Leeds United suffered defeat once again yesterday afternoon, with Daniel Farke’s side now winning just one of their last eight games across all competitions.

Burnley were the latest side to prevent the Whites from claiming all three points, with goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaaouna on the scoresheet for Scott Parker’s side.

As for Farke’s men, it was an outing to forget at Turf Moor, with the Clarets now sitting just a single point behind them in the current Premier League standings.

Given the recent lack of form, questions could start to be asked about the current situation, with a solution desperately needed to be found to bolster their chances of survival.

However, some of the questions will need to be directed at the board, with numerous players currently not at the level of a side that could stay in England’s top-flight.

The disappointing showing of Aaronson against Burnley

At times in the Championship, midfielder Brenden Aaronson was often called into question for his lack of impact, as he often went missing in key moments of matches.

The 24-year-old ended last season with nine goals and two assists, but many expected him to be replaced in the starting eleven upon promotion back to the Premier League.

However, he’s featured in all eight outings to date, even starting the defeat in Lancashire yesterday, but was unable to have any positive impact on proceedings.

Aaronson featured for 66 minutes before being withdrawn, subsequently missing a big chance in the first half that would’ve put Farke’s men in the lead.

He also only won 50% of the duels he entered, registering just 40 touches of the ball – subsequently being unable to provide the creative spark the side needed.

However, despite his display, he wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with one other player unable to take full advantage of the opportunity handed his way against the Clarets.

The Leeds star who’s on borrowed time after Burnley

After losing to one of their promotion rivals, it was always going to be a disappointing day for Leeds and the fanbase, but some of the showings were nothing short of unacceptable.

Losing is one thing, but many of the players struggled to match expectations, which led to numerous below-par outings – something which evidently contributed to the defeat.

Aaronson was just one of a handful of players who failed to deliver, with such a performance likely putting his starting role at risk in the next couple of weeks.

However, he shouldn’t be alone in that aspect, with fellow attacker Jack Harrison once again failing to deliver after being brought back into the fold in 2025/26.

The Englishman was a key figure in the Whites’ squad during previous years in the Premier League, but it’s evident that he’s no longer the player he once was.

Farke handed him his first league start of the season during yesterday’s defeat, but it’s a decision that backfired given his lack of impact against the Clarets.

Harrison was replaced at the same time as Aaronson, but his showing was arguably worse, as seen by the stats produced during his time on the pitch.

Minutes played

66

Touches

40

Big chances missed

1

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

0

Possession lost

14x

Passes into final third

1

Shots on target

0

He attempted seven crosses during his performance, but failed to complete any of them, with a similar story being told in terms of his attempted dribbles.

The 28-year-old also missed a big chance in front of goal and only made one pass into the final third, which highlights his lack of creativity at present.

However, the stat that best showcases his dismal outing was his tally of possession lost, subsequently giving the ball away on 14 separate occasions yesterday.

It was yet another afternoon to forget for Harrison and Leeds, with boss Farke desperately needing to find a solution to their recent slump in the Premier League.

Such a division is one of the most unforgiving in the world, but the manager desperately needs to get on top of their form and drop the aforementioned duo if the club are to head in the right direction.

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1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 17, 2025

Everton have now gone three games without a win in the Premier League, but they have eight points after six matches and sit ninth in the standings.

The corresponding point from the 2024/25 campaign? The Toffees had four points on the board, having woefully lost four straight to kick off the term under Sean Dyche’s wing.

The draw against West Ham United on Monday night was probably a fair reflection of the fixture contested. The hosts started on the front foot and were well worth their money when Michael Keane rose and powered home from James Garner’s swept cross.

But Everton let the game get away with them, and United were playing with a new sense of iron about their will, having dismissed Graham Potter days before and replaced him with Nuno Espirito Santo.

Still, not everyone in blue covered themselves in glory. Beto toiled at number nine once again, but Jake O’Brien was also culpable for a poor performance at right-back.

