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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing an absolutely huge week in N17 amid mounting pressure on the Australian, with an all-important Europa League quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

Ange Postecoglou facing key Tottenham decisions

However, before their most vital game of the season to date, Spurs must get past bottom side Southampton in the Premier League – and nothing but a win will do for Postecoglou as serious doubts surround his future.

Related Tottenham ready to move for "elite" Postecoglou replacement after Chelsea loss

The Australian is treading on very thin ice right now.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 4, 2025

The 59-year-old must get supporters back onside and inspire unity once again – a mountainous task for Postecoglou considering his row with the Tottenham away end over Pape Matar Sarr’s introduction during their 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Following a dismal campaign, with Spurs languishing fairly near the relegation zone after 16 league defeats, reports claim chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a new manager, and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is Tottenham’s top target.

“It’s been a ridiculously challenging season on all fronts and every fan has the right to show their frustration and again,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s disappointing 2024/2025.

“I think at times it has overstepped and when it oversteps, I will not stand for it because I am a little bit old school with that, but they have every right.

“I think I said before the game it is up to us to try and find a way to get them back on board with what we’re doing. I still can’t get away from the fact we have a real massive opportunity for ourselves between now and the end of the season.

“I think it would be different if that didn’t exist. It would be a tougher road to navigate, but I am hoping that irrespective of how the fans feel about me, what I’m doing and the project we’ve embarked on, I hope when the games come around, they just get behind the players and the team because they can make an enormous difference.”

Ahead of their clash with the Saints, a report by journalist Dan Kilpatrick has shared how Postecoglou is planning to shape up.

Tottenham to recall Porro whilst dropping Maddison and Son

According to the Standard Sport reporter, Postecoglou will likely completely overhaul his starting eleven and drop key men, with their European bout against Eintracht firmly in the tactician’s thinking.

It is believed the Spurs boss will recall right-back Pedro Porro to the starting lineup versus Southampton, having recently lost his place to the rejuvenated Djed Spence, while big-name duo James Maddison and Son Heung-min will be dropped and rested for Frankfurt.

Criticism has centered on Son this season, with the South Korean megastar failing to replicate his best form this term and talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara questioning his leadership qualities.

“Son Heung-min did not show the demeanour of a captain,” said O’Hara on Son after the defeat to Chelsea.

“Son Heung-min is a player who sets an example, and he did so in the past, but that is no longer enough. Son Heung-min cannot dominate opponents and his sharpness has diminished, failing to make a difference.”

Maddison, meanwhile, has been in and out of the line-up recently despite bagging 11 goals and seven assists this term.

How will the new allowance of two bouncers per over play out in the IPL? We asked two leading fast bowlers for their take

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Mar-2024Alongside the yorker, the type of delivery that has the potential and power to surprise and literally floor the batter is the bouncer.While the fast, climbing bouncer – like this Jasprit Bumrah rocket – can force a top- or leading edge while sending batters ducking and weaving out of harm’s way, the slower variety can equally, but in different ways, lead to a dot ball or a wicket.Though the power of the bouncer is potent in all cricket, in T20s bowlers have been allowed just one per over. That is going to change in the IPL from this season: the league has decided to allow bowlers two bouncers an over instead of the one that is the norm in T20 elsewhere, including in international T20 cricket.What impact will that have on bowling plans, and on batters?”It is a huge, huge advantage,” Harshal Patel, who will turn up for Punjab Kings this IPL, says. “The biggest advantage is, you can bowl them at any point in an over – as opposed to [having to think of] when is the best, when we had just one bouncer an over.”You can now go really hard early on: bowl a bouncer very first ball or second ball, then bowl a couple of length deliveries, then go defensive and close off the over. The more options you have, the better as a bowler.”I can package my over better now.”Related

How soon will we need to reconsider how essential bouncers are to cricket? (2021)

Carnage and fun – the madness at the death in T20 cricket

Harshal Patel: 'There's nothing wrong in bowling 24 slower balls in a T20 spell'

Death becomes him (2018)

