All posts by n8rngtd.top

After beating Barcelona and drawing with Arsenal, Chelsea’s good week of results came grinding to a halt away to Leeds United.

Enzo Maresca’s side were defeated 3-1 at Elland Road, with two strikes in the first half and a late goal enough to sink them.

They did, of course, get on the scoresheet themselves. Pedro Neto was the man who found the back of the net, converting a Jamie Gittens cross at the back post just after half-time.

However, it proved to be too little, with Chelsea putting in a lacklustre performance overall.

It was a night to forget for the West Londoners, and in particular, Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tosin’s struggles vs. Leeds

At 2-1 down with 15 minutes or so to go, Chelsea were still in the game. However, it was an error from Tosin which gifted the home side the chance to score their third and seal an impressive victory.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the man who tapped home from two yards out. It came after Tosin played a risky backpass to Robert Sanchez, putting the Spaniard under immediate pressure in his six-yard box.

Leeds pounced, won the ball back, and it was a simple tap-in for their number nine.

The former Manchester City academy player has been a bit-part player under Maresca this term. Tosin has only played 13 games across all competitions, amassing 872 minutes. That is the equivalent of just nine full 90-minute games.

It will be interesting to see what his role is going forward after an error like that. Former Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel said in the summer that Tosin is “not a Chelsea standard defender.”

Well, after an error like that, it is easy to see why Mikel is of that opinion.

There is a defender waiting in the wings who Maresca could unleash to effectively end Tosin’s time at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea star ready to overtake Tosin

Chelsea’s depth at centre-back took a hit in August when Levi Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The full extent of Maresca’s squad at centre-back has been tested this season, including Tosin.

One man who has impressed and could leapfrog the 28-year-old in the pecking order is academy graduate Josh Acheampong. At 19 years of age, he has been described as the “future of Chelsea” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Acheampong has certainly had his minutes managed by the Italian. He’s played nine times, but has impressed on each of those occasions, playing more than an hour four times in the Premier League.

He even got his first senior goal away to Nottingham Forest in the 3-0 win at the City Ground in October.

One of the standout attributes in Acheampong’s game is his ability on the ball. Kulig noted that he has “excellent technical capacity and range of passing,” which would serve him well in a Chelsea side that likes to dominate the ball.

In the Premier League this season, they average 58.7% possession, the third highest in the top flight.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Indeed, his underlying numbers reinforce the fact that Acheampong is such a good ball-playing defender.

The England under-21 star ranks in the top 9% of centre-backs in Europe for average passes completed per game, with 67.34.

Chelsea’s whole club philosophy at the moment is about investing in youth and looking towards the future.

Being a Cobham graduate, Acheampong certainly puts a big tick in that box and has already shown his quality at first-team level.

Tosin’s bad form could well be enough for Maresca to ditch him from the starting lineup. With injuries being an issue and such a need to rotate the squad, it might provide Acheampong with the perfect opportunity to stake his claim and lock down a permanent starting spot.

As bad as Tosin: Maresca's 4/10 flop must never start for Chelsea again

Chelsea’s title hopes seemingly went up in smoke away at Leeds United.

By
Robbie Walls

Dec 4, 2025

Stats highlights from the fourth day’s play between England and India at Lord’s

Sampath Bandarupalli13-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes was one of 12 England wickets to fall bowled at Lord’s•Associated Press

607 – Shubman Gill’s run tally in this series is already the highest for India in a Test series in England, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 602 in 2002.12 – Bowled dismissals for India in the Lord’s Test – the most for them in a Test . Seven of the 12 bowleds came in England’s second innings – the first time India have bowled seven batters in a Test innings.The last time a team had 12 or more bowled dismissals in a Test was in 1955, when New Zealand got 13 against England in Dunedin. The 12 bowled dismissals for England at Lord’s are the second-highest in a Test in the last 110 years.4 for 22 – Washington Sundar’s figures in England’s second innings are the second best for an India spinner in men’s Tests in England in the last 40 years.Washington is also the first India spinner to take four or more wickets at Lord’s since Bishan Singh Bedi’s six-wicket haul in 1974.36 – Byes conceded by India in the Lord’s Test. Only twice have they conceded more in a men’s Test – 47 against Pakistan in Bengaluru in 2007 and 40 against England at The Oval in 2018.3 – Number of Tests in which a team defended a sub-200 target at Lord’s. England lost chasing 124 against Australia in 1888, but defended 182 against Ireland in 2009 and 183 against South Africa in 1955.A target of 150-plus has been successfully chased eight times at Lord’s, most recently by England against New Zealand in 2022 and by South Africa against Australia in the World Test Championship final last month.

