Manchester United managed to return to winning ways in the Premier League last night, after a dominant 4-1 thrashing of bottom-placed side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruben Amorim’s men produced one of their best performances of the campaign to date, to put themselves into sixth place and just a point off the top four.

Hearts will no doubt have been in the mouths of all supporters at the break, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ensured the game was level going into the break.

However, three goals in the second half secured a seventh league victory of the 2025/26 campaign for the Red Devils – now extending their run to just one loss in the last nine outings.

One player deserves massive credit for his showing at Molineux on Monday night, with the first-team member massively excelling during the well-deserved triumph.

Bruno Fernandes’ stats against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has often struggled throughout the ongoing campaign, as Amorim has decided to utilise him in a deeper-lying midfield role rather than the number ten position.

It’s required the Portuguese international to think more defensively, which has no doubt had an effect on his output within the final third in the Premier League.

However, his showing against Rob Edwards’ men was arguably his best of the season to date, with the 31-year-old notching two goals and an assist in the triumph.

Such a tally takes him to 10 combined goals and assists in his first 15 appearances of the season, but it was his underlying figures that highlighted his impressive display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and registered 55 completed passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates – with both the highest of any player in the meeting.

Bruno also completed 12 passes into the final third, and only misplaced eight passes in total, further highlighting his incredible performance with the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the midfielder was just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 100% tackles won, seven recoveries made and a total of five combined aerials and ground duels won.

The United player who is as undroppable as Bruno

As seen by his tally of 15 starts out of a possible 15 in 2025/26, there’s little denying that Bruno is undroppable and certainly one of Amorim’s most important players.

Numerous other players are starting to force themselves into such a bracket, with Bryan Mbeumo just one player who should be a starter week in and week out.

The Cameroonian international netted once again in the clash in the West Midlands, subsequently taking his league tally to six this campaign – the most of any player in the squad.

He registered four shots on target against the hosts, whilst also completing two dribbles – largely being a menace to the Wolves backline during the victory last night.

However, the backline has been a cause for concern over the last couple of weeks, especially with the absence of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the last two matches.

As a result, youngster Ayden Heaven has been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s managed to impress – with his showing at Molineux certainly one to remember.

It was just his second start of the season, but the 19-year-old appeared unfazed and produced numerous impressive figures that could make him undroppable within the manager’s current side.

The teenager registered 36 passes during his minutes on the pitch, subsequently achieving a completion rate of 100% – the highest of any player who started the match.

He also made seven clearances, three of which were with his head, whilst making three recoveries, which enabled him to be in the right place at the right time when called upon.

Heaven’s dominance at the heart of the three-man defence was further highlighted by his impressive tally of six combined duels won – also at a success rate of 100%.

It’s no mean feat for such a young defender to start in the middle of a Premier League defence, but Heaven has made it look routine over the last couple of weeks.

Given his tender age, expectations will no doubt need to be managed by Amorim, but it is certainly hard not to get excited by the youngster after his showing at Molineux.

He’s certainly done enough to cement his place in the starting eleven for the run-up to Christmas, potentially being a huge asset for the club in their hunt for Premier League glory in the years ahead.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS make £70m "passing machine" Man Utd’s no.1 target

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By
Angus Sinclair

4 days ago

Tottenham Hotspur are now preparing a January move to sign a £53m “monster” who plays in the Champions League, having identified him as their top target in defence.

Spurs looking to sign new centre-back amid defensive struggles

Thomas Frank is well-known for being more of a pragmatic manager than predecessor Ange Postecoglou, but Tottenham have been very poor from a defensive point of view over the past few weeks, conceding 13 goals in their last four matches in all competitions.

Most recently, Spurs came unstuck against Fulham at home, with Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson finding the back of the net within just six minutes, and the Cottagers ultimately held out for a 2-1 victory, despite Mohammed Kudus pulling one back just before the hour mark.

Following a run of one win, one draw and five defeats in the last seven outings, Frank is now under real pressure, with it recently being revealed that Xavi could be brought in if results don’t improve by the end of December.

It remains to be seen whether the Dane makes it to the January transfer window, with a tough trip to Newcastle United up next, but plans are already being formulated, and ENIC are particularly keen to strengthen in defence.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Tottenham are now preparing a €60m (£53m) move for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, who has now risen to the top of the north Londoners’ shortlist of defensive targets.

