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Over the years, Dhoni has passed on his wisdom to Hardik. Can he use the same to trump the old master on Friday?

Shashank Kishore30-Mar-2023The nets arena at Motera’s practice ground is quite a walk from the main practice square of the Narendra Modi Stadium. On Thursday evening, shortly before 5pm, security personnel had been stationed around the perimeter of the nets area as venue managers readied a yellow carpet at the entrance of the Chennai Super Kings dressing room.Within minutes of the Super Kings team bus arriving, there was chaos as the news spread. In the middle of the main stadium, lensmen who were trying to capture the lighting of the grand stage set up for a glitzy opening ceremony, with sunlight filtering through one of the gaps in the stands, could have given track-and-field aspirants a run for their money at that very moment.The reason behind their dash? They all wanted to get a perfect shot of MS Dhoni getting out of the team bus and walking into the nets area. What followed next was the whirr of a few hundred shutter clicks to capture Dhoni’s entry. Except Dhoni wasn’t on the team bus. He had arrived an hour earlier for the captains’ meeting and photoshoot, and was already done with some light warm-ups indoors.Related

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After the crowd had dispersed, he casually sauntered into the nets area and put his arm around Gary Kirsten, the Gujarat Giants’ mentor. Ashish Nehra soon joined them for some laughs. A few handshakes and high-fives later, Dhoni quietly went towards the main ground, where Hardik Pandya was seated beside Shivam Mavi, Rahul Tewatia, Abhinav Manohar, Shubman Gill and Alzarri Joseph, and was having a long chat.Then as they dispersed to their respective nets on either side of the centre wicket, Hardik and Dhoni briefly crossed paths again.On one side was the fierce intensity of a captain who had led his side to the title in their very first season. On the other was the calmness of the grand old veteran, who will turn 42 in three months. His side had finished ninth last season but he was resonating vibes of someone who has seen it all but is fully comfortable in the space he is in, ahead of possibly one last dance.As Dhoni stood in the middle, crouching low and doing some lower-body drills, Hardik ran in and bowled, took outfield catches, and offered words of advice to his younger team-mates. Later, he played the role of an umpire to have a ringside view of his bowlers.Youngsters have often turned to Dhoni for advice and he too has always been there for them•PTI Then as the rain started to come down, Dhoni yelped from afar towards Hardik as they started to walk off. Watching all this from the outside, you couldn’t help but think of how Hardik has gradually stepped into Dhoni’s footsteps.When a raw Hardik made his debut in 2016, Dhoni was at the front and centre of Indian cricket. He had stood with Hardik at the top of his bowling mark to give instructions and advice ahead of that final over against Bangladesh during the 2016 T20 World Cup game in Bangalore. Just like Hardik does for his young Indian bowlers now.Dhoni was always there for his younger players, who would invariably turn to him for guidance. Ask Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja. Or an unheralded Mohit Sharma, who burst through to have the IPL of his life in 2013. Or Mukesh Choudhary last year.Somewhere along the way, with Hardik, this mentor-mentee relationship evolved into one between an elder and younger brothers. To the extent that Hardik would often be seeking life lessons from Dhoni. It’s said when Hardik found himself in a soup over comments made on a TV chat show, it was Dhoni who told Hardik to not become a recluse and switch off from all forms of social media.The Hardik we see today is a calmer version of the person that burst onto the scene. And it isn’t just the off-field attributes of Dhoni that he seems to be embodied. On the field, Hardik has been instinctive. But at the same time, he has also been calculative and has thrown himself into tough situations to shield younger players and give them a little bit of cushion.Like when he opened the bowling against New Zealand to allow a slightly off-rhythm Arshdeep Singh to settle in. Or promoting himself to No. 4 and doing the bulk of the heavy lifting, even if it meant having to go against his natural game of hitting sixes.0:46

Pandya: I took all the tips from Dhoni when we played together

Last year, for example, Hardik’s strike rate of 152.54 in the last four overs was the third-lowest for him in any IPL season. But that was because he was playing the role of an anchor, allowing the likes of Tewatia and David Miller to do the finishing.”I don’t mind playing the role that, somewhere down the line, Mahi used to play,” Hardik had said in February, during the white-ball series against New Zealand. “When he was around, I was young and hitting all around the park. But since he is gone, all of a sudden, that responsibility is on me. I don’t mind that. We are getting the results. It’s okay if I have to play a little slow.”I’ve always enjoyed hitting sixes. But that’s life; I’ve to evolve. I’ve believed in partnerships and want to give my batting partner and team some assurance and calmness that I’m there. I’ve played more games than any of these guys; I’ve learned how to accept and swallow pressure and make sure everything is calm.”It’s this calmness from their captain that Titans are feeding off. “Hardik isn’t closed-off, available to all the players at all times during the season,” Vikram Solanki, Titans’ team director, said. “He was a very mature captain last year, he took to captaincy very naturally. It was apparent he is a deep thinker of the game. You think of him as a character and personality, it plays through in the way he plays. He led with a lot of positivity and energy, and had a lot of time for people.”When Hardik steps onto the field to lead Titans in the opening game, he will know Dhoni will have a trick or two up his sleeve. The Hardik of a few years ago may have been consumed by that very thought. This version of Hardik is likely to soak it in with a smile and simply make plans on the fly to give Dhoni the slip, just like Dhoni did to the big crowd and lensmen who had made a beeline for him earlier in the evening.