Both powerhouses are through to the semis, but there is plenty to play for in Indore

S Sudarshanan21-Oct-20252:09

Preview: England’s middle order in the spotlight

Big picture: First defeat in store, but for whom?

Australia and England. Two powerhouses of women’s cricket. Two sides that know how to push oppositions back to the wall. They will clash at Holkar Stadium on Wednesday, at the end of which only one will remain undefeated at the Women’s World Cup 2025. Both teams have already secured their semi-final spots.On paper, Australia sure have the edge. But England would quietly be confident ahead of this contest for two reasons. One, they played in Indore only a couple of days ago. And two, Australia are coming back after a six-day gap.Australia trained on each of the two days leading up to the contest. Their last two games were ones where the top order (read Alyssa Healy) flexed their muscles. Healy scored back-to-back centuries but she is out with a minor calf strain she picked up when Australia had a fitness session on Saturday morning. Their senior pros in Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney have stepped up in different games.Related

• Knight and Smith stay cool in the heat of the battle

• Alyssa Healy to miss England match with 'minor calf strain'

• Scenarios – Four teams fight for one spot

Only Tahlia McGrath, who has aggregated 43 in three innings, is yet to fire but captaincy could be the right potion for her. She revels under responsibility, and freed of the baggage of worrying about qualification, she could well join the party in batting-friendly conditions. There is little concern in their bowling.Which may make England rethink their strategies. Amy Jones, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt have had at least one big innings with the bat. But the others haven’t yet stepped up. England’s lower-middle order has been a concern: Nos. 5 to 7 average only 9.25 at this World Cup, the lowest among all teams. At the start of the year, England also lost the multi-format Women’s Ashes 16-0, unable to win a single game. But their leadership has undergone a change since and they will look to turn a leaf on that episode.Charlotte Edwards’ tactics and Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy have served them well. Their come-from-behind win against India would only act as a further boost. They will perhaps play scant respect to the fact that they have lost each of the five meetings against Australia in India.While teams often maintain that “the past doesn’t matter”, Sciver-Brunt would want to pay Australia back after her heroics went in vain at the 2022 World Cup final. A small step will be on Wednesday, when one of the teams will have a first taste of defeat at this World Cup.

Form guide

Australia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WWWWL

In the spotlight: Phoebe Litchfield and Amy Jones

With Healy absent, the onus will now be on Phoebe Litchfield to lay the platform with the bat for Australia. She is coming on the back of 84 not out against Bangladesh. The flat surface in Indore will only play into her hands. England have a plethora of spinners, and Litchfield is a superb exponent of the sweep and the reverse sweep. She showed a glimpse of that in Australia’s opening match at this venue, now it’s time for a longer exhibition.Amy Jones was a little surprised when Edwards first mentioned that she could be back to opening the batting for England. She had played in the middle order for a good part of the last five years. She showed her hunger at home against West Indies but it wasn’t until her half-century against India that she made her presence felt at this World Cup. “I thought at the halfway stage of the tournament, it was a rocky phase,” Jones said. “I have been riding a wave of ups and down with opening, as you do in cricket. But I was pleased to get a bit of a start last game.” Australia better beware.

Team news: Voll in for Healy?

Georgia Voll is likely to take Alyssa Healy’s batting spot against England•ICC/Getty Images

Healy’s injury makes it a straight swap for Georgia Voll at the top with Mooney to keep wickets. Australia could also bring back left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux after she was rested for the Bangladesh game.Australia (probable): 1 Georgia Voll, 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Beth Mooney (wk), 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath (capt), 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Darcie Brown/Kim Garth, 11 Megan SchuttEngland may consider bringing Danni Wyatt-Hodge in place of either of Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey or Emma Lamb. The trio has been low on runs and England would not want to take chances against a strong Australian team.England (probable): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Alice Capsey, 7 Emma Lamb/Danni Wyatt Hodge, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren Bell/Lauren Filer

Pitch and conditions: Another batting belter in store

A black-soil pitch will be used for this fixture. It is expected to be flat. This track is right next to the red-soil one that was used for India vs England. It is the centre pitch at the venue, so expect the square boundaries to be more-or-less equidistant. Indore is expected to be humid and a little cloudy, with a slight probability of rain. There is no threat of a washout, however.