It could be difficult to get a deal done, given that Bremer is regarded as one of the Italian club’s prized assets, but they may be tempted to cash-in if they receive a bid that is simply too good to turn down.

A whole host of Europe’s top clubs could also be set to rival Spurs for the Brazilian’s signature, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich being named as potential suitors.

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ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025 "Monster" Bremer could be ideal addition for Spurs

It is clear that Tottenham could do with some fresh options in defence, given the sheer number of goals they have conceded recently, and the Juventus star could be the ideal addition to the backline.

Lauded as a “monster” by scout Ben Mattinson, the five-time Brazil international, who is under the same agency as James Maddison and Pedro Porro, has put in some solid performances this season, most notably in Juventus’ 2-0 Serie A victory against Parma.

Gleison Bremer’s key statistics vs Parma

Number completed

Clearances

8

Ground duels (won)

3 (2)

Passes completed

46/52 (88%)

Clearances off line

1

Not only that, but the 28-year-old is also very impressive on the front foot for a defender, having picked up eight goals and four assists in 96 outings for Juventus, setting up two goals in his side’s 4-3 victory against Inter Milan earlier this season.

Bremer has spent the majority of the current campaign out injured, and missed 45 games last season due to an ACL injury, so there may be some concerns about his fitness, but the centre-back has proven himself as a top defender on his day.

Already one of UAE’s mainstays with his explosive batting, Alishan Sharafu is trying to be the team’s man for all situations

Shashank Kishore14-Sep-2025Alishan Sharafu, 22, has lived almost all his life in the UAE. But the love of cricket began in Kerala, when he would visit family in the summers. As he grew older, he naturally gravitated towards the game without really knowing if he could make a career out of it.Nearly 15 years after he first started playing, Sharafu is one of UAE’s batting mainstays, and has grown into a valuable retain-worthy local talent in the ILT20, where he represents Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.In UAE’s Asia Cup opener against India, Sharafu was their top scorer in an otherwise forgettable batting performance. What he is unlikely to forget is the range of shots he displayed – backing away to smash Axar Patel inside-out over cover for six, or whipping Jasprit Bumrah off his hips. It’s the confidence from those shots that he is hoping to carry forward when UAE play gulf-rivals Oman on Monday.Related

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“My first memory of cricket was the 2011 World Cup,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was supporting India, obviously, and they went on to win it. It was Sachin’s [Tendulkar] last World Cup, and that was the point where I wanted to play the game. That was when cricket became a passion.”Today, that passion has allowed him opportunities to face Sunil Narine in the nets, and train and learn from Andre Russell and Phil Salt, among others. And in the UAE, such exposure is gold.”Every game is a big opportunity,” Sharafu says. “Because there are only two local players in the XI [at ILT20], you never know how many chances you’ll get. Maybe just one in the whole season. So you have to do well. Fortunately, I played every game in my first season [2024], which was a privilege. You learn from the best – just watching how they go about their game.”For Sharafu, while cricket continues to be the priority, he has ticked off another box along the way on his parents’ insistence. He has completed a degree in cyber security, even though he is fairly certain he won’t have to use it anytime soon.”Initially, my mom was a little skeptical about cricket, because for every parent, education comes first,” he says. “But once I started playing international cricket, she understood. I think I did okay to manage both. I met her expectations, whatever she wanted. But yeah, it was difficult once I got to university. I had to do both. There was no option.”

“Everyone wants to be the best in the country. I’d like to be someone the team can depend on to win games. That’s what I want to be known for”Alishan Sharafu

