He was also due for a brief stint in MLC in the gap between the WTC final and the opening Test in the Caribbean

Andrew McGlashan14-Jun-2025Steven Smith has avoided surgery on the compound dislocation he suffered on the third day against South Africa at Lord’s but still faces a race against time to be fit for Australia’s upcoming Test series in West Indies.Smith went straight to hospital after leaving the field when he sustained the injury to his right little finger, spilling a sharp chance offered by Temba Bavuma.The wound was cleaned, stitched and the finger placed in a splint and it’s understood he will be able to bat if he can tolerate doing so with the splint, which he will need to wear for up to eight weeks although the wound itself is expected to heal in around a fortnight. The impact on him in the field would also need to be assessed and it could hinder his ability to field in the slips.Related

Smith on track to return and reclaim No. 4 spot in Grenada

Australia's batting issues: questions surround Khawaja, Labuschagne, Konstas and Green

Injured Doggett out of West Indies Tests, Abbott called up as replacement

Khawaja has Ashes backing, but Labuschagne's spot uncertain

Introspection beckons as Australia leave Lord's less clear of a path forward

Australia’s first Test in West Indies starts on June 25 in Barbados, which would appear an unlikely timeframe, followed by matches in Grenada and Jamaica in July. Smith had also been due for a brief stint for Washington Freedom at Major League Cricket (MLC) between the end of the WTC final and the first Test.”He’s positive,” Pat Cummins said. “I think it’s somewhere around the 10 days to two weeks. Then maybe you try and bat with a splint and see how that looks.I think it’s a bit of a wait and see. I’d say first Test, maybe unlikely, and then kind of go from there. It’s a bit early just to tell.”It would be a significant boost for Australia if Smith was able to play a part in the series given there is uncertainty over the top order after the struggles of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the World Test Championship final.Khawaja’s lean outing continued his difficulties against pace bowler over the last 12 months while Green faced just five balls in the Test, falling twice to Kagiso Rabada, in his first time batting at No. 3. Labuschagne made two starts of 17 and 22 having been moved to open but did not make a convincing case to be retained in the role.Sam Konstas is waiting in the wings for a potential recall while Josh Inglis is the other spare batter in the current squad.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has pointed to one major factor as to why Kobbie Manioo isn't getting much game time this season. Mainoo attempted to leave United in the summer but was blocked from leaving Old Trafford by Amorim, but the head coach understands the desire to play regularly with the World Cup looming on the horizon.

Unhappy star eyeing January exit

After becoming a breakout star last season, Mainoo has struggled to secure a regular starting spot so far in 2025-26, making just seven Premier League appearances with only 138 minutes played this season. With Napoli,  Newcastle and West Ham reportedly showing interest, Mainoo is pushing for a move in January to ensure consistent football and make a play for a place in Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad. But Amorim has pointed to the lack of European football for restricting the playing time of certain members of the squad.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'We need to be prepared in the future'

Amorim said: "We need to go to Europe because of everything. Our club needs to be in Europe, it’s hard to have a very, very good squad. Imagine for me to have Mainoo with that (many) minutes that he’s playing, he needs more games for me to make a rotation because, with one game (a week), it’s really hard. I have to take one of the guys that is playing to put another. When you have more games, you can divide, you can manage the group in a different way.

"We are trying to use the time that we have to train to be a better team, we need to be prepared in the future to have European games. But the target doesn’t change. We have to go to Europe. To be in the top four is really hard for our moment, but we never know, we just need to focus on winning the next one."

Improved fortunes for United boss

Following a woeful start, Man Utd have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks which has eased fears over Amorim’s future. After finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, hopes were high after summer signings, including Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, arrived. However, a slow start saw United sitting in 14th in September and included a humiliating Carabao Cup exit against Grimsby Town.

Amorim's position came under scrutiny as he admitted to struggling with the pressure. Despite being backed by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his tactical ideals were questioned as United scrambled around for consistency. However, a run of three consecutive league wins in October, for the first time in his tenure, has seen them climb the table.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPSpending spree to continue? 

United have spent close to £250 million ($328m) on players since Amorim's arrived and he hasn’t ruled out additional signings when the window opens in January. He also admitted that those players who are currently being overlooked – like Mainoo – will probably ask to leave, with Joshua Zirkzee another big-name star who finds himself on the periphery of the manager's plans this season. The Dutch forward has been linked with a return to Serie A, having only joined the club from Bologna in the summer of 2024.