Last year at this time, they were looking ahead to their first T20 World Cup final. After that, everything went downhill

Annesha Ghosh07-Mar-2021March 8 last year, International Women’s Day, was box office for women’s cricket. India’s maiden appearance in a T20 World Cup final, against defending champions Australia, drew 86,174 spectators at the MCG – the most ever at a women’s or men’s T20 World Cup final and for a women’s sporting event in Australia.The significance of it all had barely sunk in before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. Global sport screeched to a halt by the close of March. While Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan all played at least one women’s series apiece in the 12 months since, India played none. By the time they face South Africa in Lucknow on March 7 they will be just a day short of a full year during which they have not played any international matches. The reasons why are a reflection of many ills, most of which have afflicted the women’s game in India for decades now.India’s women cricketers cut their teeth in international cricket in October 1976, three years after the formation of the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI), which became the custodian of the women’s game in the country. Until January 1977, India played eight Tests, including two overseas. An inactive spell of nearly 12 months followed.The next time they took the field, in January 1978, it was for their World Cup debut, also their first ODI. India finished last in that four-team competition but the tournament itself was significant as the first international cricket championship of any kind to be held in India, a decade before the country hosted its first men’s World Cup.India women wouldn’t play any cricket for 54 months after that 1978 World Cup – largely due to an acute cash crunch at the WCAI, which was founded by volunteers and those from the political fraternity. India returned to action with the 1982 ODI World Cup and played 35 international matches until July 1986, the games fairly evenly spaced out in that period. Then all cricket stalled for them for 1644 days, or another four and a half years, their longest gap between two international matches.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn that period, Australia played 32 matches, New Zealand 24, England 23, Ireland 21, Netherlands 14, and Denmark six. India, on the other hand, stagnated, with the cash-strapped WCAI unable to afford to send them abroad or host other teams.”That [break] was horrible,” remembers Diana Edulji, India’s captain for the best part of the period between 1978 and 1993, and for nearly three years a member of the Committee of Administrators, appointed by India’s Supreme Court, that ran the BCCI between 2017 and 2019. “We missed the 1988 World Cup in Australia despite being in a training camp before that, because the sports ministry had withdrawn our entry from the tournament without us or the association [WCAI] knowing.” A disagreement between the WCAI secretary and the government ministry of youth, sports and women and child development over guidelines issued by the latter that the WCAI was expected to follow (because it was receiving funding from the government at the time), is understood to have prompted the withdrawal from the World Cup, but an official explanation was never given to the players.”We had to catch up a lot because the other teams had moved far ahead,” Edulji says. “It took us time when we got back. That is why in our era we couldn’t perform well in the World Cups.”Gargi Banerji, who debuted under Edulji as India’s youngest player ever – male or female – at 15, agrees. “We were way better prepared to put up a fight in the 1988 World Cup than in the 1978 one. That gap of four-plus years killed the possibility, and the careers of several talented players.”The WCAI merged with the BCCI in November 2006, a year after the ICC made mergers between all national boards and their women’s bodies mandatory. The BCCI was the last of the national boards of the top eight countries to start administering women’s cricket in its country, and the absorption of women’s cricket into the larger fold happened at a snail’s pace in India. Against the backdrop of the delay in integrating the workings of women’s cricket at the level of the state associations came another hiatus for the players, stretching 424 days, from March 2007 to May 2008. It remains the longest India have gone without playing an international game since the BCCI took over.The current 364-day gap is India’s longest between two international matches since then. Save for Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who debuted in 1999 and 2002 respectively, none of the players from India’s 2020 T20 World Cup contingent or their squads for the upcoming series against South Africa, had prior first-hand knowledge of what a gap year looks like.Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj have gone long spells without cricket before, but none of their team-mates have•ESPNcricinfoThis hiatus is unlike any Raj and Goswami have experienced before, though. For starters, the security accorded by annual retainers at a time when the players have not been able to turn out for their country was unthinkable in the era before professionalisation. The BCCI, the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world, has to its credit, since the merger, bettered infrastructure for its female cricketers. It has improved the quality of grounds, upgraded travel essentials, introduced match fees, daily allowances and central contracts and announced pensions for its retired female cricketers. It has allowed its women players to participate in overseas competitions, and launched a tournament that is understood to be a precursor to an IPL-style women’s league.The 2010s were a productive – and critical – phase for women’s cricket administration in India, not least because of the impressive on-field results of the national team. Among the highlights was a maiden series win in Australia in 2016 and a breakout runners-up finish at the ODI World Cup the following year. A first appearance in eight years in the knockouts of a T20 World Cup then came in the 2018 edition of the competition, though the format wasn’t deemed their strong suit.India made the final of a T20 triangular series featuring England and Australia in February last year. The same young squad (with the addition of a 16th member) carved out an unbeaten run to the final of the T20 World Cup in February and March, beating favourites Australia in the tournament opener. Their campaign culminated in an 85-run hiding but on the whole it bolstered India’s stature as world-beaters in the making. The pandemic then brought their momentum to a halt.Then, even as international cricket resumed, in July 2020, and preparations for the IPL and the India men’s tour of Australia gathered pace, the women’s team remained starved of communication from the BCCI for months about what, if anything, was in the offing for them, as a raft of cancellations and postponements of their bilateral assignments played out rather discreetly. The players found themselves without a dedicated point person or a selection committee, and with the contract of their manager awaiting renewal.”Sometimes we do feel there’s no sense of purpose if we don’t have competitive cricket or any international series, even domestic,” Raj said during the ICC’s ‘100% Cricket’ virtual discussion last September. Six months on from then, India have not had a national camp in all of 2020, despite the BCCI president himself having promised one in August. Their domestic season begins on March 11, two months after the men’s started, so the only top-flight playing opportunity they have had since the T20 World Cup was the four-match Women’s T20 Challenge last November. They go into the upcoming South Africa series with just three training sessions, having come off a five-day quarantine, and their last outing in ODIs dates back to November 2019. The preparations aren’t ideal by any measure, not least for veterans Raj and Goswami, who are both 38, or for the six uncapped rookies in the two squads.ESPNcricinfo LtdIndia aren’t the only women’s team to have not played for so long. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand too haven’t had a game since the T20 World Cup in Australia. Ireland, USA, Netherlands and PNG haven’t played since the T20 World Cup Qualifier in September 2019. And Zimbabwe’s first series in nearly two years was called off after just one game due to Covid-19-enforced flight restrictions. Worse, nine of these ten teams are slated to compete in the 2022 ODI World Cup Qualifier in four months’ time, with only India among them having earned direct qualification to the tournament proper.
At the MCC cricket committee’s virtual meeting last month, the disproportionately low amount of international women’s cricket played compared to the men’s game since the start of the pandemic was discussed. The concerns raised echoed the 2020 UN Women brief, which said that the pandemic has exposed how, in the face of slashed revenues across the entire ecosystem, organisations instinctively lean towards prioritising investments in “traditional” sports – meaning men’s sports.In the situation the Indian team finds itself in now, the absence of an independent players’ mouthpiece has not helped. “The fact that the best women’s players in India haven’t played for more than a year is hugely disappointing,” Tom Moffat, the CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA), says. “From our perspective, it’s critical for the growth of the game and safeguarding of player interests that players have a voice and that they’re represented collectively through a players’ association.”India does have a players’ body – the Indian Cricketers’ Association – but it is for retired players only. The BCCI recognises it, but not FICA, which, in its Women’s Professional Cricket Global Employment Report 2020, highlighted an increase in volume of cricket for women’s players among its chief recommendations. It also described the Indian public as becoming “increasingly accepting of female sport” in general and off the field.”If you look at the most sophisticated team sports around the world, including cricket, like Australia and England, many of the most developed sports are the ones where players are best protected,” Moffat says. “A strong players’ association is the best way that we know to reach fair outcomes, and now with what’s going on in the world at the moment, especially for the women’s game.”An additional challenge facing India, and the women’s game at large, needs tackling in the immediate future. “Over the coming months, if there isn’t renewed focus on the women’s game and ensuring greater volume of cricket and exposure across more countries globally, a very foreseeable outcome is that there’ll be less eyeballs watching,” Moffat says. “Therefore, the reality is, there’s going to be potentially less fan interest and commercial interest in the game. And we know the commercial side of things is really important to sustaining the game longer term and to enabling it to grow across more countries.”On March 8, last year, for the third time, India came within touching distance of their maiden world title. Win or lose the series opener against South Africa today, they will feel somewhat relieved that their year without cricket is finally behind them. More than the memory of the defeat to Australia a year ago, their anguish at the eroded momentum of their recent world-tournament finishes is likely to linger.A timeline of the series that India women missed out on

