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Several key themes emerged, some predicted, some not, from the second edition of the BBL overseas draft

Alex Malcolm04-Sep-2023Availability wasn’t a major worryAll the talk coming into the draft was that BBL clubs would prioritise the availability of overseas players above all else to the point where several clubs hinted they would only take ILT20 players who could play all 10 home and away games, instead of players signed up for the SA20 that starts earlier in January, or players who were likely to have international duty during the BBL. That situation did not eventuate.Rashid Khan and Quinton de Kock were both taken in the first four picks despite not being available beyond January 5 while England’s Test tour of India in mid-January did not prove a major deterrent with Harry Brook, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed all snapped up. Tom Curran, Chris Jordan and Haris Rauf could also be called away for international limited-overs duties, and yet all three were taken in the first nine picks. Clubs appeared happy to take the best players on offer and will back themselves to find replacements if and when they need them.Related

Harry Brook withdraws from the BBL

Kapp goes pick one to Thunder in WBBL draft as Scorchers retain Devine

How the drafts played out

De Kock to make his BBL debut while Brook and Crawley find new clubs

Three clubs only take two overseasThe WBBL draft was plagued by passes in the third and fourth rounds as seven of the eight clubs only took two overseas players due to the bespoke direct nomination rule. There was a similar spate of passes in the BBL draft despite no such rule being in play. But clubs were allowed to take only two overseas and then sign a third at a later stage, provided the player had nominated for the draft. Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder all took this option. The major reason for only taking two players is flexibility.One of the negatives of the draft from a club perspective is that they are locked into signing a player in September when so much can change in terms of injuries and availability between now and the start of the tournament in December. The negative from the BBL’s perspective is the later rounds of the draft can fall flat when there are more passes than expected. It may be something the BBL needs to look at next year.James Vince still got to the Sixers despite being available to be poached•Getty ImagesLoyalty remains valued despite retention being testedThere were two intriguing storylines into the draft with Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat both set to be severely tested by other clubs given they could only use one retention pick. Sixers had three retention options among the platinum players in Curran, Jordan and James Vince. Hobart Hurricanes tested Sixers’ mettle early using pick three on Curran knowing they could get one of the others. Sixers bit straight away, retaining Curran. Hurricanes then took Jordan, filling their need for a bowling allrounder. It left one of the BBL’s most consistent overseas performers in Vince up for grabs to any club who wanted him for 10 straight picks. But no one took him, and Sixers were able to pick him at pick 14.Similarly, there was pre-draft talk of a club potentially trying to force Heat to choose between Colin Munro and Sam Billings. In the end, Heat didn’t have to use their retention pick on either. Billings was actually available to Hurricanes at pick 11 but they opted for Heat’s other retention pick in Sam Hain and Heat let him go, then took Billings with pick 15.Eight players – Vince, Munro, Billings, Rauf, Adam Hose, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Alex Hales, and Laurie Evans – returned to their previous club without a retention pick needed. Only two were used to retain Rashid and Curran, and only four players – Hain, Jordan, Brook and Crawley – were selected by a new club. Despite the BBL wanting more player movement, loyalty, familiarity, and culture remain strong forces among the BBL clubs in selecting overseas players.Hundred is the BBL’s major overseas recruiting farmThe two competitions are closely linked with so many Australian administrators, coaches and players working across both competitions. It should be no surprise then that so many of this year’s draftees have come from the Hundred. Eighteen of the 21 players drafted played in the Hundred including eight from the two finalists, Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals. Player of the tournament Jamie Overton will make his BBL debut this year after being shrewdly selected by Strikers.Zaman Khan was a surprise selection at pick 13•Getty ImagesPakistan gems still sought-after commoditiesPakistan players have long been attractive prospects for BBL clubs and quite often it is those just under the international radar that are the most sought after following the success of Rauf. Two more get to follow in his footsteps in Zaman Khan and Usama Mir although unlike Rauf, both have already played international cricket and have been appearing in a number of leagues around the world this year alone. Stars are hoping Mir will fill the huge spin hole they have and become a cult hero bowling his fast legspin at the MCG, while Thunder have added Zaman. Thunder’s selection was especially bold at pick 13 given the number of high-quality fast bowlers available.American Anderson not a forgotten manHurricanes’ head of strategy Ricky Ponting said moments after selecting Corey Anderson that he was “a forgotten man” in global cricket. The former New Zealand allrounder has not played an official T20 since August 2020 having not featured in international cricket for New Zealand since 2018 after announcing his intention to qualify for USA. But Anderson, 32, has re-emerged this year in Major League Cricket for San Francisco Unicorns, a team run by Cricket Victoria and coached by former Australia allrounder Shane Watson, who is a close friend of Ponting.Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade also played with Anderson and witnessed firsthand his stunning 91 not out off 52 balls where he torched a MI New York attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard. That was enough for Hurricanes to take him with their third pick and they hope he can replicate those feats on the small dimensions of Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