But pulling off balancing acts isn’t new for Sharafu. When he was 15, he broke into the UAE Under-16s and Under-19s the same year, all while managing high school. He made his T20I debut at 17 and ODI debut at 18, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.Sharafu was first spotted by Knight Riders at a trial by former analyst AR Srikkanth, first came into the setup in the ILT20 under Ryan ten Doeschate, the franchise’s then coach who is currently assistant coach of India. Sharafu was shortlisted for his ability to take the bowlers on right from the outset.”I don’t know where it comes from,” he says of his fearlessness. “But I’ve always liked taking bowlers on. That’s how I’ve always wanted to bat. Even as a kid, I just loved hitting sixes.”For the past two seasons at the ILT20, Sharafu says he’s learnt “something school or university doesn’t teach you”.”Andre Russell is one I always watch. I asked him about how he hits sixes consistently, what his secret is,” Sharafu says. “With Narine, he’s probably one of the calmest and smartest cricketers I’ve seen. He just reads the game one step faster. Even batting with Phil Salt, he told me a few small things that could help my game. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, but just having those conversations is special.””Batting with Phil Salt, he told me a few small things that could help my game”•ILT20Asked of his biggest improvements since playing in the ILT20, he says, “I think my batting evolved after last season with Knight Riders. Even though you’re the same player, playing alongside guys like Russell and Narine just gives you confidence. Once you have that validation, you take that confidence into the UAE team too. It’s 80% about how you feel. And I think that experience has added another gear to my batting.”That improvement has been visible in his ability to alter between roles. “I’ve always been a top-order batter, but I’m also adjusting to batting in the middle. If we lose early wickets, I know I have to stabilise the innings and take it deep. If we’re going well, I just go in and bat with freedom. The clarity from the team management has been excellent.”Off the field, Sharafu likes to unwind watching football, playing FIFA on PlayStation, or just relaxing by a pool or a beach. His cricketing ambition is a lot more focused: “Everyone wants to be the best in the country. I’d like to be someone the team can depend on to win games. That’s what I want to be known for.”This drive, Sharafu says, comes from his dad for all the sacrifices he has had to make. “From when I was 10-15, every Friday and Saturday, he’d take me to training and games, sit at the ground, pick me up, drop me back. He’s a very passionate supporter, sometimes hard on me too, but I think that’s where I get it from.”At 22, Sharafu is still very much work-in-progress, but he carries the confidence and drive of someone who has clarity on what he wants to do.

A Manchester City star who Pep Guardiola recently called “incredible” now wants to leave in the January transfer window, and a Premier League club have emerged as potential suitors.

Man City could be rocked by multiple departures this winter

The January transfer window is now less than a month away, but Guardiola has insisted it is “too early” to start thinking about potential additions to the squad, with a busy month ahead, as his side look to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

With the north Londoners being held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, following City’s 3-2 victory against Leeds United on Saturday, there is now a five-point gap, and the games are coming thick and fast, with Guardiola’s side set to play seven games this month, including a trip to Fulham tonight.

In truth, there are signs that some additions could be needed this winter, given that the Blues arguably aren’t the side they once were, having only managed to scrape past Leeds, after suffering back-to-back defeats against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Man City could also be rocked by a couple of departures, according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states James Trafford wants out just five months after moving to the Etihad Stadium, while fellow goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is also open to a move.

Trafford was originally told he would be joining as the new first-choice goalkeeper, but the former Burnley man has found game time hard to come by recently, with Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as the preferred option between the sticks.

The 23-year-old’s chances of going to the World Cup with England are under threat, with Thomas Tuchel only willing to take players receiving regular minutes, which means a January move would make sense, and Newcastle United are expected to make an approach.

"Incredible" Trafford needs to be playing consistently

Guardiola recently made it clear he is a big fan of the Englishman, saying: “With Trafford, I see the training sessions and for a long time I haven’t seen a goalkeeper as good as James. We have two incredible keepers.”

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Having equalled the record for clean sheets in a single season in English football during 2024-25, it is little wonder the £50k-a-week shot-stopper is eager to be playing consistently, particularly considering his chances of going to the World Cup are in jeopardy.

Guardiola’s side are in safe hands, with Donnarumma making a solid start to life at City, keeping six clean sheets in all competitions, while also ranking highly across some key metrics for goalkeepers over the past year.

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Goals against

0.89 (95th percentile)

Save %

50% (87th percentile)

Clean sheet percentage

35% (80th percentile)

Letting Trafford leave could be risky, given that the goalkeeper could be a quality back-up option for Donnarumma if the Italian were to get injured, but the Englishman is simply too good to play second fiddle, and City shouldn’t stand in his way this January.

Stokes faces both offspinners in floodlit nets session as England consider change to all-pace strategy

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Dec-2025

Around 20 punters watched England’s first evening net at the Gabba ahead of the day-night Ashes Test starting on Thursday.The outdoor facilities at this historic but ageing colosseum are the most amenable in the world for observers, offering a behind-the-batter view of what it’s like to face the fiercest bowlers going. There were plenty of eyes on the lane closest to Main Street, as Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson steamed in with the pink Kookaburra ball.But it was the net furthest away that had the most immediate interest ahead of the second Test. Both Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks were bowling their offspin to England captain Ben Stokes, duking it out for what seems, at this juncture, the last available spot in the XI.Related