IPL to allow two bouncers per over

More options for bowlers to sequence their overs
Generally in T20s, bowlers are known to follow a bouncer with a yorker. That is likely to change under the new allowance, according to former South Africa, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Dale Steyn. Steyn was bowling coach at Sunrisers for the last two seasons (he opted out this year for personal reasons).”A bouncer and a yorker go hand in a hand,” he says. “If you get [the one] bouncer out of the way too early in the over, the next ball which immediately comes to your mind is the yorker, because now the batter knows you can’t bowl a length ball and he is not expecting anything short. Everything is now going to be in his half.”I know a lot of [batters] fear the yorker a little bit. But if you are bowling yorkers to batters like [MS] Dhoni, [Jos] Buttler, Surya [Yadav], they are able to access parts of the field where there is no fielder.”Against a bouncer, Steyn points out there are only limited pockets in a field the batter can hit to usually, as opposed to a yorker.”If you are bowling a yorker, the ball can go anywhere. If you don’t execute it well, Dhoni hits you for a six over long-on. You can bowl a perfect yorker and you can still get hit for a boundary over fine leg. Whereas with a bouncer, setting the field is much easier to control: you know the shot is potentially going to third man, deep square, fine leg. There are not many guys who can hit a bouncer over long-off or long-on – the percentages of that happening are extremely low.”Steyn agrees with Harshal that bowlers now have more options when planning an over.”Now, instead of being under pressure to bowl multiple perfect yorkers, [or thinking] ‘Do I bowl a wide or straight yorker?’ you can walk back to the mark calmly and follow the first bouncer with even a back-of-a-length ball, which offers all three types of dismissal. You can keep the batter guessing about when the second bouncer is coming. Now? Or is it going to be another length ball?Harshal Patel favours the slower bouncer, forcing the batter to generate the power to clear the outfield•Saikat Das/BCCI”The two bouncers allows the fields to be kept simpler, the bowler’s mind less clouded, which overall means his execution could be better.”Two bouncers: a weapon for attack or defence?
Harshal, the top wicket-taker in the 2021 IPL, fetched the highest bid for an Indian player at the auction ahead of the upcoming IPL season, when Punjab bought him for Rs 11.75 crore (US$1.41 million approximately). Over the years he has largely been used in the final ten-over segment, where his variety of slower balls, including a slower bouncer, have posed difficult questions for batters.”[The bouncer] can be both [attacking and defensive] depending on what lines you bowl or what pace you deliver at. If you want to go slower into the pitch, sort of wide-ish outside the off stump, then it can be a very good defensive option against batters who generally tend to drag to the leg side.”It can be also be an attacking option depending on whether you have the fine leg and square leg back and you bowl at the batter’s head and force them to hook you or hit you over the boundary. In a T20 environment very few batters will try to keep it down and try to hit the gaps, most will try and hook you over the line. So that always allows you to force an error.”While the fast bouncer has shock appeal, the slower variety that Harshal relies on can be a nearly equal threat. He talks about the Eliminator in the 2022 season between Royal Challengers Bangalore [his previous IPL franchise] and Lucknow Super Giants, where slow offcutters dug into the pitch were his stock delivery and fetched him Marcus Stoinis’ wicket at a crucial time in Super Giants’ chase.”Eden is a small ground, so I bowled wide slower bouncers to most of the specialist batters, including KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda. I had great success. [The other bowlers] were going ten an over while I was closing my overs for six or seven runs an over.”It’s important to pick the kind of batter to bowl bouncers to, Steyn says. “It’s about making sure the bowler doesn’t overdo the bouncer to guys who are able to take it on”•BCCIWhen and against whom will the two-bouncer rule be most effective?
Steyn believes bowlers will be best off using the new allowance mostly after the powerplay.”Maybe after at least the first four overs. Because with only two fielders out in the powerplay, you have less chance of setting the field. You are also trying to utilise that new ball – trying to swing it, use the hard seam better. So one bouncer is really good in the powerplay to keep the batter guessing. A second bouncer might mean, if he gets any bat [on it], it could fly into the vacant area. Outside of field restrictions, though, you have a different game plan, you have more fielders to play with.”Steyn would like to see bowlers target attacking batters more.”Anybody who is a power player. “[As a coach] you tend to tell bowlers, ‘Guys, stay out of their strike zone.’ Let’s see them pull the ball, as opposed to put their front foot down the track and bully you back over long-on or long-off.”Those kinds of batters knew they didn’t need to pull or hook, and [they could] just duck the [one] bouncer previously. They could catch up with consecutive sixes to counter that one dot ball. But now two dot balls… it’s a different story.”For Harshal, it is about attacking the new batter straight away.”You need to be very good with line: you want to be somewhere around the left ear or left shoulder, because that is the blind spot and batters don’t have control. Because when you try to hook and when the ball rushes on to you or comes a little slower, you end up gloving.”To his point about testing batters with the short ball, Steyn adds a caveat. “If you are bowling to Mitchell Marsh on a flat track in Delhi, the pace-on bouncer might not be the best option. Marsh grew up in Western Australia. I remember specifically a game in Delhi last year where Umran [Malik] tried doing that against Marsh and he didn’t do it high enough and Marsh dominated him. But if he is bowling against somebody else who doesn’t play the pull well, then I will suggest Umran bowl the bouncer more than once.The new rule should encourage bowlers to think more about how to place their fielders, Steyn says. Someone like Jasprit Bumrah can even fool batters by bowling a yorker after setting the field for a bouncer•Vipin Pawar/BCCI”If you are rushing a guy around nipple height and he is not looking to take on the pull, then you can get away with a full over by having the long-on and long-off up. It’s really about making sure the bowler doesn’t overdo the bouncer to the wrong batter – guys who are able to take it on.”Two bouncers, more thought about fields
Bowlers need to think about field placements themselves, Steyn says.”It’s going to be a more challenging field when you are going to force the batter to play more straight shots instead of just standing there and hacking. I want to see bowlers start thinking more as opposed to walking to the top of the mark and the captain telling them, ‘This your field’ and [the bowler goes] ‘All right.’ Over years and years of that they just stick to stock standard field settings. You see guys scoring 360 degrees around the park. We need a little bit more thinking. This [new rule] will allow them to tinker with their thinking now.”An example of a smart bowler of this sort, Steyn says, is an India and Mumbai Indians player who can bluff batters on any pitch across formats.”If you are a [Jasprit] Bumrah, who delivers an extremely good yorker, he can even bluff by going yorker and knocking your poles off while retaining a field for the bouncer.”Steyn thinks the two-bouncer rule will not impact totals in games drastically. “You are still going to see teams scoring 180, 190, 200. It’s not like teams are going to get all out for 120.”It’s going to be quite interesting how batters handle the bouncers. We are going to start to see a difference between how good some batters are versus how lucky some other batters sometimes get, where when they come in, they know that they are only going to get balls bowled in a particular area and they can score 30 off 20. We are going to see less of that.”In Test cricket a bowler has plenty of deliveries to set up a batter – a luxury not available in T20. Steyn believes the two-bouncers rule will change that.”You probably got two balls in T20s to work a batter over previously. Now you could potentially get three to four balls.”

