setting an example of how to build partnerships. Along the way, he may have laid out a blueprint for Bangladesh’s future successes.

It was all looking so good for Manchester United at the start of this season. Into the Women's Champions League proper for the first time and unbeaten through their first seven games of the new Women's Super League campaign, the Red Devils were flying. But as Marc Skinner's side return to action after the final international break of the year, they're looking to avoid a fourth defeat in just five games.

A shock loss in November to Aston Villa, who had won just one league game until that point, has sparked an unwelcome run of form, with heavy defeats to Manchester City and Wolfsburg following, even though United were able to initially bounce back by beating Paris Saint-Germain. It means the Red Devils are suddenly seven points off the pace in the WSL and in need of a big finish in the Champions League in order to secure automatic qualification for the knockouts, with their final two fixtures in the league phase extremely tough.

Given how impressive United were at the start of this season, it's been quite a surprise to some to see them have such a significant wobble. But the struggles of the last few weeks have only underlined what many believed to be the case before the campaign got underway: United do not have the squad to successfully cope with the demands of the WSL and the Champions League.

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  Defying the odds

  United and Skinner deserve a lot of credit for having the start to the season they did, especially because that thin squad was extremely depleted in the early weeks. Injuries to no fewer than 10 senior players before the month of October left Skinner with little choice when it came to his starting line-up, with only two senior outfielders on the Red Devils' bench for the Champions League qualifier against Hammarby back in late August.

  Despite those challenges, United were able to qualify for the European league phase, win all of their first three games in the Champions League proper and go unbeaten through their first seven matches of the WSL season, winning five. However, the tall order facing this squad is now becoming apparent.

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  Lacking depth

  It was difficult not to think that after United were battered 3-0 in the Manchester derby. These two sides have used the same number of players through the first nine weeks of the WSL, but one looked much more at it and much fresher than the other, despite City themselves having injury concerns to deal with in the early portion of the season. Indeed, captain and defensive leader Alex Greenwood was missing at the Etihad Stadium, and City's bench was arguably weaker than United's, featuring two inexperienced academy products. However, the one advantage of not being in the Champions League was on show for the blue side of Manchester, who look to have a real opportunity in the WSL this season because of that.

  Dealing with that schedule is not an issue only affecting United, either. Arsenal are another good example of a squad ill-equipped to deal with the demands of two top-level games a week, that being at least one factor in the Gunners' own underwhelming start to the new campaign. The reigning European champions have only used 19 players in the Champions League this term, compared to numbers like Chelsea's 25 and Lyon's 24. United are one of just six teams to use fewer than Arsenal, with only Leuven, Twente and Valerenga utilising fewer than the Red Devils.

  That can work, to an extent, when you are a superpower like Barcelona, who have actually used the same number of players as United. However, their starting line-up is still arguably the best in the women's game, making them a unique case. For most, it is far too difficult to compete at the very top in domestic and European competition with a small squad, especially when playing in a league as competitive as the WSL.

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  Difficult situation to manage

  It's not just about rotation, freshness and dealing with injuries, either. "You can't coach much," Skinner said earlier this season, explaining the constraints such a situation causes. It means there's less time to work on specifics and tweak things effectively, because players are not spending as much time in full training sessions due to the recovery needed between games.

  Of course, when a team is playing well and winning, that's not really an issue. Not much needs changing. But when a team gets stuck in a bit of a rough patch, like the one United have found themselves in over the last few weeks – and Arsenal have in this campaign, too – it's not easy to suddenly get out of that without the time to pay real attention to detail.

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  Salt in the wounds

  Having such a light squad also means it hurts more when big injuries occur, and United have been hit with a couple of huge ones. Millie Turner, who has formed such a formidable partnership with Maya Le Tissier in central defence, has been missing since mid-September, forcing a reshuffle at the back. Dominique Janssen has generally done well filling in for the England international, but between the break-up of that reliable duo, the withdrawal of Janssen from her usual midfield role and the decreased depth Turner's absence has caused, it's not an ideal situation.