Jake O'Brien raises questions

Everton signed O’Brien from Lyon for just over £16m in July 2024. Formerly of Crystal Palace’s academy system, the Republic of Ireland international had been hailed by journalist Zach Lowy as a “revelation in defence” for the French side, before completing his switch.

Last season, he struggled to break his way into the team before Moyes’ appointment, but thereafter, he played consistently from the outset at right-back, starting 17 times across the second half of the season.

So far this term, he has played every minute of the Hill Dickinson Stadium side’s Premier League campaign, though the recent draw to West Ham ended up shining a light on the need for a natural right-sided defender, one who can defend and attack with equal sharpness.

The Liverpool Echo handed the 6 foot 6 Toffee a 5/10 match rating after a performance that left plenty to be desired, while former Everton writer Adam Jones criticised the deployment, saying, “O’Brien at right-back just does not work in the long term.”

The Irishman is industrious and has been a shrewd signing for the Merseysiders, but it does beg the question as to why a high-level right-back was not signed this summer, with Ashley Young gone and Nathan Patterson unable to shake persistent injury problems.

Moreover, Everton have signed Jack Grealish on loan, and while the silky playmaker is flourishing on Merseyside, it has shifted Iliman Ndiaye out onto the right flank.

Everton's Iliman Ndiaye problem

When Everton welcomed Grealish to the pack, Moyes would have known that this would limit Ndiaye’s playing time from his favoured left flank.

Last season, the Senegalese winger was Everton’s most potent threat, finishing the campaign as their top scorer with 11 goals across all competitions.

Hailed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp for his “dynamite” qualities on the ball, the 25-year-old also ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles won per 90, data courtesy of FBref.

Four of his Premier League goals with the Blues have been struck with his left foot, but Ndiaye is clearly more comfortable arcing into space to unleash with his right, having only featured twice as a right winger across the entirety of the 2024/25 season.

Could it be said that he is being wasted in this new role? It perhaps bears testament to Ndiaye’s remarkable skill that he has hardly fallen by the wayside in this new role, but the sense that he would be performing at a higher level in his previous role cannot be shaken at this moment.

The player’s speed and athleticism lend themselves to joy across the frontline; and indeed, Ndiaye has played all around the park, though Moyes has been the principal architect of his new home in unfamiliar territory.

Grealish, too, operates at his best in a left-sided midfield zone, but Moyes will be aware that both of his mavericks can play in a centralised attacking position, and maybe that’s food for thought, especially if Tyler Dibling makes the necessary developments over the next few weeks and months and nails down a prominent role at Everton.

But this does loop back to O’Brien. Is the hulking defender the option on the right side of the defence? Does he provide the requisite creative support?

Ndiaye’s defensive focus has been sharpened since joining Everton from Marseille for £15m just over one year ago. However, he in turn needs help from the full-back behind him.

Given that Beto and Thierno Barry are struggling at number nine right now, and Ndiaye is Everton’s deadliest goal threat, there’s a chance that Moyes opts to field him as a centre-forward at some stage. In any case, appeasing the star is crucial if the club hope to stay competitive.

Ndiaye might have received a bit of criticism in recent weeks, but he’s still been dangerous across the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring two goals and assisting another.

But if Grealish becomes a permanent fixture on Merseyside, and Ndiaye is told that he will play off the right with regularity, a few more tweaks might be needed in the transfer market to achieve the kind of balance that will propel Everton into the ascendancy.

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Sep 28, 2025

As part of a Golden Generation which proved to be incredibly disappointing, Steven Gerrard has now revealed where his England side went wrong and why he “hated” international duty.

Who was part of England's Golden Generation?

To this day, it beggars belief that a generation involving Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and so much more failed to ever win a trophy. From goal-line controversy in the 2010 World Cup to Rooney’s stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006, there’s far more moments to forget than there are to savour, but how many stars did this generation really have?

England's Golden Generation divided by club rivalries

To put into context just how many talented players England had at their disposal in the 2000s, their starting line-up when they crashed out against Portugal on penalties in 2006 included Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Ashley Cole, John Terry, David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Rooney. It couldn’t have got much better than that.