The Ireland series was a historic event in the calendar but Covid-19 still ended up having the final say

Peter Della Penna29-Dec-2021The opening encounter for USA vs Ireland may not have been the biggest crowd to ever grace the Broward County Stadium. The venue has played host to 10,000 people for the CPL, West Indies, New Zealand and India over the years. The official tally was 328 fans for the first T20I between the host country and their Full Member counterpart. But considering just 19 people turned up to see USA play their first ever home ODI a little over two years ago, it was progress.One of those people is Phil Mielke, a man originally from Wisconsin but now residing in Ohio. He discovered cricket while on a work trip to France in 2008 when it was being shown on one of the only English language channels available in his hotel room. He’s since turned into USA’s unofficial super fan, having travelled to see them play live across the country and around the world: from Morrisville, North Carolina, to Los Angeles; from Toronto to Kampala, Uganda to Dubai, where he was the lone USA fan to see them play ODIs against Scotland and UAE in December 2019 and was rewarded with a jersey straight off the back of Elmore Hutchinson. But on most of those occasions, Mielke was not just a super fan. He was literally the only fan. Not so in Florida.”To hear people cheering for USA Cricket and to chant, ‘U-S-A! U-S-A!’, it’s something I’m not even sure I thought I would be able to hear in my lifetime,” Mielke said from the stadium ahead of the second T20I on December 23. “I felt like crying. Just being a fan for as long as I have been, you go some places and you’re the only person there. So, a big change.””I wanted to see two matches and this was the only time to do two days in a row. It just so happened that it was the first ones, which is even better. It’s historic for sure and to get the win yesterday was amazing.”When the USA players walked off the field upon completing the historic 26-run victory over Ireland, they made clear that they were not taking it for granted. The entire squad walked across to the east stand where all the fans who had been chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” were assembled, and showered them with applause. Some of the players even shouted back, “Thank you! Thank you! Please come back tomorrow night!”USA captain Monank Patel leads the team to thank the fans for their support•Peter Della PennaWhich they did. More than twice as many people came for the second T20I as attendance for the two games eclipsed 1,000. On paper, yes, this is still not much in a venue that has had more than 10 times that number crammed in like sardines to watch India play.But it was a sign that momentum was building, in spite of the obstacles that included a series announced with less than six weeks notice, many fans who could not come due to previously arranged holiday plans over the Christmas period, not to mention a spike in Covid cases that made the remaining available fans hesitant to travel. The publicity from USA’s first win over Ireland was so good that local celebrities from other sports, former England international and current Inter Miami manager Phil Neville as well as South African golfing legend Ernie Els, were rumored to be joining the VIP hospitality suite for the final ODI on December 30.Yet just as quickly as it was snowballing for the remaining fixtures in the tour, the momentum melted in the Florida heat. Initially it was an umpire that tested positive, causing the first ODI to be canceled out of logistical complications – they couldn’t get replacements in at short notice. Then the rest of the series was scrapped after the visiting support staff and family members tested positive, though, no Irish player caught the virus and all but one USA player had been deemed fit to go.It may make people wonder, why were these final matches canceled when a similar situation unfolding in Melbourne resulted in a Test match continuing uninterrupted? Why were the T20Is also allowed to go ahead despite five USA players being ruled out with Covid yet an entire ODI series was canceled just days later when all but one out of 30-plus players returned a negative test? The short answer is that the Irish side did not want to risk running into any quarantine complications entering Jamaica for the second leg of their