Amorim said: "A lot of things can happen. Even in our club, and you know that we have World Cup, some players are not playing, they will ask to leave, so I have to manage everything. We want to bring players, everyone here, we want to bring players that we can see a big future in Manchester United. 

"We are not just buying one guy, because now we feel in December that we need this kind of player for now. No, it's going to be, we want to buy players that we know we are not going to change a lot of times. So that is our idea. I don't know what is going to happen, but of course we think about how we can improve the team, and in January the window is open, we can do something."

Manchester United had a problem between the sticks for too many seasons prior to the signing of Senne Lemmens from Royal Antwerp during the summer transfer window.

Andre Onana was signed from Inter for a fee of £43.5m in the summer of 2023, after helping the Italian side to reach the Champions League final, with the hope that he would be the answer to their problems.

Unfortunately, like the one in the clip above, his time at Old Trafford was littered with mistakes. He made two errors that led to shots and four errors that led to goals in his two Premier League seasons, per Sofascore.

Onana also made two errors that directly led to goals for the opposition in 13 appearances in the Europa League during the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that he slipped up far too many times.

His short-term replacement, Altay Bayindir, did not fare much better. The Turkey international made two errors that led to goals for the opposition in ten appearances in the Premier League, with one in six games this season and one in four outings last term, per Sofascore.

Altay and Onana’s dismal form between the sticks convinced Ruben Amorim and INEOS to sign Lammens in the summer, and he has hit the ground running at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have already hit the jackpot with Senne Lammens

Statistics are great and can be brilliant when used correctly, as we will try to do later in this piece, but the Belgian shot-stopper provides United with something intangible: calmness.

The team looks more settled at the back and confident in their goalkeeper with situations in and around the box, because of the calmness and confidence that Lammens brings to the pitch.

Nervousness and indecision breed mistakes, as shown by Onana and Altay’s performances for United, but the summer signing looks like he will not be bringing either of those things to his performances.

Lammens, as illustrated in the post above, enjoyed a terrific debut against Sunderland in the Premier League last month, keeping a clean sheet and preventing 0.94 xG.

He has now made three appearances for United in the top-flight, winning all three, and has quickly established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the entire division.

Guglielmo Vicario (Spurs)

3.01

7

Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

2.94

7

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

2.72

9

Nick Pope (Newcastle)

2.29

8

Senne Lammens (Man Utd)

1.97

3

As you can see in the table above, only four goalkeepers in the league have prevented more xG/goals than Lammens has, despite the fact that the Belgian star has only played three times.

His performances in the Pro League for Royal Antwerp in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he has the potential to go and become the best shot-stopper in the Premier League, if he can hit his peak at Old Trafford.

Senne Lammens (Pro League)

+15.57

Jordan Pickford (Premier League)

+6.15

Matz Sels (Premier League)

+4.55

Mark Travers (Premier League)

+4.48

Ederson (Premier League)

+4.46

Dean Henderson (Premier League)

+3.14

This suggests that United have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the making, given that he has the potential to be the best shot-stopper in, arguably, the best league in the world.

However, even the best goalkeepers still need a reliable defence in front of them to help rack up clean sheets to improve their reputation in the wider footballing community.

Chalkboard

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

That is why Manchester United need to move on from and upgrade on versatile defender Diogo Dalot in order to help Lammens become known as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet.

Why Man Utd need to move on from Diogo Dalot

We mentioned earlier that nervousness and indecision breed mistakes. So far this season, the Portugal international has seemed full of nerves and indecision, which has led to mistakes.

Dalot, per Sofascore, has made two errors that have led to shots or goals for the opposition across six starts in the Premier League, which shows that he is putting his team under pressure with needless mistakes.

In the recent 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield, The Sun’s Samuel Luckhurst claimed that Dalot is “their weakest player”, whilst content creator Mark Goldbridge described his performance as “awful”.

It was not a direct error that led to a shot or goal from Dalot, as shown in the clip above, but he was stationed in the centre of the box and failed to position himself to cut out the ball across that Cody Gakpo scored from.