All the stats highlights from the first ODI in Harare

Sampath Bandarupalli05-Aug-2022304 Target chased by Zimbabwe in the first ODI. It is their highest successful target against Bangladesh in ODIs and their joint-third highest chase. Their previous highest successful chase against Bangladesh was 258, way back in 1999 in Dhaka.3 Zimbabwe became only the third team to successfully chase down a target of 300-plus runs against Bangladesh in ODIs. Pakistan chased 327 during the 2014 Asia Cup in Mirpur, while England chased down 306 during the 2017 Champions Trophy.19 Consecutive wins for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in ODIs, before the five-wicket defeat in Harare. Zimbabwe’s last ODI win against Bangladesh came in May 2013, when they won by seven wickets in Bulawayo.4 Instances of a team losing a men’s ODI despite batting full 50 overs at the cost of two or fewer wickets. All the previous three instances were also while batting first, with the last of them by South Africa, when they scored 266 for 2 against Pakistan in 2019.ESPNcricinfo Ltd301 Runs scored by Zimbabwe after the fall of the second wicket in the chase. It is only the fifth instance of a team scoring 300-plus runs for the third and lower wicket in a successful ODI chase. The highest is 347 runs by Australia against India in 2019, after losing two wickets for 12 runs during a 359-run target chase.2 Innocent Kaia and Sikandar Raza are only the second pair to score hundreds in the same ODI innings for Zimbabwe. Stuart Carlisle and Sean Ervine became the first such pair when they scored against India during the 2004 VB Series at the Adelaide Oval.192 Partnership runs between Kaia and Raza, the third highest stand for Zimbabwe in ODI cricket. The highest is the 224-run opening stand by Raza with Hamilton Masakadza against Afghanistan in 2014, while Carlisle and Ervine added 202 for the fourth wicket against India in 2004.135* Raza’s score against Bangladesh in Harare is the highest individual score during a successful ODI chase while batting at No.5 and lower. Michael Bracewell’s 127* against Ireland last month in Dublin while batting at No.7 was the previous highest.Raza’s 135 is also the second highest for Zimbabwe in a successful ODI chase, behind his own 141 against Afghanistan in 2014. Raza is also only the second Zimbabwe batter with multiple hundreds in successful ODI chases, after Craig Ervine.81 Balls needed for Raza to complete his century, the third fastest for Zimbabwe in ODI cricket. The fastest hundred is by Sean Williams off 77 balls against the UAE in 2019, while Brendan Taylor scored a 79-ball century against Ireland in the 2015 World Cup.