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Mark Wood has been ruled out – England are optimistic his heavily strapped left knee will get adequate rest to ensure he is back in the mix for Adelaide – but the other 10 starters from the defeat in Perth are likely to be rolled out again.Josh Tongue is the most like-for-like replacement if the tourists want to repeat their all-pace attack from Perth. But they are understood to be trending more towards spin in their bid to come back from 1-0 down, with the expectation that the pink Kookaburra will soften earlier than the red one.The pair have had very different routes to these Ashes. Bashir has been the captain’s go-to spinner since a shock call-up to the India tour at the start of 2024, with 68 wickets in 19 caps to date. His traits – a high release-point, revs coming from over the top of the ball – were deemed better suited to Test pitches (particularly Australian ones) compared to traditional English, doorknob-turning finger spinners.Jacks, an allrounder, was the first conventional offspinner picked by Stokes, drafted on the tour of Pakistan in the winter of 2022 for his only two Test caps after developing as Surrey’s primary spin option. He took 6 for 161 in his first go on debut – the first Test at Rawalpindi – and showed his dexterity as a batter by slotting in at No. 3 in the second innings of the next Test in Multan to give Ollie Pope extra rest after keeping. That he is on this tour owes as much to his batting – destructive qualities, and comfort filling in any top six position – and his tall action and ambition with the ball.Bashir is understood to be the one in pole position, though it was Jacks who seemed to have the better of it on Monday night, before padding up. Nets can only tell you so much, of course. Stokes and the rest of England’s batters were focused on getting attuned to the shift from day to night, and then how the floodlights transformed the grass beneath their feet. They will have one more hit in similar conditions on Wednesday before they get going in their attempts to square the series.Visiting spinners have had very little success with the pink ball over here, collectively managing just 28 wickets at 64.03. Joe Root’s three in the Adelaide Test on the 2021-22 tour has him joint-second on that list (with Yasir Shah); Dawid Malan is joint-fourth with two picked up from that same game. R Ashwin sits top with six at 20.66.England would not be wrong to look at Nathan Lyon’s impressive record of 43 dismissals at 25.62 from his 13 day-night home Tests and surmise spin is a must. But they may take more meaningful notes from Kevin Sinclair’s cameo in Australia’s one and only pink ball defeat.That came here at the Gabba last year. Sinclair – also an offspinner – struck a vital 50 and then 14 not out, both from No. 7, in a tight eight-run win. He bowled just eight overs, all in Australia’s first innings which sandwiched his batting efforts, but was able to snare Usman Khawaja for 75. Replicating Sinclair’s impact rather than Lyon’s is a far easier task and would favour Jacks.It will be these cues from day-night affairs in Australia, and England’s own learnings from the seven they have played, that will continue to be disseminated among the group over the coming days. The entire top five played in England’s last pink-ball Test – against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in 2023 – but Jamie Smith, for instance, will be playing his first of any kind.”We’ve spoken with the guys who have played some pink-ball games, and had a look at some of the pink-ball games that have been played in Australia in the past four or five years,” Carse said. His only day-night match happened to be in this country for England Lions against Australia A at Melbourne in January 2020.”On an evening, it does seem to do a little bit more, especially if you have a slightly newer ball, which I’m sure we’ll take into consideration throughout the game. It’s going to be exciting. I’m expecting a massive crowd, a hostile crowd. The guys are really looking forward to it.”I think looking back at a couple of highlights of previous games played in Australia, it’s certainly very admirable how their new-ball bowling goes. You know, they strike early and I think that’s going to be important, whether that’s certain lines we’ll be bowling or maybe bowling a touch fuller to let it swing. They’ve played some really good cricket with a pink ball. So, yeah, I’d like to say that we’ve had a look at some of the stuff that they’ve done over the previous years.”

While he has made some mistakes, Mikel Arteta has got an awful lot right during his time in the Arsenal dugout.

The Spaniard has overseen a complete overhaul of the squad, instilled a new philosophy, and turned them from a fallen giant into serial challengers for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, there were plenty of moments early on in his managerial career when it felt like he was hanging onto the job by his fingertips, including a period in which Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe practically saved him.

Since then, the former has established himself as the club’s talisman, while the latter has fallen away and been sold to Fulham. Interestingly, there is a player in Arteta’s current squad who once felt like the next Saka but could now be closer to becoming the next Smith Rowe.

How Smith Rowe and Saka save Arteta

Even though the club were coming off their 14th FA Cup triumph, the start of the 20/21 season was nothing short of disastrous for Arsenal.