On top of his mistakes in the Premier League this season, the former AC Milan loanee’s defensive numbers have gone down across the board in comparison to the 2024/25 campaign.

Appearances

33

7

Assists

3

1

Tackles per game

2.1

1.6

Interceptions per game

1.1

0.6

Ground duels won per game

3.2

2.3

Aerial duels won per game

1.2

0.6

As you can see in the table above, Dalot’s performances have declined this season, as he is making fewer tackles and interceptions and winning fewer duels on the ground and in the air.

This suggests that he has become a liability defensively for the Red Devils, particularly when you take his two direct errors into account, which is why Luckhurst calling him “their weakest player” may have been accurate.

United should, therefore, be looking to find an upgrade on the defender, who can play on the left or the right at full-back, because his mistakes may cost them moving forward.

Replacing him with a more reliable defender, who will not make as many costly mistakes, could help Lammens be known as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, because it would provide him with more protection and reliability ahead of him.

Man Utd set to push for "amazing" English signing, £52m bid in the works

The Red Devils have identified a new top target in midfield, and they could make a move in the January transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

This could, therefore, lead to more clean sheets, more wins, and more people talking about how impressive United’s defence is with the talented shot-stopper behind them.

The Thomas Frank revolution continues at Tottenham Hotspur. Gone are the days of chaos and confusion under Ange Postecoglou. There is an evident fight and spirit about the Lilywhites in 2025/26.

While the north Londoners were far from their free-flowing best away to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon – nor have they been yet under the Danish coach – once again they found a way to win, having run out deserved 2-1 victors at Elland Road.

In what was a hard-fought contest in Yorkshire, the visitors surged ahead following Mathys Tel’s deflected strike, before Noah Okafor levelled things up just nine minutes later, prodding home at the backpost after Guglielmo Vicario’s initial save.

With the game finely poised, up stepped summer signing Mohammed Kudus to nudge Spurs into the lead with his own deflected effort from range, with the Ghanaian’s 57th minute effort ultimately proving the difference as the away side held on for a fourth Premier League win of the campaign.

Spurs' key performers vs Leeds

In wet and windy conditions, the performance from those in black was hardly perfect, yet there was plenty to be encouraged by all across the park, with the defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven again looking rather imperious – the latter man notably winning all of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Perhaps the most notable place for positivity was in the forward line, however, with Frank unleashing marquee addition Xavi Simons in his preferred number ten berth. The Dutchman didn’t disappoint.

While there was perhaps the odd trick too many, including his attempted rabona pass after the break, the ex-RB Leipzig playmaker showcased glimpses of his sky-high potential, picking out the advancing Pedro Porro late on with a deft dink over the Leeds defence.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the decision to give young Tel the nod in attack over man of the moment Richarlison certainly paid off, with the lively Frenchman netting his fourth goal since initially joining the club on loan back in January.

Equally, there were also signs of life from Wilson Odobert down the left flank, with the former Burnley starlet beginning to find his feet following what’s been a muted first year or so in Lilywhite.

Leeds vs Spurs – Key stats
Stat	Highest ranking
Touches	Ampadu (91)
Pass accuracy	Struijk (95%)
Duels won	Kudus (10)
Successful dribbles	Kudus (6)
Key passes	Longstaff (5)
Possession lost	Porro (26)
Shots on target	Kudus (2)
Stats via Sofascore

There may not have been much end product, but a 95% pass accuracy rate highlights the Frenchman’s promising outing.

Rounding off that dynamic quartet was, of course, that man Kudus, with the £55m man continuing his stunning start to life at Spurs with another electric performance off the right flank.

The Spurs star who looked like prime Gareth Bale

Comparisons, particularly at such an early juncture in the season, can appear somewhat over the top, although there truly was something Gareth Bale-esque about Kudus’ performance on Saturday, with the 25-year-old already taking on talismanic status in his new surroundings.

Bale at his best, like in 2012/13 when he plundered 25 goals and assists in the Premier League, was a vision of speed and power, along with an end product to match, with the Welshman regularly wreaking havoc off the left or when cutting in centrally.

With blistering pace and the ability to weave his way past defenders with ease, a prime Bale truly was a sight to behold, with few figures in Lilywhite having ever come close to reaching such lofty heights.