Alas, silverware never arrived and the failure of that generation remains one of England’s greatest regrets. It makes the task of the current generation even greater, too.

Whilst the 2000s featured Gerrard, Rooney, Lampard, Beckham and others, the 2026 World Cup squad is likely to feature Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. Once again, the pressure is on.

Whether the Three Lions have learned from their mistakes at Euro 2024, which saw them lose against Spain in the final late on, or from their mistakes at the 2022 World Cup, where they crashed out in the semi-final against France, is the big question.

The Golden Generation never quite learned and many have had their say as to why that proved to be the case, including Gerrard. The former England captain has now revealed where his side went wrong and why he “hated” international duty.

Gerrard slams "egotistical losers" in England generation

Speaking about England’s failiure to use the Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard trio, Gerrard dubbed the Golden Generation “egotistical losers” and said he “hated” England duty because of the divide in the camp between club rivals.

The former midfielder said: “I hated it. I didn’t enjoy it. Hated the [hotel] rooms. In my early days, I’d have days where I was down, like low down. Like I’m in this room for seven hours, what am I going to do.

“There was no social media, we didn’t have a DVD player or anything. Channel 1 to 5 or whatever it was on TV. I used to get low and down.

“I used to love the games.

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“I used to love playing for England. I was really proud. I used to enjoy the training sessions but it was 90 minutes a day. And then I was just on my own. I didn’t feel part of a team. I didn’t feel connected with my team-mates with England.

“I didn’t feel that with Liverpool. They were the best days of my life. I felt like the staff looked over me, like I felt special. I felt like I couldn’t wait to get there. With England, I just wanted the games and the training sessions and then to be away.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O foco total do Internacional é na semifinal da Libertadores nesta quarta-feira (4). A derrota para o Atlético-MG no último sábado (30), pelo Brasileirão, pouco interfere no planejamento de Eduardo Coudet para os Colorados em busca da América.

RelacionadasFluminenseFluminense e Internacional fazem tira-teima em mata-mata; Colorado tem vantagem recente no Beira-RioFluminense02/10/2023NotíciasLibertadores: como foram os últimos jogos entre Internacional e Fluminense?Notícias02/10/2023FluminenseFluminense busca ter mais disciplina para não se complicar diante do Internacional na LibertadoresFluminense02/10/2023

O primeiro confronto da semifinal contra o Fluminense terminou em 2 a 2 e deixou tudo em aberto. A grande partida com direito a expulsão e emoção até o fim não surpreendeu Coudet, que exaltou a qualidade e a competitividade dos dois times.

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

– Podem trocar coisas, mas os dois times têm uma intenção. Vamos enfrentar um grandíssimo time, com jogadores de qualidade. Acho que é o time e o treinador do ano. Muito claro o que quer, time valente. O jogo do outro dia deve ter sido um dos melhores do ano, olhando de fora. Queríamos ganhar e eles também. Foi um jogaço.

Apesar de exaltar também o Internacional, o treinador argentino deixou claro que, para ele, o favoritismo está todo do lado dos cariocas.

– Seguramente, vai ser um jogaço outra vez. É uma série aberta e é Libertadores. Neste caminho, enfrentamos dois candidatos, River e Fluminense. Nós também queremos ser candidatos. Nesta semifinal, somos o patinho feio. Temos muita gana. Vamos jogar aqui em casa com o Beira-Rio lotado e tratar de dar uma grande alegria a nossa torcida e ter a sorte de passar – disse Coudet.

+ Confira a tabela completa da Libertadores

A previsão de casa cheia no Beira-Rio pode ser um componente importante para garantir vaga na final. No Maracanã, com um a mais em campo, o Internacional deixou o Fluminense crescer no jogo e ser empurrado pela torcida para empatar a partida. Agora, com o fator casa do seu lado, os colorados precisam apenas de uma vitória simples para voltar ao Maracanã na final da Libertadores.

+ Fluminense e Internacional fazem tira-teima em mata-mata; Colorado tem vantagem recente no Beira-Rio

Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia has apologised to fans for his side's "humiliating" 7-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and admitted he was "really angry" about his ill-timed shirt swap with the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. The midfielder scored both of Leverkusen's goals in the rout, which coach Kasper Hjulmand called "painful".