  More significant has been the injury to Phallon Tullis-Joyce, United's No.1 goalkeeper and one of the best in her position in the world. Skinner has turned to Safia Middleton-Patel, the 21-year-old Wales international, to fill her gloves, and while the youngster has looked good at times, it's unrealistic to expect her, with her inexperience, to deliver at the level of Tullis-Joyce at this point.

  United have conceded nine goals in the three games without the American, having only conceded seven times in their first 14 games of the season, prior to her injury. That doesn't feel like a coincidence, particularly with her absence only adding to the upheaval in the spine of the team that had already happened as a result of Turner's injury and Janssen's positional switch.

Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola were involved in a tense exchange after Manchester City's dramatic 3-2 win over Leeds United. Phil Foden scored right at the start and the end of the game to secure City all three points but Haaland had an off day for the hosts. And at the full-time whistle, his manager appeared to be trying to console the dejected striker at the Etihad.

• Man City hold on for 'wild' win

  City looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory on Saturday when Foden gave the home side a first-minute lead before Josko Gvardiol doubled their advantage. Second-half goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha set up a dramatic finale, before Foden grabbed the winner in stoppage-time. After the contest, the England international admitted he had not been in many games like that, with the 25-year-old also stressing they are not out of this Premier League title race.

  "It's up there as one of the wildest games. We had full control in the first half. They changed their system in the second half and we couldn't get going," he said. "It was a frustrating half. But when there was a short break the manager got us together and we adapted to their formation. We had a few half chances and finally I've found a bit of space and found the bottom of the net. There are still things we can improve. We're delighted with the result. The title race is never straightforward. There's always ups and downs and periods where you can't seem to get going and we've had that. The belief and togetherness came through at the end. Hopefully that's the case today that we can kick on from here. But you never know what to expect. I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals. I missed a few chances against Newcastle and wanted to put it right."

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• Haaland consoled by Guardiola

  While City got the crucial three points, this was the third game in a row where Haaland hasn't scored for the club, albeit he is still the league's top scorer (14) by far. As fans filtered out of the stadium, the Norwegian international cut a frustrated figure, prompting Guardiola to try and console him. 

• Guardiola backs Haaland

  The former Borussia Dortmund man is still waiting for his 100th City goal. However, Guardiola knows it will not be long before he reaches that milestone.

  "He will do it. He will do it in the next game," Guardiola said with a smile. "Just we talk about rest. He has a huge body. Minutes, minutes, in that moment you’re fresh. Rest [is] not just the legs [pointing to his head]. It's not like Phil [Foden] or Jeremy [Doku], they can rest. Erling is a big man. We need him so much."

  The former Bayern Munich manager admitted this game was a "struggle" for his side, but gave credit to Leeds for how they improved in the second half. He also heaped praise on Foden for his brace, with the playmaker returning to something near his best form.

  "After Daniel [Farke] changed shape, long balls to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha running behind, it was always a struggle. That emotion is part of the football. We had the chances and at the end finally we found our goal," he added. "It's not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s [Foden] done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season."

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  What comes next for Haaland's Man City?

  City, who are up to second in the Premier League, will hope they can build on this victory when they travel to Fulham on Tuesday night. Guardiola's side were beaten by Newcastle United last weekend and then fell to a shock defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, so this Leeds win comes at the right time. Incidentally, not many would be surprised if Haaland ends this mini dry spell next time out.

In search of an attacking spark, Everton have now reportedly joined Newcastle United in the race to sign young Brazilian star Allan Elias from Palmeiras in 2026.

The Toffees have endured an inconsistent season so far, but entered the international break off the back of a routine 2-0 victory over Fulham. For the most part, David Moyes’ side have shown potential, albeit without blowing teams away.