The Brewers punched their ticket to the NLCS by following the same formula that earned them a league-high 97 wins this season—timely hitting, dominant pitching and elite defense. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, its offense didn’t make the trip to the league championship round.

Milwaukee was held to exactly one run yet again in Game 3, falling 3–1 to the Dodgers on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The Brewers, trailing 3–0 in the series, are now just one loss away from being swept out of the NLCS, a round they’ve reached just four times in franchise history.

It’s not difficult to pinpoint where the Brewers have gone wrong. Through three games, Milwaukee has scored a total of three runs while batting .101 as a team with just nine hits. According to TNT Sports, the Brewers have the fewest hits (nine) through three games of a playoff series since the White Sox in 1906.

No, that is not a typo. The White Sox had just nine hits in the first three games of the 1906 World Series against the Cubs.

It is worth noting the White Sox won that World Series in six games—although they were able to take two of the first three games, unlike the Brewers, who could be packing their bags for the offseason as early as Friday night in Game 4.

Who needs to step up for the Brewers?

Is “everyone”a suitable answer?

Christian Yelich led the team with 29 homers and a .795 OPS in the regular season, but he’s batting just .200/.294/.233 in the postseason and an even worse 1-for-11 (.091) in the NLCS. Young stars Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio are a combined 2-for-23 against the Dodgers, and Andrew Vaughn—a hero in the NLDS—is still looking for his first NLCS hit.

Milwaukee’s best bat this series has been Caleb Durbin, a bottom-of-the-order option in manager Pat Murphy’s lineup who has three hits in nine at-bats against Los Angeles.

“We’re in a big hole,” Yelich said Thursday after the Game 3 loss. “Our goal right now should be to get the series back to Milwaukee. And worry about the rest later. We can’t look at it as we’ve got to win four in a row. Obviously we do, But we can’t win four [games] without winning one or without winning two.”

The Brewers will try to keep their season alive Friday night with the second game of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 8:38 p.m. ET.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has caught some flak from fans and pundits after his decision to remove ace Max Fried in the seventh inning of the club's eventual 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday night. Fried, after working himself out of trouble in the fifth and sixth innings, came out for the seventh having expended 99 pitches. After Fried induced a Jarren Duran groundout, Boone made the trip from the dugout and took the ball from his starter, turning to a Yankees bullpen that has been equal parts brilliant and disastrous this season.

Yankees reliever Luke Weaver got two quick strikes on Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, but it was all downhill from there. A walk, a double and a single later, and the Red Sox had the lead.

After the game, Boone explained the reasoning behind removing Fried from the game.

"They pressured him pretty good in the fourth, fifth, sixth," Boone said. "Had a couple baserunners each inning. So I felt like he kind of cruised through the first few and obviously he ends up pitching great. But I felt like he had to work pretty hard—and I was going to have the sixth be the end but once we finished with the double play, I wanted him to go out and get Duran and felt like we were lined up."

As well as Boone felt Fried navigated through some traffic on the basepaths, the Yankees manager also seemed to see Fried emptying the tank a bit.