Garcia apologises to 'incredible' fans

The loss marks the first defeat for new coach Hjulmand and leaves Leverkusen's European campaign in turmoil. The German side are 30th in the 36-team league phase, winless with just two points from three matches.

Despite netting a first-half penalty and a stunning long-range strike in the second half, Garcia was focused entirely on the team's collapse. He praised the home supporters who endured the defeat and pleaded for their continued backing.

"This hurts. I want to apologise to the fans. They were incredible," Garcia said. "It will be a tough night. The result is tough; we still have to improve a lot as a team. We have a lot of potential."

The Spaniard immediately turned his attention to the club's next fixture, adding: "We need them on Sunday to take another step forward."

AdvertisementAFPGarcia explains 'very special' Dembele shirt swap

Garcia was seen exchanging jerseys with PSG star Dembele after the final whistle, a move he acknowledged was awkward given the circumstances. He insisted the arrangement was made prior to kick-off, admitting he would not have requested it after such a heavy loss.

"Because I'm still really angry," Garcia said when asked about the swap. He assured that he had asked Dembele for the shirt before the match, stating: "After conceding seven goals, I might not have asked for it anymore."

Despite his anger at the result, Garcia hailed the French forward, who marked his 100th PSG appearance with a goal. "For me, he's the best. He plays right, left, inside, and outside. That's also why the jersey is 'something very special to me.'"

Sporting director Simon Rolfes, however, was less impressed, stating he was "pretty indifferent" to the exchange after the damaging result.

10-man Leverkusen capitulate in chaotic first half

The match descended into chaos after 33 minutes when Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich received a red card. While PSG were also reduced to 10 men when Illia Zabarnyi was sent off, the visitors capitalised on the instability.

PSG, who held 67 per cent possession and registered 22 shots, were ruthless. An early Willian Pacho own goal set the tone. Though Garcia equalised from the spot later one, Leverkusen conceded three goals in the final five minutes of the first-half as Desire Doue, scoring twice, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia effectively ended the contest before the break.

Nuno Mendes added a fifth five minutes after the restart before Garcia's second goal. Dembele, returning from a six-week injury, came off the bench to score in the 66th minute and and Vitinha completed the 7-2 rout with a late strike.

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Hjulmand feels 'a lot of pain' after first defeat

The result was a brutal first setback for manager Hjulmand. The Dane, who took over the Werkself earlier in the season after Erik ten Hag's sacking, was visibly affected by the scale of the defeat.

"We're feeling a lot of pain right now. These are big numbers. We're hurt," Hjulmand said. "We have to shake it off and look forward."

Like his midfielder, Hjulmand also thanked the home support: "Our fans were incredible. I hope we can give them something back on Sunday."

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is reportedly playing at just half of his capacity due to a painful groin injury. Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll says the 18-year-old’s physical issue is severely restricting his movement and shooting ability, with the youngster’s ongoing struggle evident during Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.

• Yamal battling pubalgia as fitness concerns mount

  Barcelona’s teenage sensation is playing through significant discomfort as he battles pubalgia, a chronic groin injury that has limited his effectiveness in recent weeks. The issue, which causes persistent pain in the pubic region, is said to have reduced the forward’s mobility and explosiveness, traits that define his game.

  Yamal appeared visibly restricted in movement and reluctant to shoot as Barca suffered a 2-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu. According to medical experts, the pain associated with pubalgia can fluctuate in intensity but often worsens during high-intensity matches, precisely the kind of fixtures where Barcelona need Yamal’s creativity most. The youngster’s physical limitations have been increasingly noticeable this month, prompting concern within both Barcelona and the Spanish national team camps. Club doctors are reportedly managing his workload carefully to avoid aggravating the condition further.

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  Doctor explains Yamal’s condition

  Speaking to , renowned sports traumatologist Dr. Ripoll offered insight into Yamal’s physical struggles, describing pubalgia as a “disabling” condition that significantly reduces athletic performance.