It must be said, however, that their weakness has been clear since the beginning of the campaign. Everton just can’t get their strikers going on the goal front. After making Thierno Barry one of their most expensive signings, those in Merseyside would have at least expected a goal or two by now. So far, though, he’s yet to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Beto is also struggling. The towering forward showed glimpses of promise last season – especially under Moyes – but has so far scored just two goals in 13 games in all competitions.

The Friedkin Group are seemingly running out of patience with their strikers, too. Recent reports have claimed that Everton are interested in adding to their attack in the January transfer window, with Joshua Zirkzee and Daizen Maeda both linked.

The latter would be a particularly impressive signing, given that he scored 33 goals for Celtic at his best last season. Now apparrently keen to leave the Scottish club, Everton could reportedly land a deal for just £15m.

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He could solve their striker problem.

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Alas, the Japan international isn’t the only attacking spark on the Toffees’ shortlist, and they could also make some improvements to those providing the service for Beto and Barry. Fresh headlines in Brazil have suggested that those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium now want a South American gem.

Everton join race to sign Allan Elias

According to reports in Brazil, via Sport Witness, Everton have now joined the race to sign Allan ahead of Newcastle. The 21-year-old has impressed for Palmeiras, assisting eight goals in the current campaign, and could yet ignite Moyes’ frontline.

For many, Allan will be an unknown talent, but it’s worth noting the impressive performances that he enjoyed from the bench at last summer’s Club World Cup. Squaring off against the likes of Chelsea and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, the young Brazilian more than held his own.

The 21-year-old has also earned plenty of praise during his time at Palmeiras, with manager Abel Ferreira telling reporters: “It’s difficult to leave names like Veiga, Mauricio and Murilo out, but Allan comes in and gives a great dynamic. A machine.”

Claims that Palmeiras have inserted a release clause worth as much as €100m (£88m) in Allan’s contract shows just how highly they rate him and that could provide a problem for Everton.

As much as Friedkin were willing to spend big last summer, they mainly spent on proven European talent rather than gambling on the unknown. At this stage, it seems unlikely that the Toffees would spend £88m on Allan.

"Brilliant" Everton target asks to leave Celtic as Friedkin enter £15m race

Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League this evening as they prepare to welcome rivals Chelsea to North London.

The Lilywhites are looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the League Cup at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

Thomas Frank may look to make several changes to the starting line-up from that loss to the Mapgies, which should include dropping Brennan Johnson.

Why Brennan Johnson should be dropped

The Wales international kept his place in the starting line-up after the 3-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, but he failed to justify his inclusion in the side.

Per Sofascore, Johnson produced no shots on target and no key passes in 65 minutes on the pitch against Newcastle, whilst he also failed to complete any of his four attempted crosses.

This shows that he had no impact at the top end of the pitch for the Lilywhites from a right wing position, as he failed to cause any problems for the Magpies in the final third.

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That dismal showing came after he also played 89 minutes without registering a single shot or key pass against Everton in the previous game, per Sofascore, which means that the forward has failed to deliver much in the way of quality in his last two starts.

This is why Frank should ruthlessly drop him from the XI, after two ineffective showings, and unleash Mohammed Kudus in his place this evening.

Why Mohammed Kudus should replace Brennan Johnson

Unlike Johnson, the summer signing from West Ham United has provided plenty of quality and proven himself to be a consistent threat in the Premier League this season.

The £150k-per-week star, who Erik ten Hag claimed has “incredible potential”, came off the bench to replace the Welshman for the last 25 minutes against Newcastle, and should now come back into the XI to face Chelsea tonight.

Kudus scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Leeds United at the start of last month, but it has been his creativity on the ball that has made him a standout star for the Lilywhites in the Premier League.

