Tag Futebol

Expect the players who did well at the 50-over World Cup recently to go for large amounts. Never mind that recency bias is at play

Matt Roller17-Dec-2023On Tuesday, an allrounder who averages 16 with the bat and 27 with the ball across his 53 professional T20 matches will be bought by an IPL team for the first time in his young career.A top-order batter will also be sold, picking up his first contract since 2017 despite a record of a single T20 half-century in the last three years, and a strike rate of 126 in that time.And a fast bowler who has not played a T20 international for 14 months will spark a bidding war so fierce that he could become the best-paid player in the league’s history.All of the players in question – Rachin Ravindra, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc – have modest recent T20 records. Yet auction insiders expect them to attract substantial interest between the ten franchises: they could fetch something in the region of Rs 35 crore (US$4.2m approximately) between them. Those involved in the auction in Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena will not be surprised to see them sell for huge sums.For the second successive year, this IPL auction takes place immediately after a World Cup: the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, and the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Last year, franchises had to consider how much stock they should put by performances in conditions different to those found in the IPL; this year, they must take the change in format into account.Recent precedent suggests there will be a premium rate for players who thrived at the World Cup. Last December, Punjab Kings spent Rs 18.5 ($2.2m) crore to secure the services of Sam Curran, hoping he could replicate his Player-of-the-Tournament feats for England when he arrived in India the following year. Curran had a middling IPL record to that point, but starred in the World Cup in Australia – not least in a new role as a death bowler.In practice, Curran’s performances for Punjab in 2023 were merely an extension of what had come before in the IPL. Perhaps his natural length and his variations were better suited to the bigger grounds in Australia; perhaps he had simply been in better form at the World Cup than he was four months later. Either way, it was hard to avoid the conclusion that Punjab had overpaid.The phenomenon is not exclusive to cricket: in football, major international tournaments typically take place immediately before a transfer window, with a similar effect. While the dynamics of recruitment are different between club football’s open market and the IPL’s auction, in both cases, performances at a World Cup are often overvalued.Research by Twenty First Group, a London-based sports consultancy, has found that players who score at least one goal at a football World Cup sell for around 20% more than their expected value in the subsequent transfer window. “Scouts, owners and CEOs at top clubs might not be watching the average game in the Austrian Bundesliga,” says Omar Chaudhuri, the company’s chief intelligence officer. “They’re definitely watching the World Cup.”In 2014, Colombia’s James Rodríguez won the Golden Boot at the World Cup after scoring six times, but struggled to replicate that form in club football after moving from AS Monaco to Real Madrid for €75m (about $81m). Earlier this year, Chelsea spent €121m ($131m) on Argentina’s Enzo Fernández, after his impressive 2022 World Cup performances – a sum estimated to be more than double his market value by the website Transfermarkt, and one he is yet to justify.Sam Curran was bought for over $2 million in the auction before the 2023 IPL on the strength of what he did in the T20 World Cup, but he didn’t exactly set the league on fire, making 276 runs and taking ten wickets across 14 games•Associated Press”There are market dynamics that sit behind those fees,” Chaudhuri says. “But clearly, playing well on that stage ramps up the price. For most football fans, the World Cup is the pinnacle, but it’s not necessarily the highest-quality competition. Look at some of the teams in the 2022 World Cup – performances against them aren’t necessarily the best basis to make a decision on a player’s ability.”The single most important concept in recruitment in any sport is the idea that the output that you’ve seen isn’t necessarily true to what is likely to happen in the future: recruitment experts try to establish the mean level of performance that a player will regress towards,” Chaudhuri says. World Cups alone do not provide clubs with sufficient information to do so.The parallels across sports are obvious, even if a smaller number of teams at cricket’s World Cups means that talent is more concentrated. If anything, Chaudhuri suggests, the premium on World Cup performances might be greater in cricket than in football, given the latter is a team sport that allows individuals great scope to dominate games.That is not to say that franchises should disregard World Cup performances altogether ahead of Tuesday’s auction. Clearly, Ravindra’s success against some of the world’s best bowlers in Indian conditions points to a young player with immense potential, and one far better than his statistics from New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition might suggest. Recruitment is never as simple as plugging numbers into an algorithm.But throughout the IPL’s 16-season history, teams have fallen victim to recency bias at the auction table, picking based on what they have seen in the immediate build-up rather than making a holistic assessment of players to predict how they will fare in a specific role in their side. Does Head’s recent success opening for Australia in 50-over cricket make him a viable No. 4 for an IPL franchise?In fact, Chaudhuri suggests, the smart play for franchises might be to sign a player who at the World Cup. “Say Jos Buttler was up for auction: his price would probably be depressed because he’s not been playing well recently. But what are the odds of that rut persisting over a 14-game IPL season in the spring? You might take your chances on him coming out of it.”Ravindra, Head and Starc are all exceptional cricketers, and there is every chance that one of them will prove to be the missing link that a team needs to secure the title in IPL 2024. But franchise owners, beware: the World Cup effect means they will come at a substantial cost.