international tour. If the USA had been their only destination, it is highly probable that the matches would have gone on as scheduled.Mick Kirby-West (left) and Dave Kirby drove 137 miles to discover the ODI they had tickets for was canceled•Peter Della PennaBut the decision to cancel the matches over the “risk of further players testing positive if the series continued” looks even more incongruous when the USA team was immediately booked on flights home later that same day. So it’s unsafe to be playing a cricket match with everyone spaced out on a massive outdoor field, but heading straight to the airport to get on jam-packed, sold-out, five-hour domestic flights is perfectly fine?The extreme caution with which the decision was made left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans. Dave Kirby and Mick Kirby-West, a 74 and 53-year-old father and son originally from Portsmouth, England, had driven two hours on the morning of the second ODI from Mick’s current home on the west coast of Florida in Cape Coral. Only after completing their 137-mile trek were they informed at the stadium office that the match was called off.Kirby-West had not seen a match since he left England in 2015, and his father had never seen one live. They had bought tickets off the USA Cricket website at 6:43 pm on December 27 and got a standard confirmation email almost immediately. But when news of the postponement came out less than two hours later at 8:21 pm on USA Cricket’s website and social media, neither saw it. Both men wondered why there was no follow-up email sent directly to ticket holders to inform them of the initial scheduling change.”If they are seriously thinking about hosting a Cricket World Cup [sic: The ICC hosts World Cups, not the local board], I think they need to get their s**t together,” Kirby-West said. “You can’t organise a Cricket World Cup if you can’t get a little bit more organised than what they have for these games.”USA super fan Phil Mielke (right) was all smiles after the win over Ireland•Peter Della PennaThough the face value of the tickets was USD 15, the reality is that lots of people travelled from long distances to attend. The true price of admission is closer to USD 1000 when flights, hotels, local transportation and meals are included. The fans are eating that cost, and not USA Cricket.Diane Palmquist, a Minnesota native currently living in New York City, would go to see Test matches in England almost every summer prior to the pandemic. She was at the 2019 World Cup and had also attended numerous events on US soil, including the 2015 Tendulkar vs Warne Cricket All-Stars tour. She was so desperate to see live cricket again that she booked a detour from her family Christmas trip in Minnesota to fly to Florida for the second ODI before returning to New York. Instead, she wound up going to Key Largo for the day when the match was scrapped.”There’s a lot of issues with USA Cricket,” Palmquist said, “But I think we were all hopeful that they would be able to play and I’m just very sad that Covid is getting in the way of everything. I don’t know if they could handle it better. I like that they tried hard to handle it and let the game go on until they couldn’t. I’m pretty tired of everything getting canceled way ahead of time. So I would actually rather come down here and have them try to play and not be able to than just cancel it weeks in advance. Because everything else I have tickets for is getting canceled two months early and I’d rather try to make it happen.”I certainly hope that there are more USA matches like this. I was very excited to have the opportunity to see USA Cricket play here. I would love to come to other matches here and see other international matches here.”

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez and his catcher, César Salazar, were involved in a wild moment in Tuesday night's loss to the Yankees that had one former MLB player saying he would have fought Valdez in the tunnel if he was his teammate

In case you missed it, Salazar tried to wave off Valdez before a pitch to Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham. Valdez ignored his catcher and delivered the pitch, which Grisham crushed for a grand slam home run.

Next up for the Yankees was Anthony Volpe and during that at-bat Valdez seemed to cross up his catcher and hit him in the chest with 93-MPH pitch.