With three wins from their opening nine Premier League matches, Leeds United have already gone against the label that often falls onto newly promoted sides as being relegation fodder.

It might not be as spectacular as Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka-led efforts, but Daniel Farke’s Whites now find themselves on double digits in terms of points collected, with a much-needed 2-1 home win against West Ham United on Friday night also seeing the West Yorkshire outfit get one over on a potential relegation rival.

Yet again, Joe Rodon put in a valiant effort in the heart of Farke’s defence, with his standout display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors further cementing his tag as Leeds’ “most important player”, as was handed to him at the start of the month by journalist Isaac Johnson.

Rodon's performance vs West Ham

The Welsh “warrior” – as he has also been lovingly labelled in the past by his manager – has gone on to be an ever-present part of the German’s side, ever since Rodon was just a much-loved loan option from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodon didn’t miss a single Championship game last season as Leeds were crowned champions of the tricky division, and he has remained as one of the first names on the team sheet in the league above, too, and for very good reason.

The 28-year-old powerhouse would ensure the three points were sealed when heading home this corner unmarked, but it wasn’t just this effort beating Alphonse Aréola in the Hammers’ net that cemented his position in the Whites’ good books.

Indeed, Rodon would also finish the contest with a 92% pass accuracy intact as a calm and controlled operator on the ball, on top of nine clearances also being registered to ensure the likes of former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville were kept quiet.

If Leeds want to establish themselves as a formidable Premier League outfit and beat the drop come the end of the long campaign, they will need Rodon to keep up these imperious levels, with Farke very much aware of how much of an integral component he is to his team, having also once lauded him as “unbelievable” rock defensively.

However, another Leeds first-teamer is also deserving of his flowers, too, away from all the praise being dished out to the Swansea-born battler, with the star in question arguably putting in an even better performance than Rodon on Friday night.

The 9/10 star who was even better than Rodon

Ultimately, it was a team effort that got the narrow win over the line, with Lucas Perri in between the sticks, having to make sure he stayed alert, with two saves tallied up on his return to Farke’s starting lineup.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also tirelessly threw himself into the contest, even if he didn’t add to his solitary Leeds strike, with the easily scapegoated number nine winning eight duels in total.