The North Londoners actually won their two opening games, against Fulham and West Ham United and even picked up a third win of the campaign in their fourth match.

However, the losses started coming thick and fast, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a single league game.

So, when Chelsea rocked up at the Emirates on Boxing Day, Arteta decided to roll the dice and start Smith Rowe in the ten, a decision that instantly paid off as the Gunners came out 3-1 winners and the youngster provided the assist for Saka’s goal.

From that point, results started to improve, and the two Hale Enders were crucial to that, with the midfielder racking up a tally of four goals and seven assists and the winger doing even better with seven goals and seven assists.

The duo continued to impress the following season, with Smith Rowe producing 13 goal involvements and the mercurial number seven producing 19.

However, a combination of injuries and the squad being strengthened around him saw the Croydon-born gem slowly lose his place in the side over the next two seasons.

Finally, after making just 14 appearances in the 22/23 season and then 19 the year after that, the Hale Ender was sold to Fulham for around £34m, while Saka went on to become arguably the team’s best player.

Interestingly, or perhaps unfortunately, there is currently a potential star in the making in Arteta’s squad today who at one point looked destined to follow in Saka’s footsteps, but might now be more likely to become the next Smith Rowe.

The Arsenal gem who could become the next Smith Rowe

It would be fair to say that, as seasons go, last year wasn’t a particularly enjoyable one for Arsenal fans.

Chalkboard

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

The club looked miles off in the title race and were beset with injuries to key players, only this time they didn’t have the squad depth they do today.

However, there were at least a few bright spots from the campaign, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri.

The youngster had long been a prospect fans were excited about; he became the youngest player in the Premier League, after all.

Yet, it was the injuries to Martin Odegaard and specifically Saka that meant he ended up getting far more first-team minutes than supporters were expecting, and to say he made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

For example, the often “unplayable” dynamo, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes.

In other words, the Hale End phenom averaged a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which helps to justify Joe Cole’s claim that “he’s the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”

It was these numbers, plus the moments of brilliance on the ball and his time out wide, that led many to see him as someone who could and probably would follow in the steps of Saka and become a key part of the squad in the coming years.

However, fast-forward to today, and it would be fair to describe his situation as more akin to Smith Rowe’s in his final seasons at the club.

For example, as things stand, the teenager has made just ten appearances for the first team, totalling 427 minutes.

Moreover, he’s started just three games all season, two of which came in the League Cup and another in the club’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague.

Worryingly, the Enfield-born gem has also only scored one goal and, like the Croydon-born star before him, has seen fresh competition arrive in the shape of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Appearances

10

Minutes

427′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.1

Minutes per Goal Involvement

427′

However, it is still early in the season, and while it’s clear that the manager isn’t as keen to pick the Hale Ender as he was last year, there is still plenty of time for things to change.

Therefore, so long as Nwaneri does get more game time across the rest of the campaign, he could still follow in Saka’s footsteps, but if he doesn’t, he could be another Smith Rowe.

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اعترف لاعب نادي توتنهام هوتسبير السابق، بأنه لا يشعر بأي تعاطف تجاه نجم نادي ليفربول، محمد صلاح، مبديًا توقعاته بشأن مستقبل الدولي المصري مع النادي الإنجليزي.

محمد صلاح تراجع مستواه بشكل كبير مع نادي ليفربول خلال هذا الموسم، وتلقى اللاعب انتقادات عديدة تزامنًا مع هبوط مردود الريدز نفسه.

وأدى سوء مستوى محمد صلاح إلى تواجده على مقاعد بدلاء ليفربول خلال آخر ثلاث مباريات بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وبقرار من المدير الفني آرني سلوت.

وانفجر محمد صلاح بعد قرارات سلوت، وأكد أن علاقته بالمدرب الهولندي قد انهارت، موضحًا أن إدارة ليفربول لم تنفذ وعودها له.

ورد سلوت على ما قاله محمد صلاح واستبعد اللاعب من مباراة ليفربول وإنتر ميلان بدوري أبطال أوروبا يوم أمس الثلاثاء، والتي فاز بها ليفربول بهدف دون رد.

ويرى تيم شيروود، لاعب نادي توتنهام السابق، أن محمد صلاح سيطلب الرحيل عن ليفربول خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وقال شيروود في تصريحات نقلها ”consent.yahoo.com”: “لا أشعر بأي تعاطف تجاه محمد صلاح، أعتقد أنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين الأجانب الذين شهدناهم في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ولا جدال في ذلك، أرقامه وأداؤه كانت مذهلة لكن الأمر كله يتعلق بمحمد صلاح”.