Here's how that played out:

Valdez apologized for it after the game and said he didn't do it on purpose.

On Wednesday, former MLB player and current Red sox announcer Will Middlebrooks called out Valdez, calling it an "all-time scumbag move be a teammate" and saying he would have fought Valdez if he did that to him.

"The reaction to it [by Valdez] was everything I needed to know," Middlebrooks said to CBS Sports. "When I initially saw it I was thinking, O.K. it was a mistake. Then you watch the reaction by [Valdez]. No remorse. No my bad. No nothing. No reaction because your initial reaction any time you cross up a catcher is 'oh my god' because you could really hurt a guy. You squared him up in the sternum with 95 and you didn’t even react? I’m sorry, if he’s my teammate if I’m that catcher we’re going down the tunnel and you’re getting these hands either now or after the game, you can pick when you want them."

Here are Middlebrooks's full comments:

It will be interesting to see if the Astros do anything to Valdez for that move of if they'll just move on since he apologized for it.

Either way, that is a tough look for their star pitcher.

Tottenham Hotspur’s deal to land Tanguy Ndombele back in the summer of 2019 was one that generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, with the hope that the midfielder could take the club to the next level.

The hierarchy forked out a then club-record fee of around £62m for his signature, but it rapidly transpired that such a deal would be a huge waste of money.

He only featured 91 times for the Lilywhites over a five-year period, before being released in the summer of 2024 – leaving on a free transfer to join Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.

Whilst Ndombele was capable of producing a moment of magic, they were too far and between, leading to his attitude and fitness being brought into question.

However, one other big-money addition has also struggled to make himself a fan-favourite, which has once again highlighted the club’s struggles within the transfer market.

Richarlison’s struggles at Spurs in 2025/26

After costing £50m back in the summer of 2022, Brazilian forward Richarlison also had high hopes to succeed at Spurs, but he’d largely been a backup option in years gone by.

However, the arrival of Thomas Frank has given him a new lease of life in North London, with the Dane handing him a start in five of the seven league outings during the 2025/26 campaign.

The 28-year-old scored twice in the opening day victory over Burnley, but has since scored just once, often struggling to have a positive impact on any of the encounters.

His latest start came against Bodo Glimt, but he was unable to make the desired effect, only registering ten touches of the ball during his 90-minute performance.

He was subsequently dropped to the bench for the recent victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, further highlighting his inability to impress as of late under Frank.

Throughout his 101 appearances for the Lilywhites, the Brazilian has only managed to find the net on 23 occasions – a tally which has fallen way below the standards set by the fanbase.

However, despite his lack of success, another player currently on the books looks like a bigger waste of money, with such a deal being one of the worst in their recent history.

The Spurs player who’s the biggest waste since Ndombele

Spurs supporters have previously voiced their concerns over the lack of spending from former chairman Daniel Levy, with the 63-year-old often coming under fire for his lack of ambition.

Whilst the Lilywhites were the most profitable club in England’s top-flight during his tenure, such a feat largely came down to his lack of spending during his two-decade spell in North London.

He oversaw numerous high-profile departures from the club during his spell, with Harry Kane’s £82m transfer to Bayern Munich leaving a huge hole in the final third of the first-team squad.

12 months on from his move away from his boyhood side, the hierarchy finally landed their replacement for the Englishman, subsequently landing compatriot Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

The Lilywhites paid a club-record £65m to prise him away from the Cherries in the summer of 2024, with real hope and expectations placed upon his shoulders amid the transfer fee.

Last season was his first in North London, but he struggled to hit the ground running, scoring just nine Premier League goals in his 27 appearances – subsequently finding the net every three matches.

As a result of his disappointing opening year in the capital, he was labelled “woeful” by one analyst, but he was given the benefit of the doubt to try and improve his performances in 2025/26.

Dominic Solanke – PL stats (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	27
Goals scored	9
Pass accuracy	71%
Shots on target	0.9
Chances created	0.5
Dribble success	35%
Aerials won	42%
Fouls committed	1.5
Stats via FotMob

However, the 28-year-old has once again suffered another injury setback, with his ankle issue preventing him from making a case for a starting role under Frank.