But, as much as everyone did largely play their part in a second home win of the season being secured, Brenden Aaronson stood out as an extremely bright spark with his sublime individual display.

Aaronson would steer his side to their third three points of the Premier League season when being in the right place at the right time to convert a rebound after just three minutes. Yet, on another day, he could have also been remembered in even more glowing terms for being the audacious ace who fired home this sensational solo effort.

Unfortunately, the crossbar would then intervene.

But, this well-worked effort agonisingly scraping the crossbar shouldn’t detract from Aaronson’s otherwise near faultless night, with the American – who was labelled as “anonymous” by journalist James Marshment just last season – arguably standing out even more than Rodon when judging his all-round game.

Aaronson’s performance in numbers
Stat	Aaronson
Minutes played	90
Goals scored	1
Assists	0
Touches	38
Shots	3
Accurate passes	11/15 (73%)
Key passes	2
Successful dribbles	3/3
Recoveries	4
Total duels won	8/12
Stats by Sofascore

Across the 90 minutes, away from grabbing his early goal, the revitalised number 11 would also successfully complete all three of his dribbles as a constant menace for West Ham to contain, on top of also winning 80% of his ground duels to further reinforce his liveliness.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth would reward Aaronson for his standout showing with a 9/10 rating post-match, with Smyth stating that the 25-year-old put in a “tonne of hard work” to help the 2-1 win be secured.

In time, Aaronson will hope that he’s viewed as an undroppable Rodon-like cog in the Leeds machine, with his blistering display against the Hammers very much boosting his position in Farke’s first team, moving forward into a busy November.

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Daniel Farke could be tempted to ditch this Leeds United star even after his side were victorious against West Ham United.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 25, 2025

The Saudi PIF takeover at Newcastle United in recent years has allowed a new generation of supporters to witness unthinkable levels of success on the pitch.

Eddie Howe has led the Magpies to multiple seasons competing in the Champions League, something which was a far-fetched dream under the ownership of Mike Ashley.

The hierarchy has invested serious money into the first-team squad over the last couple of years, which has allowed for numerous high/profile international names to move to St James’ Park.

Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes are just two players who are Brazilian internationals but also operating at the heart of the Magpies squad – something which was once an unthinkable sentence.

However, one other player could be set for a spell in the national team in the months ahead, especially if he keeps up his tremendous form in the Premier League.

Why Barnes could start at the World Cup

Over the last couple of weeks, winger Harvey Barnes has hit a tremendous run of form that has seen him nail down the left-wing role in Newcastle’s starting eleven.

The 27-year-old has started seven matches in the Premier League this campaign, already netting on three occasions, with his showing against Manchester City his best to date.

He scored a double against Pep Guardiola’s men at St James’ Park at the end of last month, subsequently securing a vital win for the Magpies on Tyneside.

Barnes has also thrived on the European stage, as seen by his tally of four Champions League goals in just five appearances – with two of which coming in just 27 minutes against Benfica.

As a result, rumours have been circulating over a potential call-up to the Scotland national team, with the winger potentially able to represent the nation through his grandparents.

He could feature at the World Cup in 2026, but he may even do so for England, with Barnes currently keeping international star Anthony Gordon out of the Magpies’ starting eleven at present.

It will certainly be a key few months for the winger, but it’s an exciting one for sure, which could see him reap the rewards of his recent success for Howe’s men.

The Newcastle star who has to start at the World Cup

As previously mentioned, the current Newcastle squad is littered with international stars, many of whom have taken their careers to the next level since their moves to the North East.

Dan Burn arrived in a fairytale return to St James’ after growing up in the area as a boy, but his move to the Magpies from Brighton in 2022 has seen the 33-year-old reach unimaginable heights.

The centre-back has been a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s England international setup, as seen by his tally of five appearances to date – with his debut coming back in March of this year.

It remains to be seen if he will have done enough to go to the World Cup in around six months’ time, but the defender has certainly done his chances no harm in recent times.

There is also a huge argument that Lewis Hall should be England’s starting left-back in the USA next summer and rightfully so given his recent form in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old has struggled with injuries at times in 2025/26, but it’s not stopped him from starring when handed the chance to start within Howe’s first-team squad.

The £28m man been selected to play in seven league games to date, with Hall making his comeback from an injury layoff during the Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao back in November.

Hall has since started all four league games for the Magpies and has subsequently produced some incredible numbers, which could solve England’s long-standing left-back issue.

The £45k-per-week full-back, who’s been dubbed an “absolute baller” by scout Antonio Mango, has completed 2.1 dribbles per 90 whilst achieving a success rate of 69% to date – showcasing the incredible ability he possesses in possession.

He’s also completed 85% of his passes to date, even registering his first assist of the season against Everton, which magnifies his ability to cause chaos to the opposition.

Lewis Hall – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

7

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Successful dribbles

2.1

Dribble success

69%

Tackles made

3.4

Duels won

7.8

Recoveries made

4.7

Stats via FotMob

However, without the ball, Hall has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 3.4 tackles made and 7.8 duels won per 90 – subsequently offering a huge threat at both ends of the pitch.

Such a skillset would be perfect for Tuchel’s current squad, with the youngster needing to continue on the same trajectory over the next few months if he is to go to the World Cup.

If he manages to continue his recent success, there’s no reason why Hall and Barnes could be starting alongside one another down the left-flank for their country, with the younger man already regarded as “one of the best” in the Premier League in his position.