وأضاف شيروود في حديثه: “لو كان يورجن كلوب لا يزال في النادي، لكان قد دبر رحيل صلاح، لأنهم أجروا تغييرًا وكانوا يفوزون كل أسبوع في الموسم الماضي مع آرني سلوت، فقد قدم موسمًا رائعًا”.

وأوضح: ”هل ستمنحه عقدًا جديدًا؟ لست متأكدًا من أن ليفربول كان راضيًا تمامًا، لكنهم فعلوا”.

طالع .. لويس دياز ينهال بالمديح على محمد صلاح: ترك بصمة عميقة في نفسي

وأردف شيروود في تصريحاته عن محمد صلاح: “يدرك ليفربول تمامًا أن قيمته ستظل مرتفعة للغاية، خاصةً في الدوري السعودي للمحترفين وأرى أن هذا هو خياره”.

وتابع: “لماذا أعلن رغبته في الانتقال الآن؟ أعتقد أنه أعلن رغبته في الانتقال الآن بعد كأس الأمم الإفريقية، الأمر يتعلق برغبته في مغادرة النادي الآن”.

وواصل شيروود في حديثه عن محمد صلاح: “بصفتك مديرًا فنيًا، ليس هدفك أن تكون محبوبًا لكن يجب أن تحظى بالاحترام، وعليه أن يدرك أن سلوت هو المدرب، وأن وظيفته مليئة بالضغوط خاصةً في ظل ظروف هذا الموسم، سواءً كان السبب هو وصول اللاعبون الجدد أو وفاة ديوجو جوتا، فقد كان موسمًا سيئًا”.

واستكمل: “آرني سلوت يختار التشكيلة فقط لأنه يعتقد أنها قادرة على الفوز بالمباراة، في رأيي ليس لديه أي ضغينة شخصية ضد محمد صلاح، لو كان صلاح يقدم أفضل ما لديه ولم تكن لديه الخيارات الأخرى التي دفع ليفربول مبالغ طائلة لضمها، لكان لا يزال ضمن التشكيلة الأساسية”.

واستطرد شيروود: “يريد سلوت إجراء تغيير في التشكيلة بما يخدم مصلحة النادي وليس مصلحة محمد صلاح، صلاح لا يفكر في النادي أولًا بل يفكر في نفسه أولًا، النادي دائمًا أهم من أي فرد”.

واختتم شيروود في تصريحاته عن محمد صلاح: “من المؤسف رؤية هذا وسيؤثر سلبًا على إرثه، لن يدمر ذلك الأمر، لأنه لاعب عبقري وما زلت أعتقد أن لديه الكثير ليقدمه، لكنني أعتقد أنه يحاول المضي قدماً حتى يتمكن من الرحيل في يناير، وإلا لما كان قد تحدث”.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has seen all the chatter online about him being “asleep on the job” this offseason since New York hasn’t made a big move yet. At least not the moves fans are really hoping for—like bringing back Cody Bellinger or signing Kyle Tucker, for example.

Cashman poked fun at himself by creating the “meme”—a word he hilariously pronounced incorrectly—when he participated in the Covenant House Sleep Out in New York on Thursday night. As he cuddled up on the ground in a sleeping bag, this is what he told reporters:

“You know this is a meme about how Brian Cashman’s asleep on the job and not doing his job, ‘cause I’ve seen that all over social media.”

Don’t worry, Yankees fans. Cashman also shared with reporters on Thursday that he’s making strides to figure out the moves the team wants to make this offseason. He’s already started conversations about Bellinger and Tucker, and he’s spoken with other teams about other moves. Apart from Tucker, he’s also started talks about bringing back Paul Goldschmidt and potentially acquiring Michael King and Kyle Schwarber this offseason. He’s not totally sleeping on the job.

MatériaMais Notícias

A busca do Cruzeiro por reforços começou. Classificada para a próxima fase da Sul-Americana, a Raposa, agora com seu futebol sob a tutela de Alexandre Mattos, traça a linha na procura de novos nomes. Os dois primeiros são Kaio Jorge e Matheus Henrique, que jogam no Frosinone e no Sassuolo, ambos da Itália. Confira as informações!