The allrounder has returned to international cricket a dominant force with bat and ball

Andrew McGlashan02-Mar-2022A little under a year ago, Tahlia McGrath was part of Australia’s tour of New Zealand and did not get a game. Now, she returns for the ODI World Cup as an integral part of the team after a breakout home season that saw her win Player of the Series awards against India and England.It has been a remarkable return to the side for McGrath. She had played just once for Australia between October 2017 and September 2021 – an ODI against New Zealand in 2020 where 29 off 11 balls gave a glimpse of the cricketer she was becoming.Related

Tammy Beaumont: 'We're still the holders of the World Cup. Write us off at your peril'

The summer of Tahlia McGrath and enviable depth

Over the course of this season, she has yet to earn a T20I average after three match-winning, unbeaten innings, she has scored a maiden Test half-century, and, most significantly with what is approaching across the Tasman, was a regular contributor with bat and ball in the ODIs including a superb 74 against India in Mackay when Australia had been 52 for 4 chasing 275.”Looking back, it was probably the innings that started my whole summer,” McGrath reflected as she spoke to ESPNcricinfo ahead of the World Cup. “When I walked out to the crease I was strangely relaxed and just went about my business from ball one. Being able to go out there and play the way that I know that I’ve been capable of playing, that had a flow-on effect to my overall confidence for the rest of the whole Big Bash and Ashes. At the time, I probably didn’t realise the significance that it had on the rest of my season, but it was very important in the way that things played out.”For McGrath, her goal at the start of the season was to secure a regular place back in the XI. Yet, by the latter part of the summer, her success in the T20I side played no small part in Ellyse Perry being sidelined in that format and there was little doubt she was among the best XI in ODIs.”It’s been a crazy season,” she said. “Loved every second of it and it’s been really nice to play some good cricket as a team and individually as well. I’m always someone that likes to set myself goals and my biggest motivator at the start of the season was making my way back into the teams.”What happened from there has well and truly exceeded my expectations, I never would have imagined what has happened.”

“This [World Cup] is a tournament that I flagged probably about two years ago that I was really wanting to be a part of. I think it’s my best format. I haven’t been part of a World Cup before, have been so close quite a few times, so this is one I’ve had in by diary for a while”Tahlia McGrath