"Maybe a little bit I felt that way," Boone said. "I felt like his command was not as good those final few [innings]. He was making so many big pitches and his stuff was good. Look, he gave us what we needed and felt really good about the outing he put forth. But I felt pretty convicted, like, especially we got the double play. Let’s go get one more hitter and be good."

Did Fried feel that he had tired?

"I definitely exerted a lot of energy trying to get out of that, but I definitely had enough in the tank for whatever the team needed. But Booney [Aaron Boone] was confident to be able to give the ball to Weave [Luke Weaver] in that situation," Fried said.

While the Yankees bullpen went on to surrender one more run in the ninth, New York had a chance to rally against Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, loading the bases with no one out but ultimately falling short.

The Yankees will now turn to Carlos Rodon in a do-or-die Game 2 on Wednesday.

Wayne Rooney was ridiculed after admitting it was “hard” to watch his wife Coleen during her stint on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, revealing he struggled emotionally while alone in Plymouth, as she became a fan favourite in the jungle. The former Manchester United striker explained why viewing her on the show left him feeling overwhelmed during a difficult period in his managerial career.

Wayne and Coleen Rooney's differing ends to 2024

Coleen’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity in late 2024 became one of the most talked-about moments of the show’s recent history, as she entered the Australian jungle after years of avoiding reality TV. Her decision came at a time when her young children were older, allowing her to commit to a long stint away from home. Coleen embraced the challenge head-on, participating in 'Bushtucker Trials' and endearing herself to viewers with her competitiveness and resilience.

While Coleen flourished on screen and ultimately finished as the runner-up, her success contrasted sharply with Wayne’s struggles back in England. The United legend was enduring a turbulent spell as manager of Plymouth Argyle, battling a disastrous run of results and mounting pressure. As Coleen captured the nation’s attention, Wayne was facing relentless scrutiny and the stress of a looming relegation fight. This unique overlap created widespread public discussion around the couple, with many viewers joking about Wayne struggling while his wife dominated the headlines.

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentWayne reveals why it was 'hard' to watch Coleen on I'm A Celeb…

Coleen revealed on why she finally agreed to join the show, saying: "I just felt like the time was right. The kids were all a little bit older. I think in the past, the kids have been too young to leave them for that amount of time. But, also, I'd made this decision to start doing some better work again. So I thought that would be the good a good start."

She added that although she was not naturally drawn to reality TV, this particular show had always appealed to her competitive side. "Also, I think it's I've never been one for reality TV. Like, there's not much I would do. I've always said if I was to do one, I'd do that. I'm quite competitive."

Wayne, meanwhile, admitted that the experience of watching the show was unexpectedly difficult for him. "It was hard watching, you know," he confessed to a spate of laughs, prompting the interviewer to ask why. "I was away in Plymouth, so I was on my own as well," Rooney continued, while Coleen laughed beside him as he recalled his lonely viewing nights.

The former England captain added that the impact took him by surprise. "So in the apartment on my own, so I'm watching it, and then it was, it was emotional."

Coleen's positive public image after I'm A Celeb…

Coleen’s appearance on the show coincided with one of the highest-profile public redemptions in recent celebrity TV history. After years of being at the centre of the so-called 'Wagatha Christie' saga involving Rebekah Vardy, she used the jungle setting to reshape her public image. Her warmth, humour, and willingness to take on difficult tasks quickly made her a favourite among viewers, and her journey to the final cemented her as one of the breakout stars of the series.

At the same time, Wayne was enduring a managerial nightmare at Plymouth Argyle. His team entered a severe slump, conceding goals at an alarming rate and failing to secure wins during the very weeks Coleen was excelling on television. The pressure intensified with each match, ultimately resulting in Rooney’s departure from the club on December 31, 2024.

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Getty Images SportColeen's TV future — Wayne's uncertain managerial career

With Coleen’s public profile rejuvenated and her popularity soaring, there has been speculation that she may pursue further media projects following her successful stint on I’m A Celebrity. Her openness about the experience suggests she is more comfortable stepping back into the spotlight than at any point in recent years. Whether she chooses more television or focuses on other professional ventures remains to be seen.

For Wayne, the future is more uncertain. After leaving Plymouth, he has been linked to several coaching roles but remains at a crossroads following another setback in his managerial career. The Manchester United legend has been taking up punditry duties and working with the BBC's 'The Wayne Rooney Show' to keep himself occupied as he decides upon his future.