There’s been Harry Kane and Heung-min Son since those times, and now Kudus is the latest to join the party, with the former West Ham United maverick taking his tally to one goal and five assists in just seven Premier League games under Frank’s watch.

Having been booked early on for a late challenge on Gabriel Gudmundsson, the fleet-footed forward subsequently slid in Tel for the game’s opener, before getting in on the act himself just before the hour mark.

Cutting in from the right in trademark Bale fashion, Spurs’ number 20 may have enjoyed a fair bit of luck with his eventual strike, although that goal was just reward for what was an all-round stellar performance in attack.

As noted by Sofascore, he successfully completed all six of his attempted dribbles, having also won ten of his attempted duels, showcasing his ability to impact the game both in and out of possession.

As already stated, this wasn’t Spurs at their most potent, yet once again Saturday’s win highlighted the growing importance of and reliance on Kudus to steal the show for Frank’s side.

Like football.london’s Alasdair Gold put it at full time, when handing the winger a 9/10 match rating, he ‘gave Leeds’ defenders nightmares throughout’.

Long may it continue.

Levy made bigger mistake than Kane over selling "world-class" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart the club under Daniel Levy.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 4, 2025

تلقى منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا، المشارك في بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين، ضربة موجعة من اللجنة المنظمة للمونديال، قبل المشاركة في دور الـ 32.

واستطاع منتخب مصر، حسم التأهل إلى دور الـ32 من كأس العالم للناشئين، بعد احتلاله المركز الثالث في مجموعته الخامسة، ليتأهل ضمن أفضل 8 منتخبات احتلت المركز الثالث للمجموعات الـ12.

وقدم منتخب مصر التماسًا إلى اللجنة المنظمة بشأن طرد وإيقاف لاعبه محمد حمد، حيث تعرض للطرد خلال مواجهة فنزويلا، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العالم.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر وسويسرا في دور الـ 32 من كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

وعلم بطولات أنه تم رفض التماس منتخب الناشئين على عقوبة طرد محمد حمد لاعب الوسط، وسيتم إيقافه مباراتين ليغيب رسميًا عن مواجهة سويسرا في دور الـ32.

وغاب محمد حمد، عن صفوف منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا في مباراة إنجلترا التي أقيمت في الجولة الثالثة، بسبب الطرد.

ويخوض منتخب مصر مباراة قوية أمام سويسرا، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، يوم الجمعة المقبل، 14 نوفمبر.

Tottenham could sign a “game-changing” Brazilian once we reach 2026, and it is now believed that his agent has been given permission to negotiate with interested sides, including Spurs.

Tottenham criticised for lack of creativity under Thomas Frank

Just 13 games into his tenure, some supporters are already expressing concern about Thomas Frank, despite a pretty solid start to 2025/2026 on paper.

Spurs are unbeaten in the Champions League and only three Premier League sides have scored more goals than the north Londoners so far, yet major concerns surround their creativity and inability to dominate matches.

Monaco 0-0 Tottenham – Champions League

Monaco

Team Stats

Tottenham

21

Shots

10

9

Shots on target

4

50%

Possession

50%

399

Passes

328

91%

Pass accuracy

89%

13

Fouls

12

0

Yellow cards

1

0

Red cards

0

1

Offsides

1

5

Corners

4

Xavi Simons has struggled to make an impact since Tottenham signed him from RB Leipzig for £52 million, in what was their ‘statement’ deal of the summer window after losing playmaker James Maddison to injury.

Dejan Kulusevski is also still out after picking up a knee problem at the back end of last season, and it is clear as day that the Lilywhites really miss them right now.

While Joao Palhinha has been one of Tottenham’s players of the season thus far, there are calls for Frank to mix things up and divert away from his usual midfield pairing of the Portuguese and Rodrigo Bentancur, which isn’t having the desired effect right now.

Randal Kolo Muani is currently working his way back to match sharpness after brief cameos against Aston Villa and Monaco, while Dominic Solanke’s fitness issues have been ever present this season.

Concerns also surround Richarlison’s overall form and suitability to lead the line for Frank, with Mathys Tel also failing to pull up trees since his move from Bayern Munich last January.

In truth, Mohammed Kudus has dazzled as Tottenham’s standout attacker by a country mile thus far, and the Ghanaian’s exceptional dribbling is proving to be a constant threat for defenders.