In many ways, McGrath is a prime example of what makes Australian cricket so strong. She had her first taste of international cricket in 2016 and, though she made 47 on Test debut against England, it was a relatively short-lived stay which then followed a battle with back injuries that led to her having to rebuild her bowling.But there was a setup in place to help her and a strong domestic structure where she was able to grow her game while keeping her connected to the national scene around Australia A.”We’re really lucky in Australia, with the domestic setup we have, the fact that we can train all year round and play in competitions like the Big Bash,” she said. “I was lucky enough to be part of the NPS [national performance squad] and travel to a few countries with the ‘A’ team. Even when you’re not playing in the Australian team, you can chip away at your game and get some really valuable experience.”I think that’s part of why there’s so much depth in Australian cricket and we saw that in the Ashes. When we looked at the players in the Aussie A side, you think ‘wow, there is serious talent there’ and it certainly keeps you on your toes.”McGrath has returned with her skills enhanced, but also a refreshed mental approach to the game, which includes extensive use of a sports phycologist and a move into leadership roles at the domestic level.”When we looked at the players in the Aussie A side, you think ‘wow, there is serious talent there’ and it certainly keeps you on your toes”•Getty Images”The initial call-up to the Australian side came out of blue, and if I look back now, I think I just lacked that self confidence, that self-belief,” she said. “That was probably a contributing factor to the fact that it was a bit of a brief stint initially, and a few unlucky injuries and things along the way. I’ve certainly come a long way in terms of my overall self-belief, that’s for sure.”I found it hard if I had a bad game to sort of park that and move aside, so I have certainly grown a lot over the last four or five years, that’s for sure. Once you’ve had a taste of [international cricket] it’s the place I wanted to be. I gave it everything to get back and the hard work is starting to pay off.”She believes the forays into leadership – which has seen her form a close relationship with former Australia captain Belinda Clark – has aided her own game, but it was not a path she would not have envisaged taking.”I would have never seen myself as a leader and it was never something that I thought about,” she said. “Then a few opportunities popped up through some [South Australia] Scorpions stuff and Australia A. Caught me by surprise, and I found enjoyment from it, especially leading the [Adelaide] Strikers last year was an experienced I absolutely loved.”I think it has probably had a positive effect on my cricketing ability as well… that’s had the flow-on effect to my on-field performance with my overall confidence, getting me outside of my comfort zone and just believing that I belong to this level.”This [World Cup] is a tournament that I flagged probably about two years ago that I was really wanting to be a part of. I think it’s my best format. I haven’t been part of a World Cup before, have been so close quite a few times, so this is one I’ve had in by diary for a while.”

Both teams had equal support as the Champions Trophy arrived at Gaddafi Stadium and England seemed like they had killed off the game, but who could ever really bet against Australia?

Danyal Rasool22-Feb-20252:04

Agar: Inglis controlled the innings, the rest could bat around him

The crowd had left their seats, preparing to head out. It had been a long day, and they had seen by far the best game of the tournament. They pooled up at the front of the stands; perhaps they’d catch one more over. And then Alex Carey clothed one to mid-off. Glenn Maxwell was coming in, so they couldn’t leave before giving him the biggest cheer of the evening and watching a little show.Mark Wood came straight into the attack, the tournament’s fastest bowler who had bowled England’s quickest-ever opening ODI spell at the top of the innings. This, perhaps, was the contest distilled to its most electric – matchwinner pitted against matchwinner, the outcome of this mini-context potentially decisive to the larger result.Wood set three men on the rope on the leg side, including a square leg, for the first ball to Maxwell. For someone who had bowled more balls in excess of 150kph than anyone else in this tournament combined, it didn’t take a great deal of imagination to work out what he was threatening. Instead, he went full. But Maxwell doesn’t need time at the crease to recognise a bluff when he sees one. He latched onto it, pummeling it through the cover region left vacant to lend credibility to that bluff. Four.There was no pretense for the next ball as Wood arrowed it in search of the yorker, but once more, Maxwell wasn’t backing down. He lifted this one over mid-on. Four more. The crowd didn’t move, not even to go back to their seats. Lahore’s post-match traffic may be a nightmare to deal with, but missing any of this would be worse.