The left-footed star has provided four assists in nine appearances in the top-flight, per Sofascore, and ranks highly at the club in a host of metrics as a creative force at the top end of the pitch.

xG

1.39

3rd

xA

1.26

1st

Assists

4

1st

Big chances created

2

1st

Key passes per game

1.9

1st

Dribbles completed per game

3.6

1st

As you can see in the table above, the former Hammers star has been the most influential attacking player in the Tottenham squad in the Premier League this season, leading the way for xG and in every key creative statistic.

Kudus, who was dubbed a “dribbling demon” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has averaged at least 2.3 more completed dribbles per game than any other player in the squad, which speaks to how integral he is to how Spurs bring the ball up the pitch.

Meanwhile, Johnson, who struggled against Newcastle and Everton, has no assists and no ‘big chances’ created in 14 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham this season, per Sofascore.

Kudus provides a level of creativity that means that Frank can rely on him to create something out of nothing with a moment of pure quality, which he cannot rely on Johnson to do, based on his form this season.

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a star who would be a Mohammed Kudus repeat.

2 ByDan Emery Oct 31, 2025

Therefore, the manager should ruthlessly ditch the former Nottingham Forest star from the starting line-up in order to bring the left-footed winger back into the XI.

يلتقي منتخب الكاميرون اليوم الخميس، مع نظيره الكونغو الديمقراطية، ضمن ملحق إفريقيا المؤهل لكأس العالم 2026.

ويواجه الكاميرون منتخب الكونغو الديمقراطية، في نصف نهائي ملحق إفريقيا المؤهل لكأس العالم 2026 المقام في المغرب.

وتأتي هذه المباراة في إطار منافسات الملحق والذي يضم أفضل 4 منتخبات احتلت المركز الثاني في مجموعات التصفيات الإفريقية، والتي ستحدد الفريق المتأهل للملحق العالمي.

الفائز من الكاميرون والكونغو الديمقراطية سيواجه الفائز من نصف النهائي الآخر بين نيجيريا والجابون في المباراة النهائية يوم الأحد 16 نوفمبر 2025 على ملعب الأمير مولاي الحسن، لتحديد المنتخب المتأهل للملحق العالمي. موعد مباراة الكاميرون والكونغو الديمقراطية

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 9:00 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، و10:00 بتوقت السعودية على ملعب البريد في الرباط. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الكاميرون والكونغو الديمقراطية

يمكن متابعة اللقاء مباشرة عبر تطبيق شاهد. معلق مباراة الكاميرون والكونغو الديمقراطية

ويعلق على المباراة رياض حمروني.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

MatériaMais Notícias

Em diversas ocasiões, o futebol é injusto e o time menos organizado consegue sair vencedor. Não foi o que aconteceu na Arena Castelão, onde o Corinthians foi eliminado de maneira justa e merecida pelo Fortaleza e fecha mais um melancólico capítulo na temporada.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansChegada do Corinthians ao hotel após eliminação na Sul-Americana tem protesto com confusãoCorinthians04/10/2023CorinthiansDuílio assume culpa por eliminação do Corinthians na Sul-Americana e fala em mau planejamentoCorinthians04/10/2023Fora de CampoProvocou! Ao som de música do Fortaleza, ex-goleiro Marcos ironiza eliminação do Corinthians da Sul-AmericanaFora de Campo04/10/2023

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Com um futebol paupérrimo, poucos conseguem explicar como o Timão foi semifinalista em duas competições tendo quatro técnicos na temporada. É a receita perfeita para o desastre, e ao menos o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves teve hombridade e reconheceu que as constantes trocas no comando técnico atrapalharam o clube na temporada.

Mas como o texto fala sobre justiça, não é possível isentar totalmente os jogadores pelo fracasso na Sul-Americana, já que a postura dos atletas em campo também contribuiu com a queda na competição. A passividade na marcação e a falta de concentração, especialmente no início do segundo tempo, minaram qualquer chance que a equipe tinha de ir à final.