Solanke has only featured for a total of just 31 league minutes in 2025/26, with his fitness issues also a concern in recent times – which has certainly contributed to his lack of impact.

He also earns a small fortune in North London, with the board currently paying him a staggering £140k-per-week and taking home just shy of £7.3m in wages alone last campaign.

When coupling his transfer fee and wages together, he’s currently costing in the region of £8m per Premier League goal he’s netted – an absurd amount of money despite the huge fees constantly being spent within the modern game.

There’s no denying he still has the chance to turn things around in North London, but his injury record and lack of impact is there for all to see at present – with no end yet in sight for the England international.

If he is unable to transform things in the months ahead, he could certainly be one of the worst signings in the club’s history, potentially competing with Ndombele for that title in the process.

Not Kudus or Johnson: Spurs starlet looks like Frank's new Mbeumo

Tottenham Hotspur could have another top-level talent on their hands under Thomas Frank.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 8, 2025

أعلن الإسباني تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد قائمة فريقه أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه ريال مدريد نظيره ديبورتيفو ألافيس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”، غدًا الأحد.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على ألافيس في تمام العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر بتوقيت السعودية، في الجولة 16 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويحتل ريال مدريد المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 36 نقطة بفارق 4 نقاط عن برشلونة.

ويعاني ريال مدريد من غيابات كثيرة عن الفريق بسبب الإصابات والإيقافات، إذ يغيب كلًا من ألفارو كاريراس، فيران جارسيا وإندريك.

اقرأ أيضًا | أوليفر كان يوضح سر تراجع نتائج ريال مدريد.. ويؤكد: ألونسو غير مناسب لتدريب الفريق

ويستمر غياب ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وداني كارفاخال وإيدير ميليتاو عن قائمة ريال مدريد أمام ألافيس.

كما شهدت القائمة عودة الفرنسي المتألق كيليان مبابي، مهاجم الفريق بعدما غاب عن مباراة مانشستر سيتي بسبب الإصابة التي عانى منها أمام سيلتا فيجو. قائمة ريال مدريد لمباراة ديبورتيفو ألافيس في الدوري الإسباني

في حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا – لونين – سيرجيو ميستري.

في خط الدفاع: أسينسيو – روديجر – هويسن – خوان مارتينيز – فالديبيناس.

في خط الوسط: بيلينجهام – فالفيردي – تشواميني – أردا جولر – داني سيبايوس – كيسترو – تياجو.

في خط الهجوم: فينيسيوس جونيور – كيليان مبابي – رودريجو – جونزالو جارسيا – ماستانتونو – إبراهيم دياز.

📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
🆚 @Alaves pic.twitter.com/8JRTFKuQdM — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 13, 2025

First and foremost, Newcastle United have no pressing concerns relating to finances and the ever-ominous profit and sustainability rules in the Premier League.

Furthermore, technical director Ross Wilson is now settled into his chair in the St. James’ Park offices, and have formed a good early relationship with Eddie Howe as they look to tackle key areas of the squad.

Now is the time for action. It’s been a wobbly start to the season after a summer of upheaval, but United are beginning to show green shoots in their bid to cement themselves as Champions League contenders and a multi-trophy-winning outfit.

Defensive positions are being examined, but with Joelinton’s form lacking in stages this season, Howe wants a new midfielder.

The question on everyone’s lips: Will it be Elliot Anderson?

Newcastle chasing elite midfielder

Howe spoke at the start of October about his desire to bring Anderson back home. The 23-year-old was sold to Nottingham Forest in 2024 and he has since become a top-class midfielder. It was not a happy sale for the Magpies, whose hand was forced by PSR.

Now, United want him back. The problem? Manchester City and Manchester United are also keen, and the Tricky Trees have priced their gem in excess of £100m.