****

Every seat at the Gaddafi was sold out for this game, and yet it was never quite clear what the people wanted. There is veneration in Pakistan for Australia’s relentless assault on the biggest trophies, while England’s white-ball revolution over the past decade has brought with it a new generation of young fans, especially as the country is one of the biggest exporters of talent to the Pakistan Super League.Related

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• Duckett delivers but England fall flat again to put tournament on the line

By the time the game drew near its enthralling finale, though, the overwhelming sense that gripped this ground was one of inevitability. The stadium may not have held an ICC event for the best part of 30 years; indeed, the last such game at this ground was perhaps the last of an era where an Australian triumph on these occasions wasn’t fait accompli.A lot has happened in the three decades since, and plenty of it has happened to this crowd. As Australia clawed their way back into a game England thought they had finished off, no one would have felt surer of an Australian win than those gathered around this venue.It was Australia that came in with an attack that was part Sheffield Shield part Big Bash League; it would be something of a mathematical violation to maintain the whole added up to an ODI bowling unit. It was their best bowler – Adam Zampa – who Ben Duckett had thoroughly bested, plundering 50 off the 36 balls he faced en route a Champions Trophy record 165, leaving Australia comprehensively deprived of wicket-taking options.Josh Inglis’ innings was laden with boundaries•Associated PressWhen, in defence of 351, Wood and Jofra Archer breathed early fire to send back Australia’s most explosive batter and their best one in quick succession, the remainder of the game threatened to become an English victory procession. They even did what Australia couldn’t in the middle overs, spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone combining to remove Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short, who had built up a sneakily menacing 95-run stand which kept Australia in touch with the asking rate. Now, alongside Carey, it was all up to Josh Inglis, ODI average a tick above 23.However, Australia follow a strategy of personal incredulity in these events, as if Real Madrid had suddenly descended on a cricket field and dyed their kit canary yellow. For this side, there isn’t so much regression to the mean as there is eternal servitude to history, where past success guarantees future triumph. Two overs after that double-blow, Carey lifted Livingstone – one of England’s two compromise bowlers, the price they were paying for an extra batter – for two boundaries, and at the halfway mark Australia were just ten runs behind England at the same stage. The game entered a tug of war as England, still notionally with the upper hand, remained content as long as the floodgates didn’t open.But with wickets suddenly drying up, Australia were always destined to be in control of the final sprint. England had done exceptionally well not to let their middle overs with the bat – a recent Achilles heel – derail their innings, prioritising wicket preservation while milking the middle overs. ODI sides have averaged 151 dot balls in full innings since the 2023 World Cup, or just over half their full quota. For England, this was down to just 107, a near 15% drop. However, they had not made the most of the platform they constructed, only 83 coming off the final ten overs even as Australia turned to their fifth and sixth bowlers at the death; Labuschagne bowled two of the last three overs.Glenn Maxwell helped add the finished touches•Associated PressSo, by that time the crowd were stealing a few late peeks at Maxwell against Wood, they stood not to see an outcome decided, but an inevitable heist completed. The following over, Inglis slapped Brydon Carse for one six before scooping him for another, and he whacked an Archer slower ball into the Imtiaz Ahmed Stand at midwicket three balls later to bring up his hundred. Maxwell, now primed against Wood, whacked him for another six and a four; he would finish with 31 off 11 balls from Wood and Archer. The coup de grace came from Inglis, of course, a six off Wood when just two were needed; he had added almost a fifth of his runs tally built up over 28 ODIs across one Lahore evening. The last 70 runs of the chase had taken just 33 balls.It was only after that final Inglis blow that Gaddafi Stadium, in unison, turned around and began to walk away. It remained impossible to say if this was the outcome they wanted; St George’s Cross and the Southern Cross had been seen in equal measure in the stands. But even as the foe that has dealt them more pain than any other inaugurated their gleaming new stadium by laying their dreaded hex on it, they had smiles on their faces. It felt much nicer when it was happening to someone else.

Athletes motivate themselves in a variety of different ways. Some use the criticisms of others as fuel for the fire. Others take a more positive route. Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki may have found one of the most unique—and dramatic—ways of motivating himself. Suzuki has two motivational sayings on his glove, written in Japanese, that are amusingly over-the-top, and apparently designed to help him field better.