There is certainly a long way to go until the tournament commences, but the duo’s recent success at St James’ could certainly hand the German a huge decision to make.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2025

In the almost six years he’s been in charge, Mikel Arteta has helped to transform Arsenal.

He’s led the North Londoners from mid-table mediocrity to genuine Premier League and Champions League contenders.

The Spaniard’s tactical nous and standard-raising philosophy have undoubtedly played a massive part in this turnaround, but so has the club’s recruitment and promotion of youth players, like Bukayo Saka.

The Hale Ender has gone from promising prospect to the face of Arsenal and undoubtedly their most important attacker, although, based on recent reports, the club are looking to sign someone who is playing better than him at the moment.

Arsenal target superstar star attacker outperforming Saka

Since making his debut for Arsenal in a 2018 Europa League group stage match against Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava, Saka has gone on an incredible journey with the club.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Despite being moved around the pitch and then spending plenty of time at left-back in his early career, the Englishman has now become the club’s go-to right-winger and the first name on the teamsheet when fit.

In all, the 24-year-old has made 280 appearances for the Gunners, in which he’s racked up a sensational haul of 76 goals and 73 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.87 games.

However, due in part to his injury, he has performed a little under par this season, and now it looks like the club are looking to sign someone who is outperforming him.

At least, that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal are still very interested in Michael Olise.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are now preparing an ambitious plan to sign the Bayern Munich star and are willing to break their transfer record to do so, preparing an offer of around €150m, which converts to around £132m.

That’s an outrageous sum of money to spend on a player, but given Olise’s ability and potential, it might just be worth it for Arsenal, especially as he’s outperforming Saka.

How Olise compares to Saka

So, the first thing to say is that it seems highly unlikely that Arsenal would sign Olise to outright replace Saka.

After all, the Hale Ender has become the face of the project and probably the most beloved player of the last 20 years among the fanbase.

Instead, the Frenchman could be looked at as someone to offer competition, or, as has been the case with Noni Madueke, someone who can interchange with the Englishman during games, almost making the idea of a starting position antiquated.

With that said, it’s worth looking at how the pair have stacked up against one another since the Bayern ace’s move to Germany.

Last season, his first in Baveria, saw the 23-year-old rack up a sensational tally of 20 goals and 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes.

Olise vs Saka

24/25

Olise

Saka

Appearances

55

37

Minutes

3842′

2619′

Goals

20

12

Assists

23

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.78

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvements

89.34′

100.73

25/26

Olise

Saka

Appearances

20

17

Minutes

1583′

1211′

Goals

9

6

Assists

10

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.95

0.47

Minutes per Goal Involvements

83.31′

151.37′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, Saka scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2619 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or every 100.73 minutes.

Okay, what about this season then?

Well, the former Crystal Palace star has really taken it up a notch, already scoring nine goals and providing ten assists in 20 appearances, totalling 1583 minutes.

That comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.05 games, or every 83.31 minutes, and truly justifies analyst Filipe Sousa’s description of him being a “nightmare” for defenders.

For his efforts this season, the Gunners’ talismanic number seven has scored six goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances, totalling 1211 minutes.

That comes out to a somewhat underwhelming – for his lofty standards – of an average of a goal involvement every 2.12 games, or every 151.37 minutes.

Now, it should be said that he suffered another hamstring injury at the start of the campaign and is clearly still not at 100%, but even so, he would likely admit his output has been a little disappointing this season.

Ultimately, while it would cost an egregious sum of money, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Olise, as he could help get the best back out of Saka, and a team with the pair of them in it is a scary team indeed.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 3, 2025

The New York Mets have the best record in baseball and are coming off consecutive sweeps of the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. Their odds to win the World Series have improved dramatically amidst their torrid start. 

The Mets opened the season with +1100 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to win the World Series and were still there yesterday before the final game of their series against the Phillies. After a comeback win in extra innings, the Mets are now +950 at FanDuel to win the World Series. 

That moved their implied probability of winning the World Series from 8.3% to 9.5%.

Originally fifth in the World Series odds standings, the Mets are now third behind the Dodgers (+240) and the Yankees (+800). The Braves and Phillies were both ahead of them to start the season, but now find themselves behind the Mets in the odds and standings.

The Phillies were +1000 at FanDuel but are now +1100. The Braves were +850, the second betting favorite, but have fallen to fifth at +1400. The Mets are 18-7 and have a five-game lead on the Phillies in the NL East. The Braves are 10-14 and last in the division.

Below are the World Series odds from FanDuel for every team, with more info on how their odds have moved since the start of the season. 

World Series Odds for Every MLB TeamLos Angeles Dodgers +240New York Yankees +800New York Mets +950Philadelphia Phillies +1100Atlanta Braves +1400Texas Rangers +1500Chicago Cubs +2000San Diego Padres +2000Boston Red Sox +2000Houston Astros +2200Detroit Tigers +2200Seattle Mariners +2500Baltimore Orioles +2700Arizona Diamondbacks +3000Cleveland Guardians +5000San Francisco Giants +5000Kansas City Royals +5000Tampa Bay Rays +5000Minnesota Twins +5500Toronto Blue Jays +6000Milwaukee Brewers +6000Cincinnati Reds +8000Los Angeles Angels +12000St. Louis Cardinals +12000Athletics +18000Washington Nationals +40000Pittsburgh Pirates +40000Miami Marlins +50000Colorado Rockies +50000Chicago White Sox +50000World Series Odds Movement

Outside the Mets, the Padres and Cubs odds have improved the most. 