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Kaio Jorge

No caso do atacante de 22 anos, a proposta é de compra. Confiante, o Cruzeiro propôs cerca de R$4 milhões de euros à Juventus pelo jogador, que passou a temporada emprestado ao Frosinone. Rebaixado para a Série B da Itália, Kaio atuou em 22 jogos, marcando três gols e dando uma assistência. Revelado pelo Santos, o atacante está na Terra da Bota desde 2020.

Matheus Henrique

Outro também rebaixado na Itália é Matheus Henrique, que atuou na Sassuolo nesta temporada. Revelado pelo Grêmio, o jogador interessa ao Cruzeiro e não deve permanecer na Itália. Em relação aos valores, o time mineiro tentará, primeiramente, um empréstimo com obrigação de compra, necessitando de compensação financeira aos italianos.

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Though Australia have made day-night Tests work, conditions, dew and the pink ball’s inconsistent movement continue to limit the format’s wider appeal

Andrew McGlashan02-Dec-20257:36

Are England prepared for Brisbane pink-ball challenge?

Ten years ago last week, Martin Guptill faced up against Mitchell Starc at Adelaide Oval for the first ball in day-night Test. What played out was a gripping, low-scoring encounter, including a dose controversy, which Australia won by three wickets. The crowds flocked in, and TV ratings were huge.Seen as a way to boost attendance and attractive to broadcasters, day-night Tests had been an evolution talked about since the early 2000s. There had been a plan to stage a 2010 Test between England and Bangladesh under lights at Lord’s but it would take another five years of negotiations and domestic trials for it to come to fruition. An AU$1 million bonus helped sweeten the deal when Australia and New Zealand took the field.James Sutherland, the former Cricket Australia CEO, had been one of the catalysts behind bringing day-night Tests to life. When India declined a pink-ball Test on the 2018-19 tour, citing the fact they had yet to play any, he said: “It’s the way of the future and India may or may not come around to that idea for this tour but I still believe it’s the way of the future. I think everyone in world cricket knows that.”Related

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India have since played five, including two in Adelaide, but the upcoming pink-ball Test at the Gabba will be just the 24th in the men’s game overall, of which more than half (13) have been staged in Australia. While Brisbane is the venue this week, Adelaide Oval has become the ‘home’ of the pink-ball Test. It remains a central part of the Australian cricket calendar, but the format hasn’t changed the game globally the way that may have first been envisaged.”In Australia, why it works is we have great weather at this time of year in the summer, with world-class stadiums and facilities and excellent flood lighting,” Joel Morrison, Executive General Manager, Events & Operations at Cricket Australia told ESPNcricinfo. “And ultimately there’s been significant investment over a long period of time in optimising the pink ball and the wickets to best support the day-night format in Australian conditions.”I think the fact that it is now a staple of the Australian summer means that people know there is always a day-night Test match being played, so they can rely upon that when we’re playing at home. Then just the unique nature of Test cricket under lights, there’s something quite special about seeing players in whites under lights with big crowds and the pink ball. It really just gives a great point of difference to the game and is a great example of how the game of Test cricket over its history has continued to evolve and it’s quite a unique spectacle.””So those elements coming together mean we’ve got a recipe that works very effectively in Australian conditions. We see big crowds turning up to because they’re more accessible, and it is also validated by a strong viewership for those games, which helps promote Test cricket.”

Why day-night Tests haven’t worked

What has become clear over the years is that you need a particular set of conditions to come together to make for an ideal day-night scenario: limited impact from dew, a pitch that helps the pink ball – which has been an ongoing challenge to perfect – retain a degree of hardness for longer, but does not combine to make conditions unplayable, and a climate that provides reasonable assurance of warm evenings.England staged one game in 2017 against West Indies at Edgbaston where the night sessions were cold (a British summer doesn’t guarantee warmth) and the crowd had thinned out by the end. Writing in his column, Alastair Cook, who made 243 in that match, also said the longer twilight in the UK, with the sun setting late on summer nights, extended the period where the ball dominated.Alastair Cook drives in the evening sunlight at Edgbaston during the pink-ball Test•Getty ImagesSouth Africa tried one in 2017 against Zimbabwe which ended in two days. For a period after that the country’s challenging power situation – which often involved load-shedding – made it impractical. It’s uncertain if they will revisit it.In India, the dew was an issue, and concerns over the ball. Sri Lanka’s three main Test grounds – SSC, P Sara and Galle – don’t have lights (although the SSC soon will) and Pallekele is too wet for parts of the year. Pakistan were keen on them in the UAE but have not explored it since bringing international cricket back home.Having been part of the first, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) were initially keen but have only hosted two, the first of which saw England bowled out for 58 inside the first session. Not all their boutique venues have lights. In West Indies, which had initially been thought of as a prime market, the pink Dukes ball has swayed things too far in the way of the bowlers.Former England captain Michael Atherton sat on the MCC World Cricket Committee when the day-night format was initially being discussed. “The whole point was to play them in places where the crowds are struggling somewhere like, say Bridgetown where Test crowds have not been great, but it goes dark early, it’s warm and it’s obvious you can play and get people in after work,” he said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. “This Ashes Test at the Gabba would be sold out anyway and the notion that they are going to play that 150th Test anniversary Test [between Australia and England] in 2027 under lights is complete nonsense.”