Kudus is currently the Premier League’s fourth-best performer by average match rating per 90 according to WhoScored (7.46), racking up four assists and a goal to boot already, and no other player in the top flight has completed more take-ons per game than the Ghanaian.

Spurs will be counting their blessings that Kudus won’t be going to the Africa Cup of Nations in December, but they cannot solely rely on the 25-year-old for their creativity for much longer.

Agent given permission to negotiate Tottenham move for Rayan

Reports suggest that Tottenham are in the market for another winger in January, with co-sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici keeping a keen eye on Vasco da Gama sensation Rayan.

The 19-year-old is currently dazzling in Brazil as one of the nation’s rising star players right now, and recently became the youngest Vasco player to reach 10 Brazilian top flight goals since Dinamite in 1973 — breaking a 52-year record.

He’s now on 16 goals for the season with four of those strikes coming in his last three league games, so he’s a sought-after teenager in red-hot form right now.

Rayan can play as a centre-forward as well as out wide — further adding to his appeal — with his deal at Vasco also due to expire at the end of 2026 as his side demand around £26 million for his signature.

That is according to Calciomercato.it and journalist Daniele Trecca, who report AC Milan’s interest while mentioning that Arsenal, Brighton, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are all in the race for his signature.

It is also believed that super-agent Pini Zahavi, who represents the forward, has been given the green-light to negotiate with European sides ahead of a potential transfer.

While this could represent a “fast track” to the San Siro, Trecca is quick to point out that Zahavi also has a good relationship with Premier League sides, and Spurs are named among the clubs he could talk to about Rayan.

The attacker is very highly-rated by his peers and coaches, with Paratici now handed a stellar chance to discuss signing one of Brazil’s most noteworthy talents at a reasonable cost.

“Right now it looks like a mess”. Those were the words of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, speaking after his former side slipped to a frustrating 1-0 defeat away to Galatasaray on Tuesday evening.

Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty proved enough to clinch all three points for the Turkish giants in that Champions League tussle, with the trip to Istanbul a particularly damaging one amid notable injury blows for both Alisson and Hugo Ekitike.

While the reigning Premier League champions remain top of the pile domestically, this has been a challenging week for Arne Slot’s side, having been deservedly beaten by an in-form Crystal Palace at the weekend.

This is certainly no time to panic, amid a difficult seven days in what has largely been a flawless tenure for the Dutchman to date, although with the warning signs having already been there in recent weeks, something needs to change.

As Carragher alluded to on CBS, the Merseysiders “haven’t gained anything going forward, but they’ve lost a lot defensively” following the summer squad overhaul, with the backline looking all at sea thus far.

With just two clean sheets in ten games in all competitions in 2025/26 – the last of which came away at Burnley – the Reds need to find a way to plaster over the cracks that are emerging…

Konate & Frimpong's display vs Galatasaray

While there were few who could hold their heads high on Tuesday night, among those who particularly underwhelmed were Ibrahima Konate and Jeremie Frimpong, with the pair enduring another worrying display against the Super Lig side.

In the case of Frimpong, there may well be concerns brewing over his ability to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back for the long-term, with Slot even favouring him in a more advanced role, in order to afford Mohamed Salah a well-earned rest.

That switch certainly didn’t pay off, however, with the diminutive Dutchman hooked on the hour mark after a desperately disappointing showing, having lost the ball on 16 occasions from just 35 touches, as per Sofascore, while winning just two of his nine attempted duels.

Such lightweight quality hardly inspires any confidence that the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man can flourish when moved back into a full-back berth, with Slot perhaps wise to avoid pairing the summer signing with the hapless Konate in that right channel.

Indeed, the Frenchman endured another sorry outing up against the rampant Osimhen, having notably gifted possession to the Nigerian in the second half, after a slack pass back was intercepted by the ex-Napoli striker.

As noted by the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst, the former RB Leipzig man ‘looks worryingly out of form of late’, with the failure to get the Marc Guehi deal over the line looking set to haunt Slot and co over the coming months.

Even despite the lack of alternatives, Slot needs to find a way to take Konate – and Frimpong too – out of the firing line, with the same perhaps true of this season’s Alexander-Arnold…

The new Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

While ‘Trent’ may now be old news at Anfield, it is worth noting that the struggles of the injury-hit Real Madrid man last season now appear to be being repeated in this new-look Liverpool side.