This is a superstar in the making. Already, he is ranking favourably against the likes of Sandro Tonali in the Newcastle midfield; the Italian is widely regarded as one of the best in the Premier League.

If Newcastle are fruitless in their bid to sign Anderson, they could do worse than fall back on Scott McTominay, who was named the Serie A MVP last season after leading Napoli to the Scudetto.

As per Chronicle Live, McTominay is reportedly unsettled in Naples and is considering a return to the Premier League. Newcastle would be right there, offering the Scotland star a chance to take his career to the next level.

Valued at £70m, McTominay, 28, will not be short of suitors in 2026, but sources close to the player suggest that he would be open to moving to Tyneside and working under Howe’s stewardship.

What McTominay would offer Newcastle

It’s a testament to McTominay’s meteoric rise in Italy that had Newcastle signed him from Manchester United, it would have been a move met with indifference.

But now, he is revered as a hero for both club and country, 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings and regarded as a “true superstar of European and world football”, as said by content creator Adam Joseph.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, his former boss at Old Trafford, also hailed him as a “physical monster” once, and this is why McTominay could be such an interesting Anderson alternative.

He is capable of show-stopping moments, but the Tartan Army hero also has the athleticism and defensive attributes to dovetail right into Howe’s engine room.

His high duel success bespeaks his tenacity, and his eye for goal makes him an intriguing option to place just ahead of Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, both elegant and combative players with excellent passing ranges, sure to pick out the Napoli star’s surges into the danger area.

Matches (starts)

37 (33)

34 (33)

Goals

2

12

Assists

6

4

Touches*

54.2

43.1

Accurate passes*

28.7 (82%)

22.7 (85%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.8

Dribbles*

1.0

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.6

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

2.0

Duels (won)*

6.5

6.1

Anderson has since raised his level, but McTominay has hardly regressed himself, instrumental in a title-defending Napoli team that trail first-placed AC Milan this season by only a single point.

There is a winning mentality about McTominay that Newcastle need to take their project to the next level, and while the 23-year-old Anderson would be a fantastic addition, this would provide Howe with the instant effect he and his team need.

Newcastle need a new midfielder, and that won’t change. Either of these stars would mark stunning acquisitions.

He wants to leave: PIF must sell Newcastle's "poor man's Haaland"

Newcastle United must cash in on this player who reportedly wants to move on from the club in January.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2025

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been urged to play a youngster who former Spurs right-back Pascal Chimbonda says is just like Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs head into next Sunday’s North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium with genuine hope that their star attacker will be fit to face Arsenal, though he missed their last two crucial matches and didn’t travel with the Ghana squad to face Japan and South Korea.

The 25-year-old, who started every Premier League game this season before his recent knock, has been one of Spurs’ most effective players, registering four Premier League assists and scoring his first goal for the club away to Leeds just before the last international break.

Kudus’ impact since arriving from West Ham in the summer has been transformative, and he’s established himself as the creative heartbeat of Tottenham’s attack. The forward’s absence was pretty evident in their 2-2 draw with Man United, where Spurs lacked the directness and spark that has made Kudus such a pivotal figure in Frank’s system.

The Lilywhites boss has been optimistic about his chances of featuring at Arsenal, though, telling the media that Kudus should be available for the clash.

With Tottenham already decimated by injuries to key players, Kudus’ potential return would be a massive boost. The winger’s excellent form before his knock makes him arguably Tottenham’s most important attacking player, and Frank will be desperate to have him available for a fixture where Spurs desperately need to end their Emirates hoodoo.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

According to WhoScored, no other player in the Premier League has averaged a greater number of completed dribbles per 90 than the ex-West Ham star this season, and he’s also the ninth-best performing player in the entire division overall.

Kudus could play a key role in breaking down a resolute Arsenal backline and the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues, but according to Chimbonda, Frank has another young, direct winger who could also provide that extra injection of threat.