San Diego was +3300 and is now +2000. They have the second-best record in the NL (17-8) behind the Mets and are surprisingly leading the NL West ahead of the Dodgers. The Cubs, who lead the NL Central, were +3000 to start the year but are now +2000. The Tigers were +3000 and are now +2200. The Rangers moved up from +1900 to +1500. 

The Orioles have seen their odds fall the most. They were originally +1600 but are now +2700. The Royals were +4000 but are now +500. The Red Sox were +1800 and are now +2000. 

So far, the Mets are the story of the MLB season, having won seven straight. Offseason acquisition Juan Soto is off to a poor start, but Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have more than made up for it at the plate. On the mound, the Mets lead the league in runs per game allowed (2.76). 

Whether either of those can last throughout the season remains to be seen. But oddsmakers clearly believe. 

Northamptonshire 265 for 5 (Broad 64*, Bartlett 60*) trail Derbyshire 377 (Andersson 105, Procter 71*, Chahal 6-118) by 112 runsGeorge Bartlett and Justin Broad shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 111 to lead the Northamptonshire recovery in response to Derbyshire’s total of 377 at Wantage Road.Bartlett equalled his season’s best of 60 not out, made in the opening round of the Rothesay County Championship, while Broad struck an unbeaten 64 as the pair batted through the evening session, having joined forces at 154 for five.Northamptonshire captain Luke Procter anchored his side’s innings with a gritty 71 at the top of the order before becoming one of a trio of departures in quick succession prior to tea.Earlier, Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up the final two Derbyshire wickets to register figures of six for 118, his best in the County Championship.Derbyshire resumed on 348 for eight and Ben Aitchison wasted no time in securing their third batting bonus point, clubbing Liam Guthrie’s first delivery of the morning to the cover fence.Aitchison looked on course to reach a first-class half-century for only the second time in his career, but he departed five short of that landmark, chopping Chahal back onto leg stump.The spinner soon wrapped up Derbyshire’s innings as Blair Tickner – having blazed a couple of boundaries off George Scrimshaw – took an ambitious swing and was caught at slip off a thick edge.With ball in hand, Tickner then sent down a fiery opening spell, generating plenty of pace and bounce and earning his reward by removing Ricardo Vasconcelos with a delivery that swung in to hit the left-hander on the pads.Procter and Lewis McManus – who was awarded his county cap prior to the start of play – saw their side through to lunch, not without the odd scare as debutant Joe Hawkins’ first ball found the edge of the skipper’s bat but fell just short of slip.The visitors struck in the first over after the interval, when McManus misjudged the line from Zak Chappell and was caught behind, but James Sales started perkily as he dispatched Hawkins for two cover boundaries.Meanwhile, Procter withstood a barrage of short-pitched bowling from Tickner, emerging unscathed after he ducked into a bouncer and continued to accumulate, guiding Aitchison to the rope at third man to bring up his half-century.Northamptonshire’s third-wicket partnership yielded 74 before Luis Reece achieved the breakthrough, tempting Sales to drive outside off stump and Harry Came clasped the catch at cover.Reece prised out Procter, foxing the batter with a slower ball that trapped him in front and Derbyshire also removed the in-form Saif Zaib on the stroke of tea, caught behind to provide Hawkins with his first senior wicket.Bartlett made a scratchy start but began to open up in the wake of Procter’s exit, lifting Hawkins over the top for four and responding to another pounding by Tickner with a classy straight drive back over the bowler’s head.He was soon overtaken by Broad, whose tendency towards the pull shot almost proved his downfall when he miscued Tickner to leg slip, only for the ball to drop just in front of the stretching Caleb Jewell.However, it was Bartlett who won the race to 50, pummelling Reece for six and four in quick succession and Broad soon followed suit, capitalising on the left-armer’s full toss to find the boundary.

Cristiano Ronaldo is, as a "big icon who loves hair", being tipped to become the A-list barber that eventually gets to give The United Strand a fresh trim. Red Devils fan Frank Ilett has gone viral after vowing not to cut his locks until Ruben Amorim's side have won five games in a row. They recently ticked three of those boxes, but the wait goes on as various names are offered up as potential cutters of what has become rather wild hair.

• When did The United Strand make his pledge?

  Ilett made his pledge back in October 2024, with United preparing to pass managerial reins around that time from Dutch coach Erik ten Hag to Portuguese tactician Ten Hag. They rarely looked like stringing together back-to-back victories, never mind five-in-a-row, when stumbling to a 15th-place finish in the 2024-25 campaign.

  A slow start was made to the current season, leading to more uncomfortable questions being asked of Amorim and his favoured 3-4-3 system, but United did show signs of life when overcoming Sunderland, Liverpool – at Anfield no less – and Brighton. With Ilett starting to get excited, Nottingham Forest held the Red Devils to a 2-2 draw at the City Ground.

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• Ronaldo the barber: Saha floats interesting idea

  The United Strand is back to square one, as his bouffant grows ever larger, with there no end in sight when it comes to a rather questionable challenge. He has, however, become infamous in his own right, with suggestions being made as to who should eventually shear his overgrown locks.

  Ex-United striker Louis Saha has joined that debate, with the Frenchman telling : "There is hope (for The United Strand). That's a funny one to be honest. If you have more pressure with fans who are doing stuff like this, I think it's good.