There is a sense that the Reds romped to the title in 2024/25 in spite of the Englishman, not because of him, with the contract rebel never seemingly managing to win over Jurgen Klopp’s successor in the dugout.

Indeed, while the attacking quality remained – with his 14 goals and assists eclipsing his tally of 13 from the previous campaign – the 26-year-old’s defensive woes were plain to see.

Substituted off on 16 occasions in the top-flight, the academy graduate notably made four errors leading to a shot, while being dribbled past 1.7 times per game, as per Sofascore, with Slot certainly not wholly impressed by what he saw:

That scenario now looks to be repeating itself with the case of £40m man, Milos Kerkez, with the Hungarian youngster also emerging as something of a liability at full-back, following his summer switch from Bournemouth.

Much like Alexander-Arnold, the 21-year-old – who registered five Premier League assists last season – is a real asset in an attacking sense when at his best, with that form also seeing him create eight ‘big chances’ under Andoni Iraola’s watch.

Unfortunately, that quality is yet to be seen in a Liverpool shirt, with Kerkez still waiting to register his first goal involvement for his new side, after making ten appearances in all competitions.

Targeted on the opening weekend by former teammate Antoine Semenyo, the rampaging left-back has regularly come under the microscope since then, not least following his early withdrawal amid the threat of a red card at Turf Moor.

It was also his errant clearance which led to the throw-in that saw Palace clinch victory at the weekend, while in midweek, the £75k-per-week menace won just three of his seven attempted duels, while failing to provide a single successful cross or long ball.

Games

38

6

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

0

Big chances created

8

0

Key passes*

1.0

0.5

Pass accuracy*

80%

87%

Possession lost*

13.9

9.3

Total duels won*

54%

61%

Errors leading to goal

1

1

It is, of course, still early days, with the at-times hot-headed defender also perhaps not aided by the woes of those ahead of him, having yet to strike up a fruitful partnership with Cody Gakpo down that left flank.

That being said, as was the case with Alexander-Arnold’s demotion behind young Conor Bradley on occasion last term, Kerkez may find himself ousted for a more steady presence in the form of the long-serving Andy Robertson.

Like Trent, at his best, the former Cherries starlet can be such a weapon from the flanks with his wicked delivery and attacking instincts. Like Trent, too, however, at his worst, he can be a costly figure in a defensive sense for Slot’s side.

Liverpool star who's "on par with Salah & VVD" had his worst game under Slot

Liverpool endured a night to forget as they were beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

Xavi Simons’ start to life at Tottenham has been fairly slow, already raising some concerns about the club’s hefty investment in the Dutchman.

Thomas Frank dealt Xavi Simons concern at Tottenham

The 22-year-old struggled to influence the game once again during Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at home in the Premier League on Sunday.

Since his high-profile move from RB Leipzig in the summer, which could end up costing the club a whopping £125 million in total when factoring in wages over a potential seven-year deal (Paul O’Keefe), expectations have been sky-high for Simons to inject creativity and flair.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

However, his performances so far have largely fallen short of those hopes, with many fans and pundits noting Simons’ inability to make his mark in the way those at the club envisioned.

One of the most glaring concerns has been Simons’ output — or rather, the lack of it.

Despite being touted as a dynamic playmaker to replace the injured James Maddison, capable of unlocking defenses with clever passes and incisive dribbling, he has struggled to consistently make an impact in the final third.

So far, Simons has registered just one goal contribution, which came during his Premier League debut, and even that was an in-swinging cross from a corner for Pape Sarr to head home against struggling West Ham.

Part of the problem may be attributed to the pressure of living up to his big-money price tag at a club with high expectations.

The weight of that can sometimes hamper a young player’s confidence, especially in a league known for its intensity and competitiveness. Moreover, adapting to a completely new environment, manager and tactical setup takes time, and the Netherlands international’s early struggles could be a reflection of this adjustment period.

Interestingly, Thomas Frank has been told by some members of the media that Simons isn’t a playmaker at all, but this is hardly reflective of the numbers during his time at Leipzig.