"…I asked him about it. One said, 'Absolutely catch it.' The other said, 'If you make another error, you'll be fired,' " reported Marquee Sports Network's Taylor McGregor during the Cubs' 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

So why did Suzuki resort to such, er, drastic measures to motivate himself?

"This year he put them on his glove because he made some errors last year," McGregor continued. "He had three in the outfield. And so he goes, 'Over the course of a long season, certain moments you're not locked in and that one moment, that could make or break a play.' "

Maybe there's a method to the madness when it comes to Suzuki's quirky motivational tactic? The Cubs outfielder has played over 180 innings—and counting—in the outfield thus far in 2025 and has yet to be charged with an error.

Dramatic motivation for the win!

The Premier League is finally back tomorrow, and Arsenal continue their campaign with the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.

However, it could be a more challenging game than last year, as even with Martin Odegaard back in training, Mikel Arteta’s side could be without several key players.

The manager wouldn’t say whether the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Martinelli were back in contention, for example, but one player who is sure to be out is Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian centre-back is set to be out for at least a few weeks, and while that’s a massive blow, the solution could be to move another defender into a different position.

Arsenal's record against Spurs

Arsenal’s game against Spurs on Sunday afternoon will be the 212th competitive meeting between the rivals.

Chalkboard

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

Their first encounter came all the way back in November 1896, when the Gunners were still south of the River, and ended in a 2-1 Arsenal victory.

Since then, while the Lilywhites have had periods of dominance, it’s the red side of North London that have had the better of the rivalry, winning 89 games, drawing 55 and losing 67.

Unsurprisingly, Arteta’s side have been even more dominant than that in recent years, losing just two of the last ten meetings, drawing one and winning the other seven.

Moreover, the title chasers are undefeated in their last six games against their old enemy and, despite being in a spot of bother form-wise at the time, won the most recent meeting 2-1.

What makes that win all the more impressive is that Son Heung-min actually opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute.

However, Arsenal were back in front just 19 minutes later, thanks to a Dominic Solanke own goal and a brilliant effort from Leandro Trossard.

With all that said, even though Arteta has consistently gotten the better of Spurs, the game on Sunday will be a tough one, but he might already have a solution to Gabriel’s injury.

Arteta's solution to Gabriel's injury

The good news for Arsenal is that there are a few ways Arteta can go about replacing Gabriel.

For example, he could bring Cristhian Mosquera back into the side, play Ben White there or even hand a start to Piero Hincapie.

However, the former is right-footed, White hasn’t played at centre-back in a long time, and the Ecuadorian is still unproven in this team, so throwing him into a derby might be unwise.

Therefore, while it might not be the most popular decision, Arteta should move Riccardo Calafiori from left-back into the Brazilian’s position.

Now, there are a few reasons for this, and the first is that, like the injured star, the Italian international is left-footed, and while that might not seem all that important at first, it really is.

It gives the defence some real balance and makes it easier for him to play out from the back when going up the left-hand side of the pitch.

The second reason the dynamic defender should be moved into the back two is that he’s already got plenty of experience playing there.

For example, during his time with Bologna, he made 29 appearances at centre-back and only six as a full-back. Moreover, during pre-season, he once again played there when Gabriel was out with the injury he picked up against Fulham last season.

Finally, the 23-year-old “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, has already played plenty of football this season, so he should be far more familiar with the tactics than one of the other options. And while he did return early from international duty, there is a good chance he is ready to play.

Ultimately, while Arteta has several options to replace Gabriel on Sunday, he should go with the £120k-per-week Calafiori.

Arsenal handed another injury doubt for Tottenham clash after twist and Gabriel blow

It could see the recall of an exciting talent.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 21, 2025

Southampton chiefs have made a new manager decision which involves current interim boss Tonda Eckert.