Thomas Frank urged to play Wilson Odobert with Mohammed Kudus comparison made

Speaking to Spurs Web, the ex-Tottenham defender says Frank would have a lot more luck going forward if he started Wilson Odobert on the left-hand side more often.

The Frenchman was recently heralded for his ‘best performance in a Spurs shirt’ in their 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen last week, and the winger bagged an assist against Man United after coming off the bench to replace the injured Randal Kolo Muani.

The 20-year-old contributed three goals during an injury-disrupted debut season, and enjoyed a memorable night against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League Round of 16, where his double helped Spurs overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Brennan Johnson has struggled since being displaced from his preferred right-wing position by Kudus too, failing to replicate form which saw the Welshman finish last term as their top scorer.

With the likes of Kudus, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel all competing with him for a starting spot, rotation is hardly a surprise, but Johnson has failed to impress off the left, and Odobert has started to feature more in that role in recent weeks.

Tel has showed promise in brief cameos, doing in five minutes what Richarlison failed to do in 84 against United. However, he remains inconsistent and relatively raw. Simons can also play on the left wing, but Spurs need the Dutchman to inspire in a more central attacking midfield role.

Odobert represents the best option to start against Arsenal on November 23, with his pace and directness potentially giving Jurrien Timber something to really think about.

The New York Mets aren't done adding to their roster and adding a specific big name would make them very happy.

On Thursday, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney took to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the Mets' interest in landing All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Olney said, "In the Mets' perfect world, they'd love to find a deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who, like Juan Soto, is a slugger who makes contact. 199 hits and 96 strikeouts last year. If they pulled off a trade for him, they could sign him before he hit the market, as they did with Lindor."

Guerrero is headed into his final season before free agency and is coming off an excellent, bounce-back season.

In 2024, Guerrero slashed .323/.396/.544, with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, an OPS of .940, a wRC+ of 165 and produced 6.2 WAR. He was named All-MLB First Team for the second time and took home his second Silver Slugger. The four-time All-Star is projected to be the top available free agent next offseason.

For their part, the Blue Jays reportedly have no intention of trading Guerrero.

The Mets already made a splash this offseason by signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract. Finding a way to add Guerrero would be a massive coup.

Archer dismissed Jadeja early on the second day before Washington and Thakur resisted

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2025

Rishabh Pant walks out to bat despite his injured foot•Getty Images

Lunch Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot as India put a premium on first-innings runs, pushing their total up to 321 for 6 at lunch on the second day in Manchester.England were upbeat when their captain Ben Stokes struck in the 102nd over to remove Shardul Thakur, who played a good hand, making 41 off 88. They would have thought they had a way into the tail. But it was Pant who came down the stairs, grabbing onto the railing, every step taken with extreme care. He had arrived at the ground in a moonboot. His courage was celebrated with applause ringing around Old Trafford.Jofra Archer had provided the perfect start to the day’s play for England when he dismissed Ravindra Jadeja in his first over. With the second new ball in hand, he and Chris Woakes created 12 wicket-taking opportunities in 12 overs but the ball would either just zip past the edge or take it and fall short of the cordon.Thakur and Washington Sundar did well to weather those close calls, putting the one that caused them trouble out of their mind to focus on the next. They built a 48-run partnership for the sixth wicket as India continued to show lower-order resilience, having bulked up that part of their game since the first Test at Headingley.A largely uneventful session was heading to a close until Pant decided to liven things up a bit. He looked in obvious discomfort, merely walking, and when he was hurried, hopping, through for his singles. A few minutes after he made the long walk out there, he had to make the long walk back as well with rain forcing an early lunch.

With 2025 marking the 21st edition of the FIFPRO Men's World 11, GOAL ranks the five best versions ever assembled

Part of the fun of sports is the debate. How would this star do against another? Could this team beat this one? Which era is best? The games are the best, of course, but all of the discussion surrounding them is equally enjoyable and, at times, equally fierce.