The former PSG sensation, who was also a member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy during his time as a youth player, racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 33 total appearances for Leipzig last season — even despite missing a good portion of 24/25 with an ankle problem.

Simons did deliver a good portion of those numbers in a CAM role, including a match-winning performance against Borussia Dortmund and brace at home to Werder Bremen, but he impressed out on the left too during his final Bundesliga matches for Leipzig.

Frank could have some experimenting to do, and Lucas Bergvall could be deployed in a more advanced midfield role with the Dane playing centrally, Simons out wide and Mohammed Kudus on the right.

In the meantime, though, Simons is attracting criticism from on-lookers.

Gabriel Agbonlahor gives scathing Xavi Simons verdict after Tottenham loss

Following Spurs’ disappointing loss to Villa, pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor gave a scathing verdict about Simons when debating who would get into a team combining both sides’ best players.

Despite his challenges, it’s worth noting that Simons is still young and has shown flashes of his talent in glimpses during games.

His technical ability, vision and dribbling are evident when he finds space, and Tottenham’s coaching staff will be keen to work closely with him to help unlock his potential.

Meanwhile, Frank has already leaped to the player’s defence — insisting he needs more time to bed in.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has defended Nicolas Jackson against criticism, calling his impact "outstanding" despite his wait for a first Bundesliga goal. The Bayern boss insists the Chelsea loanee is "where he needs to be" and has interpreted his tactical role perfectly, even as club legend Lothar Matthaus claims he looks "out of place."

• Kompany's 'objective' praise for under-fire Jackson

  Jackson, 24, joined the German champions on a season-long loan from Chelsea for a reported €16.5 million (£14m/$19m) fee, which includes a €65m (£54m/$71m) purchase option. However, the Senegalese international has failed to score in his first six Bundesliga appearances, leading to questions over his suitability.

  Despite the mounting external pressure, Kompany was unequivocal in his support, stating he has a "completely different opinion" to the public and explaining his reasoning.

  "He's working very well," Kompany said. "We talked about his integration last week, and it's gone very quickly for him. I know why the question comes up, but I have no problem having a completely different opinion. I'll explain why objectively."

  "In the first half against Dortmund, for example, he played an outstanding role, and the same against Pafos. He interpreted the game very quickly, understood what we wanted from him, and also got off to a good start against Club Brugge."

  Kompany dismissed the goal-centric criticism as simplistic: "He's a striker; when he scores, we say he's the best. When he doesn't score, we say maybe he's not good enough. I'm happy that we have Jackson here; he'll be important for us this season. In terms of his playing ability, he's already where he needs to be, if only the goals would come."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Matthaus criticises Jackson amid wait for league goal

  The public debate Kompany referenced is fuelled by Jackson's unconvincing statistics. In 13 appearances across all competitions, he has clocked just 457 minutes of action.

  His two goals have come in the Champions League, against Pafos and Club Brugge. In the Bundesliga, he has not had a direct goal contribution in 244 minutes of playing time, a stark contrast to his attacking teammates Harry Kane (20 goals), Michael Olise (seven), and Luis Diaz (eight).

  The striker's form has drawn sharp criticism from club legend Lothar Matthaus, who claimed Jackson looks "out of place".

  "He gets little playing time and when he has played, he still seems a bit out of place," Matthaus said. "With Olise, Kane, Diaz, [Joshua] Kimmich, [Aleksandar] Pavlovic, the ball moves well. With him, it always gets a little stuck, or rather, his passing isn't quite sharp enough yet."

  Matthaus also warned that Jackson's minutes could "decrease even further" when Jamal Musiala returns from injury.

• Jackson 'happy' in Bavaria after summer transfer

  For his part, Jackson maintains he is settling well in Bavaria. Speaking to the club's official website earlier in the week, the 24-year-old expressed his happiness.

  "I'm really happy to be here and to be playing alongside such big names," Jackson said. "Oktoberfest was something very special… It gave me the chance to get to know an important part of Bavarian culture. Everything has been fantastic so far. I already feel very much at home here.”

  The former Villarreal forward also spoke glowingly of his partnership with Kane, who has often played in a deeper No.10 role to accommodate Jackson as the central striker.

  "It's incredible. I looked up to Harry even as a child," he added. "Now playing in the same team as him makes me very proud. I learn from him every day and try to pick up a few things from him."