  "I can see that there is a need for results and to be serious on that point. The consistency is extremely important so the fans have a point here. I think when you look at over the years, the big icons who love doing the hair, there is no bigger name than Cristiano Ronaldo. He should come and shave his new haircut."

• Getty/via @theunitedstrand on Instagram
  

  What about Beckham? Another option for The United Strand

  Ronaldo’s hair has been big business down the years, while the same could once be said about his fellow iconic former United No.7, Sir David Beckham. The ex-England captain, who is now working with Lionel Messi at MLS side Inter Miami, is another to have seen his name added to the pop-up barber pot.

  Former Red Devils winger Nani has told : "If that means that Man Utd is winning, I want him to cut his hair. I believe it's going to happen because of the way we've been playing. I think it’s deserved. Man Utd just need to be very, very disciplined during the next games, staying humble and working hard. It doesn’t need to be 3-0 or 4-0, 1-0 is enough. I think after he cuts his hair then everything will change and we will look forward. I think he’d like a legend to cut his hair and I think David Beckham should do it, he’s had plenty of practice. He'd be perfect!"

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• Man Utd fixtures: Cam Red Devils win five on the bounce?

  One-time United defender Wes Brown has said of Ilett’s long-running escapade: "I like the banter. It’s funny because the other day my daughter showed me. When you’re thinking of five games on the bounce to win it sounds fairly straightforward. That can be done. That’s what I love about the game. Regardless of the results some fun can come from it. But is he going to get it cut? How long does this go on for? How many teams have done five in a row in the league? Even from last season. It’s probably harder than you think. He might have to get it braided."

  United have one more game to take in prior to the November international break, with that contest set to take place at Tottenham on Saturday. Ronaldo has admitted to still keeping an eye on how the Red Devils are faring, claiming that the Premier League giants need a change in “structure” if they are to get themselves back on track and recapture former glories.

Aston Villa are on the rise under Unai Emery, with NSWE backing the manager in the transfer market. However, the club have also cashed in on a number of Villa Park stars down the years – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a detailed look at Villa’s most expensive sales in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with an in-depth view of the top 10.

1

Jack Grealish

£100m

Man City

2021

2

Jhon Duran

£64m

Al-Nassr

2025

3

Moussa Diaby

£50m

Al-Ittihad

2024

4

Douglas Luiz

£42.35m

Juventus

2024

5

Christian Benteke

£32.5m

Liverpool

2015

6

James Milner

£26m

Man City

2010

=7

Carney Chukwuemeka

£20m

Chelsea

2022

=7

Stewart Downing

£20m

Liverpool

2011

=7

Jaden Philogene

£20m

Ipswich Town

2025

10

Cameron Archer

£18m

Sheffield Utd

2023

11

Ashley Young

£17m

Man Utd

2011

=12

Cameron Archer

£15m

Southampton

2024

=12

Danny Ings

£15m

West Ham

2023

=12

Matt Targett

£15m

Newcastle

2022

15

Dwight Yorke

£12.6m

Man Utd

1998

16

Gareth Barry

£12m

Man City

2009

17

Diego Carlos

£10m

Fenerbahce

2025

18

Tim Iroegbunam

£9m

Everton

2024

19

Jordan Amavi

£8.9m

Marseille

2017

=20

Fabian Delph

£8m

Man City

2015

=20

Ugo Ehiogu

£8m

Middlesbrough

2000

Here's a detailed look at Aston Villa's top 10 sales… 10 Cameron Archer £18m to Sheffield Utd, 2023

The first time Aston Villa sold Cameron Archer was in 2023 to newly promoted Sheffield United. Archer had a respectable campaign at Bramall Lane which resulted in Villa activating a buy-back clause in 2024, only to sell him again months later.

The Blades shelled out £18m to sign the forward, with their subsequent relegation perhaps playing a part once Villa sensed they could get some more money for him, with play-off winners Southampton the latest beneficiary.

9 Jaden Philogene £20m to Ipswich, 2025

Jaden Philogene swapped Villa Park for Portman Road in January 2025, looking to help keep Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

The Villa academy graduate had loan spells at Stoke City, Cardiff City, and Hull City in the Championship before the club cashed in.

8 Carney Chukwuemeka £20m to Chelsea, 2022

Young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka starred for a brief period of time in the Aston Villa first team after coming through the academy.

Chukwuemeka’s impressive performances caught the eye of Chelsea, who added the midfielder to their growing list of young signings in 2022 for £20m. However, he has already been linked with an exit without making his mark at Stamford Bridge.

7 Stewart Downing £20m to Liverpool, 2011

Stewart Downing was Martin O’Neill’s first signing of the 2009 transfer window and his time at Aston Villa was short and sweet. After two seasons, Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish took Downing to Anfield and the left-winger would spend two years with the Reds.

The Anfield side spent a reported £20m to bring the England international to Merseyside, though the fee has officially remained undisclosed.

6 James Milner £26m to Man City, 2010

Premier League icon James Milner initially joined Aston Villa on loan in 2005 as part of Newcastle’s deal to re-sign Nolberto Solano.

Milner would go on to impress at Villa Park and signed on a permanent basis three years later in 2008, making a total of 126 appearances before signing for Man City in a £26m deal in 2010, from which point he continued to carve out a successful top-flight career.

5 Christian Benteke £32.5m to Liverpool, 2015

Powerful striker Christian Benteke first made his mark in England with Aston Villa after arriving from Genk in 2012, and the Villans would make a huge profit on the Belgian three years later.