Eckert looking to make it three wins in a row for Southampton

Following the sacking of Will Still at the beginning of the month, the Saints and Sport Republic are yet to appoint a new permanent manager.

A number of candidates have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, with Eckert impressing on a temporary basis, winning back-to-back Championship games to steer the club clear of the bottom three.

With the international break now finished, attention once again turns back to club action, with Southampton set to travel to Charlton Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.

As we know, the Saints are no closer to appointing Still’s long-term successor, meaning Eckert looks set to be given the chance to make it three victories in a row.

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He has impressed Saints star Finn Azaz, who scored last time out against Sheffield Wednesday, with the summer signing calling Eckert “top level”.

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

Now, a fresh manager update has emerged from St Mary’s ahead of the trip to The Valley.

Southampton to give Eckert next three games

According to sources from Give Me Sport and reliable reporter Ben Jacobs, Sport Republic have decided that Eckert is set to take charge of Southampton’s next three Championship fixtures.

Charlton Athletic vs Southampton

22nd November

Southampton vs Leicester City

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Millwall vs Southampton

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It is stated that the 32-year-old is not guaranteed to be given the job on a permanent basis just yet. However, if Southampton’s games against Charlton, Leicester and Millwall go to plan, Eckert could become a genuine contender.

Radio Solent’s Sports Editor Adam Blackmore even admitted recently that Eckert was always on the radar to be promoted and replace Still as Southampton manager, although it wasn’t supposed to come this early.

“Saints have spoken to candidates, but they can afford to be patient with Eckert’s good start, and it allows them time to see the market develop.

“Eckert was always Johannes Spors’ succession policy after Will. It just wasn’t supposed to be after months! So it’s highly unlikely anything imminent occurs either way …..like I said about Will, it would be a risky appointment giving it to Eckert …but if he wins 5 out of 5? Hard not to!”

The early signs are positive, and another three points on the weekend will only strengthen Eckert’s claim to be named Southampton’s next full-time manager.

Southampton told to appoint new manager over Eckert who "ticks every box"

Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters will already be fearing the worst regarding their side’s bottom-of-the-table position in the Premier League.

Only a sorry two points have been accumulated so far this season, with the Old Gold hierarchy ultimately left with no choice but to sack Vitor Pereira, after Wolves slipped to their disastrous eighth loss of the campaign already away at Fulham on Saturday.

Now, the hunt is on to appoint a miracle worker in the West Midlands, who can turn around this awful start, with a whole host of names being tipped to take on the vacancy.

The latest on Wolves' hunt for a new manager

The only certainty at the moment is that Gary O’Neil will not be re-entering the Molineux dug-out.

Indeed, rumours had begun to circulate that O’Neil was the favourite to take over from Pereira and return in dramatic circumstances. But, the ex-AFC Bournemouth head coach has since withdrawn himself from the race, after holding advanced talks.

Moreover, Michael Carrick is also on Wolves’ radar, with the former Middlesbrough manager still looking for work after being let go by Boro.

With three caretaker matches in charge of Manchester United also under his belt, he could potentially relish the chance of being a saviour for Wolves in the top division.

Carrick’s replacement at the Riverside Stadium in Rob Edwards is also high up the alleged priority list, having previously lined up for Wolves as a player, before earning his managerial stripes at Luton Town and beyond.

Yet, the most out-there name being linked to the Wolves vacancy right now could be viewed as Erik ten Hag, with reports from ESPN indicating that the Dutchman is ‘interested’ in holding talks with the Molineux outfit over the vacant job.

It’s stated that Ten Hag would like to return to the Premier League after his torrid spell at Manchester United, having had his already tattered managerial reputation put through the wringer again when axed three games into his Bayer Leverkusen stint this season.

Still, even with his back-to-back failures hanging over him, ten Hag has been a success in his career elsewhere, as Wolves potentially prepare to welcome a new Nuno Espirito Santo-style figure to Molineux.