  "It is an injury that is frankly difficult to treat. It's characterised by pain that reduces the player's ability to move and shoot by almost 50%, which is exactly what we saw in El Clasico," Dr. Ripoll explained.

  “He hardly shoots at goal, he has difficulty moving, he constantly stretches… It’s a disabling pain that allows the player to participate in matches but keeps him from his best level and significantly diminishes his performance.”

  Ripoll further clarified that while the injury does not involve structural joint damage, it can take weeks or even months to fully heal if not managed correctly. His assessment confirms what many Barcelona supporters have observed that Yamal, while still playing, is far from his peak physical condition.

• Carvajal’s latest setback adds to Madrid’s injury woes

  Dr. Ripoll also commented on the injury sustained by Los Blancos captain Dani Carvajal, who suffered another setback to his right knee, the same one that sidelined him for much of last season. Madrid announced that the defender is dealing with a “loose body” in the joint, a condition that can cause swelling, pain, and in serious cases, mechanical locking.

  “It’s a piece of the joint surface, normally cartilage and bone, that comes loose and moves uncontrollably inside the joint,” Ripoll said. "In very serious cases, can cause a blockage, which is quite serious for a joint. It depends on the size of the player and the amount of space left in the joint. If the space is in the joint's weight-bearing area, the problem will be more serious."

  The 33-year-old's recurring injury leaves Madrid short on the right flank once again, with options like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has only recently recovered from a muscle injury, and Fede Valverde expected to provide cover. The defender’s absence could also impact Spain’s national setup, where both he and Yamal are regular call-ups – a concern ahead of next month’s international fixtures.

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  El Clasico chaos: Brawl, tension, and fallout

  The injury talk followed a chaotic post-match scene at the Santiago Bernabeu, where tempers flared between players from both sides. Carvajal confronted Yamal moments after the final whistle, allegedly telling him: “You speak too much. Speak now.”

  The exchange stemmed from Yamal’s pre-match Twitch comments in which he jokingly claimed “Real Madrid steal”, remarks that reportedly angered several Los Blancos players. A heated confrontation ensued, with Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham also involved before officials intervened to separate the teams.

  Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong later defended his young teammate, accusing Madrid players of overreacting and “trying to provoke” the 18-year-old. No disciplinary action has been taken so far, though the incident has sparked debate across Spain about professionalism and mutual respect between senior and emerging stars.

  The defeat leaves the Catalan giants five points behind Madrid in the La Liga standings, and with Yamal struggling for full fitness, Hansi Flick faces a major challenge to reignite his side’s attacking spark ahead of their next fixtures.

Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma played key roles as SA won their first world title

Andrew McGlashan14-Jun-20253:35

Markram: ‘Important to keep Test cricket No.1 in SA’

Temba Bavuma heard the references as Australia tried to get into South Africa’s heads on the fourth day at Lord’s, but the ‘chokers’ tag can now be banished to history.When Bavuma and Aiden Markram resumed on day four needing 69 to win, the Australians reminded them that the job wasn’t done. The tension was palpable in the middle, especially when Bavuma edged Pat Cummins behind with 65 needed and Tristan Stubbs had his bail trimmed by a beauty from Mitchell Starc with the target 41 away.But in the end, there were no major alarms as Markram took them within touching distance of the target with an innings for the ages.Bavuma was quick to say how facing the current Australian team is a different experience than in the past – a clear reference to the infamous 2018 series – but that didn’t mean there weren’t a few words.Related

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“Playing against Australia is a bit different in the last couple of years,” he said. “They’re not as vocal out on the field. They’re still aggressive through their body language, through obviously their skill, but there’s not a lot of chatter.”Of course, the tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. One of their players threw out the fact that we could lose our eight wickets in less than 60 runs. I definitely heard that.”Aiden kept using the [words] lock in after every over, let’s keep locking in. Let’s give them nothing. So yeah, not a lot of chatter, just one or two things that were, that were said.”1:53

Steyn on SA’s WTC win: ‘We saw the biggest of the biggest come through’