The one-off Test starts on October 20, while the three-match T20I series begins October 29

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2025

Rashid Khan has been rested for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe as a “precautionary measure to prioritise his well-being and sustained performance for upcoming international events,” according to an ACB statement. He will, however, return to lead the side in the three-match T20I series that follows.With Rashid sitting out of the Test, Afghanistan’s selectors turned to a mix of fresh and familiar names. Right-arm quick Ziaur Rahman, left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, and legspinner Khalil Gurbaz, all of whom impressed in the domestic red-ball season, earned call-ups to the Test squad.Shahidullah, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, has been rewarded for consistent performances and was included in both the Test and T20I squads. Bashir Ahmad, the left-arm pacer who featured in recent white-ball matches against Bangladesh, retained his place in the Test side. Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Test team, which also included Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Bahir Shah, and wicketkeepers Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil.In the T20I squad, Rashid returned as captain with Ibrahim his deputy. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai made a comeback after debuting earlier in 2024. Experienced players Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad were also part of the T20I side, along with pacers Fareed Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.The tour will run from October 20 to November 2, with Harare hosting all games.Afghanistan Test Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhel (wk), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, and Bashir Ahmad.
Reserves: Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sediqullah Atal, and Shams Ur Rahman.Afghanistan T20I Squad
Rashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Malik and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Faridoon Dawoodzai.

Casemiro wasn’t just on the brink at Manchester United, he looked to have gone over the cliff.

Who can forget that night at Selhurst Park in May 2024, with the Brazilian – albeit deployed in an unorthodox centre-back role – looking all at sea as Crystal Palace ran riot to romp to a 4-0 victory.

Jamie Carragher’s infamous “leave the football before the football leaves you” quotes appeared to hint that the end was nigh for the ageing midfielder, a fact only heightened amid the former Real Madrid man’s dismal start to the following campaign, having been hooked at the break following a disastrous 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool in September.

The arrival of Ruben Amorim, and the shift to a midfield pairing, looked like the final nail in the coffin for his Old Trafford career, with all eyes on the January window and a potential Saudi exit.

Fast forward almost 12 months, however, and the 33-year-old – as he was back in his debut campaign in Manchester – is the glue in this side again, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur outlining the stark drop off that occurs when the five-time Champions League winner is withdrawn.

Manuel Ugarte seemingly can’t cut it, while Kobbie Mainoo is being groomed as Bruno Fernandes’ successor, ensuring a long-term replacement for Casemiro still needs to be found.

Man Utd's record with & without Casemiro this season

It is telling – and rather frustrating – that even in a season of largely just one game a week for the Red Devils, Casemiro still appears unable to complete a full 90 minutes, having been substituted off in seven of his nine Premier League starts this term.

Indeed, the solitary 90 minutes that he has played came recently against Nottingham Forest, in which the £350k-per-week star opened the scoring, with the veteran destroyer far too often withdrawn in the closing stages.

Against Brighton, for instance, United were coasting at 3-0 when the one-time Porto man was replaced on the 70-minute mark, before the Seagulls swiftly staged a stirring comeback in his absence.

A similar scenario occurred last time out, with the away side’s 1-0 lead in north London quickly flipped on its head after Ugarte slotted in alongside Fernandes instead, rubber-stamping Casemiro’s status as arguably one of the most important players in Amorim’s lineup.

That importance is emphasised most notably by the fact of the 20 goals the Old Trafford side have conceded in all competitions this season – including the grim night at Grimsby – 15 of those came when the Brazil skipper wasn’t on the pitch.

Ugarte, a ball-winner and workman-like midfielder by trade, looked to be the perfect successor to his fellow South American upon arrival in Manchester, although now well into his second season, the 24-year-old remains a polarising figure, with Amorim reportedly telling the Uruguayan he no longer recognised the player he had previously coached at Sporting CP.

Hope remains that the aforementioned Mainoo could still thrive alongside Fernandes, rather than act as his deputy, although whether the young Englishman has the defensive nous remains to be seen, with United crumbling when the changes were made in that 4-2 thriller against Brighton.