  Jackson's stated aim is to "make our fans happy and repay the trust my teammates and the coach have placed in me."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)Getty Images
  

  What comes next?

  Kompany's support for his striker comes ahead of a crucial fixture. Bayern host Bayer Leverkusen this Saturday, taking on a side they have not beaten in the last five Bundesliga meetings. The manager acknowledged the "rivalry" is "still there" and that Leverkusen, who have 16 from a possible 18 points under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, remain a "dangerous attacking team".

  While Kompany insists "nobody is assured of their place," his public backing suggests Jackson remains a key part of his tactical plan as he awaits his first, and badly needed, Bundesliga goal.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mano Menezes será um pilar importante para a decisão do Corinthians sobre a renovação ou não com o meia Renato Augusto, que tem contrato até o fim da temporada. Após fazer um contato breve com o jogador nas últimas semanas referindo-se ao assunto, a diretoria atual optou por não abrir negociação e deixar a escolha para a próxima gestão, que será eleita no dia 25 de novembro.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansRenato Augusto volta a ser ausência, e Mano tem papo com jogador ‘sumido’ no CorinthiansCorinthians11/10/2023CorinthiansEntenda o motivo de Tite ter recusado o Corinthians, mas aceitado o FlamengoCorinthians11/10/2023CorinthiansVai ter proposta? Atacante do Corinthians, Wesley é monitorado por clube inglêsCorinthians11/10/2023

Antecessor de Mano, Vanderlei Luxemburgo era contra firmar um novo contrato com o meio-campista, principalmente por duas temporadas, período que o atleta acenou que desejaria renovar para encerrar a sua carreira com a camisa corintiana em 2025.

+ Combinada sul-americana! Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$2580 com os jogos das Eliminatórias

No caso de André Luiz de Oliveira, o André Negão, ser eleito na disputa presidencial marcada para o dia 25 de novembro, Mano Menezes deve seguir no comando do Timão e será consultado para que a diretoria tome a decisão sobre o futuro de Renato Augusto na equipe do Parque São Jorge.

continua após a publicidade

A resposta de Mano vai depender dos jogos que o camisa 8 fará até o fim do ano. O treinador sabe que a sua responsabilidade a médio e longo prazo é liderar um projeto de renovação do elenco corintiano. Porém, ele gosta do futebol de Renato e tem o desejo de contar com o jogador neste período de transição. Isso, no entanto, só vai acontecer se o meia tiver uma regularidade de jogos e sofra menos com as questões físicas que tanto tem atrapalhado ele nas duas últimas temporadas.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Por outro lado, com uma vitória eleitoral de Augusto Mello, que é o candidato à presidência do Corinthians pela oposição, a tendência é que Mano não siga à frente do time. É aí que o futuro de Renato se transformará em uma total incógnita, já que a tendência será pela contratação de um treinador estrangeiro. 

continua após a publicidade

+ Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$375 com o Brasil e Neymar contra a Venezuela nas Eliminatórias

+ Garanta o churrasco do feriado! Aposte R$500 e ganhe R$2000 com o Brasil!

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

+VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO E SIMULE OS PRÓXIMOS JOGOS

Tite era o preferido de ambos os candidatos, e também da atual diretoria, mas recusou quatro investidas do Timão e acertou com o Flamengo.

Os dados que serão colhidos pela preparação física também serão fundamentais para a decisão sobre Renato. Principalmente porque o departamento está cada vez mais ligado ao núcleo de saúde e performance, que é liderado pelo fisioterapeuta Bruno Mazziotti. Ele, por sua vez, é bastante próximo de Renato e busca fazer de tudo para que o meia tenha mais regularidade.

A influência de Bruno sobre as melhores formas de alguns atletas se portarem para evitar problemas físicos é grande, a ponto de interferir para um clima pesado entre o fisioterapeuta e Luxa.

Se a diretoria em questão decidir pela renovação de Renato, a tendência é que novas bases sejam conversadas, com o jogador tendo que reduzir o seu padrão salarial. É possível também que seja costurado um acordo de rendimento e produtividade atrelado a uma possível extensão por mais uma temporada para que, caso o meia evolua nas suas apresentações e sofra menos com lesões, consiga o tão sonhado contrato até 2025 para encerrar a sua carreira no Timão.