How Ten Hag can be Wolves' new Nuno Santo

Despite his sketchy recent track record, the ex-Ajax manager would also be seen as an upgrade on O’Neil walking through the door.

Indeed, despite being the butt of many a Red Devils joke by the time of his dismissal, the 55-year-old guided United to 44 top-flight wins from his 85 games in charge. O’Neil has only 25 league wins next to his name on the contrary.

With other high-profile managers also struggling to get a tune out of the Premier League giants, since he left the Theatre of Dreams, it’s clear the problems run far deeper in Manchester than just who occupies the stressful dug-out.

Nuno has also been up against it in the top division since exiting Wolves, with spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest not exactly going to plan. But, having overseen 73 wins in charge of the Old Gold in the top-flight, he is still heralded as one of the finest bosses they have possessed in the elite division in recent memory.

Despite his wobbles, Ten Hag will hope he will be seen as a similarly ambitious appointment, like when Nuno entered the Wolves dug-out in the Championship after successful stints in La Liga and Liga Portugal, when taking in his glittering managerial numbers above.

The unemployed boss collected three Eredivisie titles as manager of Ajax, with a Champions League semi-final run also being spearheaded by the Dutchman, who has been noted as being a “world-class” operator by his former United midfielder in Fred.

An FA Cup success also came his way during his hot-and-cold reign in Manchester, as the 55-year-old attempts to become a much-loved name at Molineux by steering Wolves away from certain relegation.

If he pulls that unbelievable feat off, he will definitely be seen as the second coming of Nuno – with Ten Hag also regularly setting his teams up in the Portuguese’s preferred 4-2-3-1 make-up – as another bold coup of an appointment potentially goes down a treat.

After all, landing Ten Hag would surely be seen as a more exciting development than retreading old ground with O’Neil.

Wolves want Rob Edwards after Gary O'Neil snub, timeline of appointment revealed

Is the former Luton Town boss the right man for the job?

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 4, 2025

In an attempt to get fans back onside, the 49ers recently shared a key data comparison in defence of one of their summer signings at Rangers – comparing him to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Cavenagh backs Thelwell and Stewart

After missing out on Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat before eventually landing on Danny Rohl, Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh, Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart all met with fans to discuss the 49ers’ plans with the Gers going forward.

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The Gers have set their sights on the German’s first signing…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Oct 21, 2025

The new owners have been met with plenty of criticism in recent weeks, with banners unveiled at Ibrox and the likes of Thelwell finding themselves at the centre of fan frustration following what looks like a disastrous summer transfer window. Now, however, the 49ers have had their chance to have their say and face up to a disgruntled crowd.

Hosting a fan session in an attempt to get supporters back onside, Cavenagh reiterated his backing for both Thelwell and Stewart even after recent mistakes.

The words are certainly positive, but those at Ibrox will now want to see action. They will be desperate to see new manager Rohl get off to the perfect start against Brann this Thursday and for one attacking talent to prove the 49ers right once and for all in Scotland.

Rangers compare Chermiti to Calvert-Lewin

Whilst they were quick to admit a number of mistakes, the 49ers also launched a defence for Youssef Chermiti. The summer arrival cost as much as £10m on deadline day, but is yet to score a goal for the club or show any signs of making his mark at Rangers.

The 49ers still back their striker, however, and even went as far as to compare him to former Everton star and current Leeds United forward Calvert-Lewin in their recent fan meeting, revealing the 6 foot 4 youngster is a physical specimen.

It’s a bold comparison but one that the 49ers have made based on physical data. Whether Chermiti proves them right is now the big question. At his very best, Calvert-Lewin scored 21 goals in all competitions for Everton in the 2020/21 season, but Rangers’ owners believe that their new striker could be better than that based on the data they’ve seen.