“This Ashes Test at the Gabba would be sold out anyway and the notion that they are going to play that 150th Test anniversary Test [between Australia and England] in 2027 under lights is a complete nonsense.”Atherton

The point about whether the Ashes series a day-night Test was brought up by Joe Root this week. For Australia’s players, even those who hold some reservations, it has just become part of the summer. Having a match every season has naturally meant they have been able to adjust.”I mean, would I prefer to play red ball over pink ball? Probably,” Marnus Labuschagne, the leading run-scorer in pink-ball Test cricket, said. “Just because you play it more, you’re used to the colour of the ball. There’s a few intricate things about the pink ball that make it a bit of a different game. But I think as with anything when it first came along everyone was like, no we just want red ball, [but] it’s become something that traditionally Australia have been very good at.”

A bowlers’ game, but not always

Leading into this Test in Brisbane, Stuart Broad, who played in seven day-night Tests was concerned it could become a “lottery.” There has not been a single draw in day-night Test cricket. The average length of a match has been approximately 264 overs. For comparison, the average length of a result red-ball Test in the last ten years has been approximately 300 overs, so the difference isn’t vast. In Australia it narrows even more: 287 overs vs 309.There have been some Tests on the extreme shorter end of the scale: India beat England in two days in Ahmedabad when the spinners proved unstoppable. Root claimed 5 for 8 and Axar Patel skidded the ball through the visitors. As previously mentioned, South Africa dismantled Zimbabwe in quick time in Gqeberha. More recently, West Indies were rolled for 27 by Starc and Scott Boland in Jamaica, a match that used the pink Dukes ball, perhaps for the final time.But for all the focus on the ball in day-night Tests, which now has a black seam rather than a white one, the pitch plays a decisive role and runs have been possible: David Warner and Azhar Ali have scored triple centuries. Naturally, the individual statistics are heavily weighted towards Australians. Labuschagne has made 958 runs at 63.86 with four centuries.Mitchell Starc has 81 wickets with the pink ball at 17.08•Getty Images”I don’t really know why my record has been good against a pink ball, but it’s something that I have enjoyed,” he said. “It’s obviously got its challenges because it provides so much opportunity at different times. You have to change your game, you have to adapt and there’s certain times where there’s a bit of [a lull] and then there’s certain times where the game speeds up.”Starc is the king of the format with the ball having claimed 81 wickets at 17.08 including 6 for 9 in his last outing in Jamaica. There is some irony to that given Starc was strongly opposed to the format when it began, although he has mellowed somewhat these days. “It’s good for the record,” he joked at Sabina Park.”You don’t want to overdo what it is,” he added after the extraordinary haul in his 100th Test. “I think it’s a great product in Adelaide. I think there’s a spot for it. You just look at how it’s been picked up by Adelaide and the public there. It’s certainly a fantastic week to be a part of there when it’s a pink-ball test. It’s not this year. I’m still a traditionalist, so I still very much love the red-ball game. I’ve grown to see a place for it in the calendar.”Alongside the format’s inaugural outing in Adelaide, two of the closest Tests have come at the Gabba. In 2016-17, Pakistan were within touching distance of chasing down a world-record 490 thanks to a magnificent fourth-innings century from Asad Shafiq and a surface that knocked the life out of the ball. Then two seasons ago, West Indies pulled off an eight-run heist when Shamar Joseph tore through Australia.Whether this week’s match can produce a finish to match either of those remains to be seen but, while a decade on Australia remains a bastion for the format, it feels like the prospects of the day-night game being revolutionary for the Test cricket have passed.