Australia stretched the game as long as they could and in the end were able to take the second new ball, but by then only 14 runs were needed and Markram dispatched the first delivery of it emphatically through midwicket.”It was kind of just draw it out as long as we can, try and for the pace bowlers, just try and go for two runs an over,” Cummins said. “[Nathan] Lyon was looking really likely and you never know, maybe some clouds come over, maybe a new ball does something different, just try to string it out as more and more nerves play into it as well.”Markram, who had been emotional when reaching his century on the third evening and referenced his own feelings when falling short in last year’s T20 World Cup, hoped talk of the past had been permanently put to bed.”It would be great to not have to hear it again, that’s for sure,” he said. “In terms of it motivating you, I mean, there’s always going to be external things that can motivate you, but it’s not your sole purpose for playing. To have got the job done and to literally have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team.”Cummins was gracious in his assessment of Markram’s performance and South Africa overall after the frequent debates about their route to the final.”A few of us have played alongside him as well in IPL and [he’s] very well respected,” he said. “He’s a good man, Aidan. Unfortunately for us, he kind of made it look pretty easy out there and just built a big innings. We threw a fair bit at him, but [he] had an answer for everything.””Everyone has a slightly different route to make the final, but they absolutely deserved to make the final and showed why I think they’re very deserving champions.”

تحدث الدولي النرويجي، إيرلينج هالاند، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي عن مباراة فريقه أمام بوروسيا دورتموند ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره بوروسيا دورتموند مساء غدٍ الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويستضيف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند غدًا في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة الحادية عشر بتوقيت مكة المكرمة.

وقال هالاند، في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة في تصريحات نقلها الموقع الرسمي لنادي مانشستر سيتي: “لقد كنت الشخص نفسه تمامًا طوال حياتي، لم يتغير أي شيء”.

وأكمل: “ما زلت نفس الطفل في بعض المواقف، ما زلت نفس الطفل ولكن مع المزيد من الخبرة في الحياة، أنا أكثر خبرة بالطبع، لقد كنت ألعب في هذا المستوى الاحترافي منذ أن كان عمري 16 عامًا”.

وأضاف: “لدي خبرة أكبر بكثير في كرة القدم وفي الحياة، لقد عشت بمفردي لمدة تسع سنوات، وهو ما ساعدني كثيرًا كشخص أيضًا، لقد عشت في بلدان مختلفة، وتحدثت لغات مختلفة، أنا نفس إيرلينج ولكن مع المزيد من الخبرة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | قرار غير مسبوق من جوارديولا قبل مواجهة بوروسيا دورتموند في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وعن مقارنته بميسي ورونالدو استطرد: “لا أبدًا، أنا بعيد عنهما تمامًا، أنا رجل نرويجي ولا ينبغي أن أعتبر نفسي شيئًا مميزًا لمجرد تسجيلي للأهداف، الأمر بهذه البساطة، أنا فقط إيرلينج وهذا لن يتغير أبدًا”.

وعن احتفاله على طريقة روبوت بعد هدفه أمام بورنموث: “الناس يقولون إنني روبوت، لذلك قمت بتلك الاحتفالية في المباراة السابقة، لا أخطط لأي إحتفالات عند تسجيل الأهداف، سنرى ما هي الاحتفالات القادمة”.

واعترف هالاند بأن كونه أبًا ساعده ذلك في الحصول على نظرة أكثر شمولية للحياة بعيدًا عن ضغوط الملعب، قائلًا: “لقد غيّر حياتي بالتأكيد، بلا شك”.

وأتم: “فجأة هناك شخص يوقظك كل صباح، كان الأمر مختلفًا في السابق، لقد جعلني أكثر تركيزًا إذ أصبحتُ أكثر استرخاءً وهدوءً، أنت بحاجة إلى التوازن بين التركيز وعدم التركيز على الإطلاق”.

It wasn’t the perfect start to Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure at West Ham United on Monday night, but it wasn’t far off.

The Portuguese manager’s first game in charge saw the Hammers take on David Moyes’ Everton, and while they fell behind in the first half, they rallied, equalised in the second 45 and could have gone on to win on another day.