Of course, analyzing teams across different eras is entirely subjective. But that's the fun of it. Which brings us to the FIFPRO Men's World 11. Since 2005, global players have voted for their World 11, assembling the greatest collections of players in the game. Imagining these players, all in the same team, is tantalizing. The 2025 winners will be announced Nov. 3, and there are plenty of good candidates.

Until then, though, it's time to look to the past. These teams have included icons of the game and legends that have won it all. So, which are the five greatest FIFPRO Men's World 11 squads ever assembled? GOAL takes a look.

• FIFPRO World 11
  

  5FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2020

  Goalkeeper: Alisson (Brazil)

  Defenders: Alphonso Davies (Canada), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)

  Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Thiago (Spain), Joshua Kimmich (Germany)

  Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

  An absolutely ludicrous team of attacking talent.

  You have Ronaldo, Messi and Lewandowski in the attack, with the Polish star fresh off a dominant campaign for Bayern Munich. To supplement that, you have two of the best attacking fullbacks we've seen in Alexander-Arnold and Davies. Oh, you want to build through the midfield? How about De Bruyne and Thiago, with Kimmich cleaning up messes with Ramos and van Dijk behind him and Alisson in goal?

  This team would score goal after goal after goal. But even so, it's fair to question whether they could match the defensive balance that some of the teams above them would possess. Still, if you want excitement, this is the team for you.

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• FIFPRO World 11
  

  4FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2011

  Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Spain)

  Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Spain), Gerard Pique (Spain), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia), Dani Alves (Brazil)

  Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (Spain), Xavi (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain)

  Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

  Of course, the attacking trio of Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney will get the attention, but 2011 was the period of Spanish dominance, and you can see that in this team.

  The midfield contains three of La Roja's greatest ever, Iniesta, Xavi and Alonso, so you'd know there'd be no chemistry issues there. Ramos and Pique are in the defense, while Casillas is in goal. What about that for a spine? Add in Alves, comfortable with everyone we've named due to his role at Barcelona, and a no-nonsense defender in Vidic and you've got a complete team. It is never going to lose the ball, and the defensive solidity is the stuff of dreams, especially if we assume that Rooney is going to put the legwork in up front. 

  This team seems to capture an era, one that many look back on as when the sport was at its very best.

• FIFPRO World 11
  

  3FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2007

  Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

  Defenders: Carles Puyol (Spain), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), John Terry (England), Alessandro Nesta (Italy)

  Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (England), Kaka (Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

  Forwards: Ronaldinho (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

  Ronaldo as a midfielder? Well, yeah, but when you look at the pieces around this team, you understand why. Yes, this team is attack-heavy, with Ronaldo joining Kaka and Gerrard in midfield and Messi leading the line alongside Drogba and Ronaldinho.

  However, when you have defenders such as Puyol, Cannavaro, Terry and Nesta in the team, you might just be able to get away with it.

  This team has pace, technique, power and creativity. It can come at you in waves and, with the four players staying back, that might just be enough. This team is about strong defense, pace in attack, and well-rounded center mids. Perfection. 

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• FIFPRO World 11
  

  2FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2005

  Goalkeeper: Dida (Brazil)

  Defenders: Paolo Maldini (Italy), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), John Terry (England), Cafu (Brazil)

  Midfielders: Frank Lampard (England), Claude Makelele (France), Zinedine Zidane (France)

  Forwards: Ronaldinho (Brazil), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)

  It's fair to argue that this team has a Gerrard-sized hole, given his heroics in Istanbul. But even without the Liverpool icon, this group is stacked. There's a reason he didn't make it, after all.

  We have to start with the defense, which is probably as close to perfect as you can get. A centerback pairing of Nesta and Terry is as formidable as it gets, while Maldini's presence on the left balances out Cafu's attacking ambition on the right. In the midfield, you have Makelele cleaning up for Lampard and Zidane, creating a balanced trio.

  And, in the attack, you have the pace of Ronaldinho and Eto'o to aid the finishing of Shevchenko. In reality, this team is perhaps the best balanced. Others may have more talent. But if you're playing an actual match, this might just be the best one. Which makes the top side even more impressive.