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Quem tem menos culpa no cartório é Mano Menezes, que pegou um time desorganizado e está tentando apagar um enorme incêndio, mas grandes mudanças não acontecem da noite para o dia. Assim como na derrota diante do São Paulo, foi possível observar pequenas melhorias coletivas, principalmente na compactação defensiva, mas ainda é pouco para um clube tão grande como o Corinthians.

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O Timão viveu a temporada no limite e em diversos momentos contou com o acaso para esconder os reais problemas do clube. Quando se deparou com uma equipe mais organizada, sucumbiu. Quem paga o preço pelos sucessivos erros de administração é o torcedor, que se iludiu mais uma vez com a equipe e viu os rivais sorrindo por mais um ano.

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Manchester United have bounced back from their 3-1 defeat away to Brentford last Saturday by beating newly promoted Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim needed those three points to alleviate the pressure that has been continuing to build over the last week.

The Red Devils took a lead early on, thanks to a sublime effort by Mason Mount. United’s number seven took his chance well, with a great first touch before firing into the back of the net to put his side ahead.

Just after the 30-minute mark, United doubled their advantage. This time, it was Benjamin Sesko who found the back of the net, getting onto the end of a flick on from a long throw. It means he’s now scored two goals in as many games for his new side.

United’s win also saw goalkeeper Senne Lammens, starting his first game since a deadline-day move, pull off several excellent saves. He kept Granit Xhaka out in the first half and made a late save with his feet to keep United’s clean sheet intact.

It was certainly a better day at the office for the Red Devils, with two of the standouts being Mount and Sesko.

Mount and Sesko’s stats vs. Sunderland

Since truly getting over his injury issues, Mount has been a key player under Amoirm. This term, he’s started the majority of games in the Premier League, with his performance against Sunderland showing exactly why United’s manager likes him so much.

His goal was very well-taken, with his perfect first touch controlling Bryan Mbeumo’s pass at knee height, before swivelling and firing past Robin Roefs.

It was an excellent team move for United, which consisted of 18 passes before Mount put the ball in the back of the net.

Sesko’s performance also stood out. His goal was simple, but encouraging for United fans. He occupied the six-yard box well and reacted quickly enough to turn the ball in. The two goals in as many games that he’s now scored will surely do wonders for his confidence.

Well, David McDonnell, chief Manchester United writer for The Manchester Evening News, seemed to think highly of Sesko’s efforts. He gave the Slovenian star a 7/10 for his afternoon’s work, describing his finish as a ‘classic poacher’s goal’.

As well as Mount and Sesko performed against Sunderland, there was someone who was arguably even better.

The standout United player vs. Sunderland

Aside from the two United goalscorers, there was a player who really stood out. Of course, Lammens made some decisive saves on debut, but even he was overshadowed by his Red Devils teammate.

It was a big day for former Sunderland loanee Amad, and he certainly delivered against the club where he truly made a name for himself a couple of seasons ago. Operating at right wing-back, the Ivorian star was a huge threat going forward.

The stats from the game certainly show how dangerous he was. Amad created three chances, more than both Mount and Sesko.

He also completed 100% of his passes and won eight ground duels with a 57% win rate. In contrast, United’s number seven won one out of five and their new striker just five out of 12.

Pass accuracy

100%

Passes completed

38/38

Touches

62

Touches in the opposition box

5

Ground duels won

8/14

Ball recoveries

6

Chances created

3

Indeed, McDonnell was hugely impressed with Amad’s contribution against the Black Cats. He gave the attacker a 7/10 rating, the same as Sesko, and said he was a ‘constant threat down the right side’ for United against his former club.

It was a fantastic performance from the 23-year-old. He shone at right wing-back last season, and whilst it has been a slow start to this campaign, that performance against his former club will surely do him the world of good.

Now, Amorim will be hoping Amad can build on that performance after the international break, when United face arch-rivals Liverpool.

Not just Hojlund: Man Utd must rue selling a CF who's outperforming Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one former player to depart Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025