Jude Bellingham had a hand in both goals, and Kylian Mbappe continued his excellent run of form as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clasico of the season. It was hardly a legendary iteration of this famous fixture, but two first-half goals from Los Blancos were enough to see off the short-handed Blaugrana.

Madrid thought they might have had a penalty early on, but saw it chalked off after Vinicius Jr was adjudged to have kicked Lamine Yamal, rather than the other way round, as the Brazilian burst into the box. Mbappe then had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside, but he wasn't to be denied, and soon after Bellingham played him through and Mbappe lashed into the bottom corner.

Los Blancos then gifted Barca an equaliser as Arda Guler gave the ball away on the edge of his own box to allow an unmarked Fermin Lopez to ghost into the area and finish. But Madrid had more in them, still, and Bellingham made it 2-1 thanks to an easy tap-in after no one tracked the Englishman on a set-piece. 

Xabi Alonso's side had a chance to put the game away in the second half from the spot, yet Wojciech Szczesny responded, saving Mbappe's penalty after a lengthy VAR review handed Madrid a fortuitous spot-kick. It was a rather quiet second half, otherwise as Madrid sat in while Barca, without the injured Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, had few attacking ideas.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Santiago Bernabeu…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

Didn't really have a save to make. Could do little about Fermin's goal.

Federico Valverde (7/10):

Picked up a silly yellow card in the first half, but kept it tidy otherwise. 

Eder Militao (8/10):

Assisted Bellingham's goal with a tidy header. Excellent on the right side of the Madrid defence. 

Dean Huijsen (8/10):

Backed up Carreras effectively and helped keep Yamal quiet. A good showing after a tricky run. 

Alvaro Carreras (8/10):

Not his best performance, but perhaps his most important. Gave Yamal nothing. 

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10):

Solid at the base of midfield and threw in some terrific tackles. Ensured things were tidy late on. 

Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

All action in the middle. Enjoyed a few nice ventures forward, too. Looked tired as the game wore on. 

Arda Guler (5/10)

Turned in a solid 30 minutes before giving away the ball in the run up to the Barca goal. Never got back into it. Not his best showing. 

Jude Bellingham (8/10):

Deployed as a right-sided No.10. Excellent in his defensive work and produced a brilliant assist for Mbappe before netting the winner. He's back. 

GettyAttack

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Could've had three in the first half alone. Scored a wonderful opener, but mssed a penalty. A strange performance, all said.

Vinicius Jr (6/10):

Unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty in the first half. Enjoyed effective moments here and there. Lasting image will be his temper tantrum after being subbed. 

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GettySubs & Manager

Brahim Diaz (5/10):

Never really got in the game, and was a bit loose when Madrid broke. 

Rodrygo (6/10):

Notable more for his defensive effort off the bench rather than any attacking exploits. 

Dani Carvajal (N/A):

No time to make an impact on his return from injury. 

Gonzalo Garcia (N/A):

No time to make an impact. 

Dani Ceballos (N/A):

No time to make an impact. 

Xabi Alonso (8/10):

Fielded the youngest Clasico XI since 2010. Got a couple of good goals from his side in the first half, and was happy to sit in after the break. Job done. 

The fans came in huge numbers to Bengaluru but the weather played spoilsport

Sidharth Monga17-May-2025Match abandoned Kolkata Knight Riders’ title defence ended with a washout in Bengaluru knocking them out of IPL 2025. The tournament’s return after a break because of tensions between India and Pakistan was a wet one as heavy rains lashed the city. The downpour was so consistent the players couldn’t even come out to stretch.The one point from this match took KKR to 12, which means the maximum they can get to is 14. Three teams are already past 14, and there is a match remaining between the ones at 14 and 13.The one point also confirmed progress for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but they were looking to maximise points in order to seal a top-two spot. They moved to 17 from 12 matches. Their closest rivals were Gujarat Titans with 16 from 11 matches and Punjab Kings with 15 from 11.

Today's game summarized pic.twitter.com/J5zTOCmmR2

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 17, 2025