It was again Liverpool who came calling and paid an eye-catching £32.5m fee for the forward, though his transfer to Anfield didn’t work out, and he was on the move again 12 months later.

4 Douglas Luiz £42.35m to Juventus, 2024

More recently, central midfielder Douglas Luiz was sold by Aston Villa to Juventus in 2024 after spending five successful years with the club.

A transfer was reportedly worth €50m (£42.35m), with Villa soon taking Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea to the Midlands in return. Amadou Onana has since become his successor at Villa Park.

3 Moussa Diaby £50m to Al-Ittihad, 2024

Another big-money exit in 2024 to help balance the FFP books was Moussa Diaby, who moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for around £50m.

The France international only spent one campaign in England, but his displays were enough for Villa to more or less break even on the fee they paid Bayer Leverkusen a year earlier.

2 Jhon Duran £64m to Al-Nassr, 2025

Jhon Duran was going from strength to strength at Villa Park when the surprise decision was made to sell the Colombia international to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2025.

The forward cost Villa just £18m, so a £64m exit represented a huge profit and the chance for Duran to go and play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

1 Jack Grealish £100m to Man City, 2021

Unsurprisingly top of the list as Aston Villa’s most expensive sale is Jack Grealish, whose £100m move to Manchester City in 2021 was a British record at the time.

The attacking midfielder dazzled in claret and blue in the Championship and the Premier League and departed Villa after making more than 200 games for his boyhood club. His deal as the most expensive between British clubs has since been eclipsed by the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad has come a long way in such a short space of time, with Thomas Frank the current beneficiary of the hierarchy’s impressive recruitment.

Managers like Antonio Conte have tried and failed to transform the club, subsequently being unable to bring the success the fans have desired to North London.

The Italian ultimately left the club back in March 2023 despite achieving a 53% win percentage, with Ange Postecoglou taking over ahead of the following campaign.

In the last couple of years, the hierarchy have spent big on the transfer window to try and take the club to the next level and achieve a sustained period of success – whether that be in the Premier League or Europe.

One of the players brought in during such a period has demonstrated his talents for the Lilywhites, but has also come under fire for his lack of impact at certain times of his spell at the club.

The ups and downs of Brennan Johnson’s Spurs career

Brennan Johnson joined Spurs for a reported £47.5m back in the summer of 2023, arriving with high expectations after netting 10 goals and registering three assists for Nottingham Forest the year prior.

The Welshman has endured a topsy-turvy time in North London to date, only scoring five times in his first season at the club – leading to unjustifiable abuse from the supporters.

Such a situation would lead to the winger deleting his social media accounts, but it would lead to a huge upturn in form and securing his place as a regular starter once again.

Johnson would score 18 times across all competitions last campaign – the most of any player in the squad – even netting the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

The goal against the Red Devils ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for any form of silverware, subsequently handing a generation of supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst scoring twice in as many outings at the start of 2025/26, Johnson has since fallen down the pecking order of late, failing to make a single start in the Premier League since the end of August.

As a result, he’s subsequently being outperformed by one former Spurs star who may have been harshly sold given his lack of first-team action in North London.

The former Spurs star who is playing better than Johnson

Whilst Spurs have spent big in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons, numerous players have had to be sacrificed to help balance the books to avoid any financial implications.

Harry Kane has been the biggest player to depart North London over recent windows, leaving in a mammoth £82m transfer to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

The Englishman has left a huge gap in the first-team squad, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 280 goals for the Lilywhites – the most by any player in the club’s history.

He wasn’t the only attacker that was sacrificed by the club to raise funds, with former boss Conte deciding to offload winger Jack Clarke to Sunderland back in the summer of 2022.

The winger joined the club from Championship side Leeds United for a fee in the region of £10m, with his addition seeing the club land themselves a star for the future.

However, it’s safe to say his time in North London failed to live up to expectations, as Clarke was restricted to only four senior appearances for the club – none of which came in the Premier League.

After countless loan spells away from the Lilywhites, he would move on a permanent basis to join the Black Cats three years after his transfer – subsequently unable to have the impact he desired.

Fast forward to the present day, the 24-year-old now plies his trade for Ipswich Town after joining them for £15m last summer, now becoming a key member of their current first-team squad.

Clarke has now scored three times and registered one assist for the Tractor Boys, a tally higher than that of Johnson, who’s only scored twice in the 2025/26 campaign.

Jack Clarke – stats in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	9
Goals & assists	4
Pass accuracy	78%
Chances created	1.3
Cross accuracy	67%
Successful dribbles	2.3
Tackles won	1.8
Fouls won	2.1
Stats via FotMob

There’s no denying the Englishman is achieving such heights in a lower division, but it’s clear that he’s a player full of confidence at present – but the same can’t be said for the Welshman.

Frank needs to give Johnson the support he needs to get back to the levels he produced last season, with his drop in from in recent weeks a huge concern to everyone involved with the club.

As for Clarke, it’s great to see a former player finally fulfilling the potential he arrived with, but it’s a real shame that he’s not doing so in the whites of Tottenham.

His departure may have been a tad premature, but unfortunately for the fanbase, he will now remain a case of what could’ve been with their loss now Ipswich’s gain.

100% dribbles, 78 touches: Spurs star is now emulating Kane under Frank

Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record in the Champions League last night against Bodo Glimt.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 1, 2025