However, while it’s not quite as important as the team’s fightback, the coach’s decision to leave James Ward-Prowse back in London suggests he’s ready to make significant changes to the team.

However, there is another member of the squad who isn’t good enough and should be left out, just like the Englishman, going forward.

Why Ward-Prowse's time is up under Nuno

West Ham paid Southampton around £30m to sign Ward-Prowse in the summer of 2023, and aside from a few good performances here and there, and the odd free-kick, it’s a move that can only be described as a disaster.

The former Saints star is not agile, powerful, or quick enough to play as one of the team’s two central midfielders, but at the same time, he has not shown enough in-game creativity to start in the ten, especially not when Lucas Paqueta is still at the club.

The Portsmouth-born ace has been so lacklustre since his move to London Stadium over two years ago that he was sent on a season-long loan to Nottingham Forest, only to be sent back halfway through the campaign, having made a grand total of ten appearances, six of which were starts.

Now, some may claim that with a new manager through the door, all of the players who struggled under Graham Potter should be given another chance, but unfortunately for Ward-Prowse, it was Nuno who refused to play him at the City Ground.

Perhaps the best example of why the 11-capped international has to be moved on as soon as possible are the statistics from his last game for the club.

For example, in the game against Crystal Palace, he misplaced four of five crosses, lost eight of nine duels, was dribbled past twice, lost possession of the ball 14 times, and committed three fouls.

In other words, Ward-Prowse was, and is, a liability for West Ham and therefore, should ideally be sold in the winter window, alongside another player who has consistently failed to impress in East London.

The West Ham player who has to be dropped with JWP

The unfortunate reality for Nuno is that, while West Ham do have a number of quite brilliant players in the squad, they also have plenty who should be moved on as soon as possible.

Chalkboard

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

One of those who, unfortunately, falls into the latter camp is Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The Greek defender joined the club from Arsenal in the summer of 2023, and once again, while there have been some impressive moments here and there, he’s largely failed to live up to expectations.

We can see this in his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 6% for interceptions in the league among centre-backs last season, but just the top 35% for tackles, the top 56% for shots blocked and the bottom 23% for passes blocked.

In other words, the numbers back up the eye-test, and while it might sound harsh, they lend credence to the claim from journalist Tom Rennie that the 27-year-old is “nowhere near Premier League quality.”

A new manager didn’t make a difference either, as the former Stuttgart ace failed to prevent Michael Keane from opening the scoring on Monday night, despite initially being well-placed to do so.

Now, if there were no other options in the squad to replace him, Nuno might be forced to persevere with the Athens-born titan, but he has summer signing Igor Julio and Jean-Clair Todibo to choose from.

Ultimately, West Ham should look to sell Mavropanos and bring in a replacement in the winter window, as, like Ward-Prowse, he is not good enough to play under Nuno.

Fewer touches than Areola: Nuno must drop West Ham's "old-fashioned" flop

Nuno Santo has some big decisions to make at West Ham already.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 30, 2025

Sunderland still have some time to wait until they face off against arch rivals Newcastle United back in the Premier League.

The middle of December sees Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats clash against Eddie Howe’s Magpies in what promises to be a hotly contested Tyne-Wear Derby, with the last fierce meeting between the two enemies in the top-flight coming all the way back in 2016 in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

The two sides did butt heads in the FA Cup back in 2024, as an Alexander Isak-led Toon comfortably swept aside their Championship hosts 3-0 on the day, but the Wearside outfit is a completely different beast now with Le Bris at the helm, as opposed to their once bruised nature as second-tier regulars.

While there will be a lack of niceties exchanged at the Stadium of Light in December, Sunderland will know that there are some strong performers already in their camp who will be ready for any intense battles ahead, with the likes of Noah Sadiki not fazed whatsoever by the intensity of the top-flight so far.

Sadiki's early promise at Sunderland

With new signings such as Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, and Omar Alderete receiving a lot of the early praise this season, and rightly so, Sadiki has arguably slipped under the radar as another mightily impressive summer pick-up.