Non-penalty goals

Top 10%

Total shots

Top 15%

Assists

Top 34%

Pass completion

Top 29%

Progressive passes

Bottom 29%

Progressive carries

Top 35%

Successful take-ons

Bottom 1%

Touches (att pen)

Top 15%

Tackles

Top 1%

Interceptions

Bottom 47%

Aerials won

Top 5%

Clearances

Top 10%

With options limited beyond that in the midfield department, Amorim might have to get creative to find a perfect replacement for Casemiro moving forward.

Man Utd's wildcard Casemiro replacement

Ugarte – unused in the Europa League final – looks destined for an exit before too long. Mainoo, meanwhile, is facing his own uncertainty, having yet to start a Premier League game in 2025/26.

Neither has taken their chance when introduced off the bench, ensuring Amorim could look elsewhere to fill that midfield void, with a potential solution already in-house in the form of ex-Arsenal starlet, Ayden Heaven.

Still just 19, the England youth star has quietly impressed since his arrival from the capital back in January on a £1m deal, with only a cruel injury sustained against Leicester City cutting short his early progress in the first-team ranks.

A powerful, athletic presence, the 6 foot 2 teenager has thus far been deployed in a left-sided centre-back role under Amorim, albeit with his hopes of game time having been hampered this term by the form of Luke Shaw in that starting berth.

With Lisandro Martinez also nearing a return from injury, Heaven could then be nudged into third choice, with a player of his talent and potential arguably far too good to simply be pushed into the periphery.

That is why shifting the Hale End graduate back into midfield could be the answer, with the rangy left-footer having largely featured as a number six or number eight in the Gunners youth ranks in the past.

In the view of respected analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – the Islington-born sensation “is a midfielder, not a centre-back”, highlighting “his ability to receive the ball under pressure”.

So calm and composed during his early United outings thus far, Heaven has that ability to drive forward from deep with the ball at his feet with ease, with comparisons to a certain Paul Pogba having previously been made by his grassroots football coach Terry Bobie:

The type of player who can dominate a midfield, like Pogba, it would certainly be worth giving Heaven a chance to shine in a more advanced role, having largely passed every test so far in a United shirt.

Indeed, his solitary Europa League start against Real Sociedad saw him win 100% of his duels, while not being dribbled past once, as per Sofascore, producing a performance that simply belied his youth.

With the physical prowess that United appear to be in need of in the absence of Casemiro, the £1m man might just be a bargain solution to Amorim’s longstanding midfield problem.

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Neymar has seen another transfer door open in front of him, with Boca Juniors captain Leandro Paredes claiming that the Argentine outfit are prepared to “wait” for the Brazilian superstar. Neymar is in the process of running down his contract during a second spell at Santos, with it previously being suggested that he could reunite with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami once hitting free agency.

Santos struggle: Neymar ready for another new challenge

The 33-year-old playmaker appears destined to accept another new challenge early in 2026. An emotional return to where it all began for him at Santos has not worked out as planned – with Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer enduring more injury issues while becoming wedged in an unexpected relegation battle.

A parting of ways there appears inevitable, with Neymar looking to make a fresh start ahead of next summer’s World Cup. A return to Europe for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has been ruled out, with it likely that he will remain in the Americas.

AdvertisementGettyBoca captain in contact with Neymar

There has been talk of rival outfits in his homeland expressing interest, while a move across the border to Argentina would allow him to link up with ex-PSG team-mate Paredes in Buenos Aires.

With Boca Juniors having Copa Libertadores action on their agenda for 2026, Paredes has told of potentially welcoming a familiar face to La Bombonera: “I talk to Ney a lot. The truth is, I have a very good relationship with him. We're friends. We're always in contact, but he's at his club, we have to respect the other clubs, the decisions of the other players, so I can't say much.”

Paredes went on to say with a smile: “We'll wait for him if he wants!”

MSN reformed: Will Neymar join Messi in Miami?

Boca will likely face competition for Neymar’s signature from Inter Miami, with ex-USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel telling GOAL recently of why a deal that could see the fabled ‘MSN’ attacking unit reformed makes sense: “I think it would be a risk on anyone’s behalf; I think it just depends on how you would structure the contract. You also have to weigh the pros and cons — when you sign legends of the game like Neymar, you also have to take into account the commercial opportunities that go with it, and it coincides nearly every time with the salary and wage packet that you are going to give.