Indeed, the former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise battler might just be 20 years of age, but he looks cut out for the grind of the English top-flight already, having been an ever-present part of Le Bris’ starting lineups across Sunderland’s seven Premier League clashes so far.

He has made one of those starting central spots his own with his energy and quality clear for all to see, with his running statistics on the opening day against West Ham United seeing him cover a ridiculous 11.5km across the 90 minutes.

With an assured 85% pass accuracy also averaged per Premier League game so far, it could be argued that Sadiki is actually Sunderland’s own unique take on Newcastle warrior Bruno Guimaraes, with the 20-year-old just needing to add goals and assists to his Black Cats repertoire to be on the road to rivalling his South American counterpart.

At the moment, he has zero goals or assists next to his name.

This could come soon, though, with Sadiki actually helping himself to four goal contributions last season during his swansong Belgian Pro League season.

But, with six ground duels won effortlessly at the City Ground before his side’s 2-0 slip-up at Manchester United, it might well be that Sadiki excels more as a tireless anchor for the Sunderland cause, as opposed to marauding forward on occasion and hammering home sweet efforts, like Guimaraes.

Instead, one of Sadiki’s equally lively teammates could have more of a compelling argument to hand on why he’s Sunderland’s very own version of the Magpies captain, having been in and around the intense environment of the top-flight for far longer than the promising number 27.

Why Sunderland's "genius" is their own Guimaraes

When Guimaraes arrived on Tyneside in January 2022, Sunderland’s main rivals were used to middle-of-the-road finishes in the Premier League. Now, with the Brazilian as a key cog in Howe’s machine, Champions League football is regularly served up.

Of course, Sunderland won’t be expecting to be in Europe’s elite competition anytime soon, but it’s abundantly clear from how the Black Cats have started this season that Granit Xhaka is already a transformative presence – much like Guimaraes once was at St James’ Park – who can help the Wearside outfit to a high-up finish right after promotion.

Much like the number 39 chips in time after time with crucial goals and assists, the former Arsenal warrior has more than played his role in Sunderland collecting early wins in their immediate bid to beat the drop, with the last three goals Le Bris’ men have scored in the tough division coming about from Xhaka popping up with an assist.

This, clearly, sets him apart from Sadiki, who can spray a lovely pass here or there, but hasn’t quite grasped the same level of incision as the Basel-born midfielder.

But, much like his Toon foe, Xhaka is also definitely well-versed in what it takes to be a physical presence when needed, having even been branded a “monster” by Arsenal-based writer Connor Humm when still at the Emirates, off the back of the 33-year-old winning 130 duels during his final top-flight campaign in North London.

Games played

7

7

Goals

2

0

Assists

0

3

Touches*

59.7

72.9

Accurate passes*

35.7 (83%)

46.4 (84%)

Big chances created

0

4

Ball recoveries*

5.8

5.1

Total duels won*

6.7

6.4

This side of his well-varied game has been on full display donning Sunderland red and white, too, with Xhaka not a million miles off Guimaraes’ “world-class” nature, as he was once glowingly labelled by scout Jacek Kulig for never letting his standards slip on Tyneside.

On Wearside, Xhaka has also been a rock early into this competitive season, with 6.4 duels won on average, putting him on the same lofty pedestal as his counterpart, who was once touted to leave Howe and Co. behind for a staggering £100m.

Considering Sunderland landed their midfield veteran for just £17m, this is extremely impressive to see.

With 17 goals also coming his way in the Premier League when situated at Arsenal, it could be that Xhaka elevates his game even more in the weeks to come and becomes the constant Sunderland needs to push up the division, much like Guimaraes has been their every step of the way for Howe’s men as they turned into a Champions League-level outfit.

With Xhaka now wearing the armband with pride, it will be fascinating to see where both Sunderland and Newcastle are in the league standings come their showdown on the 13th of December, with the Black Cats very much fancying their chances of Tyne-Wear glory if their “genius” – as he was recently labelled by Sky Sports’ Don Goodman – puts in another game-changing display.

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