“The plus side is, it is a league that is a step down from where he is playing. Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time, but he can play many more years in MLS. It is a league that will allow players to do that, so I think Inter Miami need to weigh the pros and cons of what they can earn off the field and try to get it correct.

“If they can structure the contract correctly, then it limits the risk. Having Neymar alongside Messi again — I am not sure. We will wait and see, but the league needs to do something commercially.”

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GettyHomecoming for Dybala? Another option for Boca

While waiting to discover what Neymar has planned, Paredes has also reacted to the news that Argentina international team-mate Paulo Dybala could head home if he chooses to sever ties with Serie A side Roma.

Paredes, who played alongside his fellow World Cup winner in Italy, added: “Having a player like Paulo on the team, with his quality and stature, would be spectacular. I'll let each person make their own decision; I can't interfere, it's not my place. There are so many things to consider, and he's about to become a father too. I hope he makes the best decision for himself and his family. We're waiting for him here with undiminished hope.”

Dybala’s contract in Rome is due to expire at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. It may be that he decides to head home – having left Argentina for Italy in 2012 – while Neymar also faces a huge decision on what the immediate future holds for him as questions are asked of whether he is still capable of delivering moments of match-altering brilliance.

أعرب إسلام الشاطر، لاعب الأهلي السابق، عن استيائه من بعض المنتمين لنادي الزمالك، مُشيرًا إلى أزمات الفريق الأبيض الفنية التي أدت إلى خسارته أمام المارد الأحمر في نهائي السوبر المصري.

وقال الشاطر خلال تصريحات له في برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “mbc masr”: “أنا صراحة (تعبت وزهقت من تكرار نفس الكلام) عندما أسمع البعض يُهنئ الأهلي على الفوز، ولكن بعض المنتمين لـ الزمالك يقولون: (لا، أصل المعلق، وآخر يقول الحكم)”.

وتابع: “يا جماعة، النادي الأهلي أفضل من نادي الزمالك في المباراة خلال 90 دقيقة، بعيدًا عن الأمور الخارجية التي يتم التطرق لها (وهل زيزو صافح هشام نصر أم لم يصافحه)”.

وأضاف: “بالنسبة للمشاهدين، عندما تجلس وتتابع المباراة، ترى فريقًا جيدًا أمامك وهو النادي الأهلي، أحد الأصدقاء المنتمين للزمالك قال لي: (ياعم إنتم كسبتم على الواقف)، حسنًا.. هذه شهادة تقدير، ما بالك لو لم نلعب على الواقف كما تقول، هل كنا سنفوز بخمسة أو ستة أهداف؟”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير: كفى مظلومية في الزمالك والسير بمبدأ “ضربني وبكى وسبقني واشتكى”

وواصل: “شكرًا لك أنك تقول أننا فزنا بهذه الطريقة 2-0 فقط، المفترض أن تُهنئ الأهلي إذًا، لكن إذا سألته عن مشكلة الزمالك، يقول لك (المعلق والحكم) يا جماعة تحدثوا عن أزمة الزمالك، ضعوا أيديكم على الأزمات ولا تتطرقوا للحديث عن أمور أخرى وما يدور حول الملعب، وإن زيزو لم يُصافح فلان أو إن أمام عاشور كان يضحك”.

واستكمل: “يا جماعة، هذا الكلام معروف للجميع، كلنا نعلمه، وكلنا لعبنا مباريات الأهلي والزمالك، الأبيض يُعاني من مشكلة كبيرة جدًا، وعندما أرى نادي الزمالك بهذا الشكل غير الجيد، أشعر بالضيق من داخلي كأهلاوي”.

وأردف: “نادي الزمالك نعم، هو الضلع الثاني، هو والأهلي يكملان بعضهما البعض في كل شيء في كرة القدم، لكن الأسماء الموجودة أمامي في صفقات الزمالك لعام 2025 لا تصلح للعب مع النادي”.

واختتم: “من الذي اختار هؤلاء اللاعبين؟ يجب أن يُحاسب، وإذا لم يقل أبناء الزمالك ذلك لأنهم ليسوا قادرين، فأنا أقولها”.