Stats and trivia

• Mooney is 89 away from 3000 ODI runs. She will be the seventh from Australia to the mark
• Among bowlers, Megan Schutt is three wickets away from leapfrogging Lisa Sthalekar (146) to third on the ODI wicket charts for Australia. She also has 38 wickets in ODI World Cups and needs two more to go past Lyn Fullston as the leading wicket-taker for Australia in the tournament.
• Sciver-Brunt is four away from 1000 ODI World Cup runs. She will be the third from England to get there
• Sophie Ecclestone is two away from becoming England’s second-leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket. Jenny Gunn has 136 while Ecclestone has 135. One more wicket will push Ecclestone into the top five among wicket-takers in all women’s internationals. She is currently level on 317 with Shabnim Ismail.

Quotes

“I don’t think there’s any special ingredient. I feel like we prepare really well. Our players are really adaptable and we try to communicate around conditions. The girls have been fantastic at adapting and being able to get us out of some sticky situations and having different players step up and perform has been really critical for us.”
“Linsey’s been brilliant. For her to get the opportunity [to open the bowling] in 50-over cricket is brilliant. It was a big goal of hers to break into the 50-over team. In the summer, there were questions around: could Linsey and Sophie [Ecclestone] play in the same team. And it’s brilliant to see how she has taken on a different role opening the bowling.”

It is no surprise to anyone that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been in such dominant form this season. The Citizens number nine cannot stop scoring, and already has 19 goals to his name from just 16 games so far in 2025/26, chipping in with an assist, too.

His form in the Premier League has been largely unstoppable. Haaland has found the back of the net 14 times in the English top flight, coming in just 12 appearances. In two of those games, the 25-year-old didn’t score. His form has been as good as ever for City.

However, it is not just at club level where Haaland has been in fine goalscoring form. Norway are reaping the benefits, too.

Haaland’s form in the November international break

Despite only playing 48 games for his country, Haaland has 55 goals already. That makes him the top goalscorer in Norway’s history, 22 clear of anyone else. Captaining his nation in the November internationals, he added four more goals to that tally.

The first of two braces Haaland scored during the international break came at home to Estonia. Two second-half strikes, six minutes apart, helped Norway to a 4-1 win, pushing them closer to automatic World Cup qualification.

Next up was a tougher assignment against Italy. The City striker, however, helped to brush the our-time World Cup winners aside, securing another 4-1 win.

The strikes came within a minute of each other, the first an acrobatic effort in the penalty box and the second an easy goal from close range, with City teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma unable to stop Haaland from scoring.

The goals from Haaland this week will certainly please the Citizens faithful. The fact that their talismanic number nine is continuing his deadly form ahead of a huge festive period surely means they can expect to see similar results at club level.

Haaland, however, was not the only City striker who shone during the November international break.

Man City’s other in-form international striker

There is one question surrounding Haaland, and that is who City have as an alternative to the striker. There is no obvious understudy in the first team, despite the likes of Omar Marmoush being able to operate as a nine.

Well, Pep Guardiola could always turn to the academy if needs be, where the club might have the homegrown Haaland in the form of Reigan Heskey. The 17-year-old is the son of former England striker Emile and has been impressing for City’s academy for several years.

Heskey, who was born in Liverpool, can operate on either flank or as a striker. He shone for City’s under-18s last season in the U18s Premier League, a competition in which he bagged 18 goals in 19 games and assisted a further seven.

Guardiola is possibly the most important person who could take note of this impressive form of the teenager. Well, the Spaniard gave Heskey his first-team debut this season, a seven-minute Carabao Cup cameo against Huddersfield Town, along with his brother, Jaden.

It is not just his club form that has been superb, but his form for England under-17s.

Heskey has been a key member of the Three Lions U17 World Cup squad this month, with football scout Antonio Mango describing him as “unstoppable this international break.”

The 17-year-old attacker played five matches in the competition, finding the back of the net four times and assisting three. He also averaged 1.9 key passes and three successful dribbles per 90 minutes, showing just how much of a threat he is.

Heskey is certainly showing deadly form in front of goal, which Guardiola has already rewarded with minutes in the first team. If he continues on this upward trajectory, there is no reason to suggest he cannot break into the squad permanently a bit further down the line.

Haaland was not the only City striker in form for his country this month. Heskey has been on fire, and would love to keep this form going when he returns to club football.

No Rodri & the "next Kroos" signs: Man City's dream lineup after January

Here is how Man City could line up if they can get their January targets

2

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 16, 2025

Three-time MLB All-Star and 2008 World Series champion Mark Teixeira is launching a political career.

The former baseball star who helped the New York Yankees capture the 2008 World Series title is running as a Republican in Texas' 21st Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 45-year-old's bid is to replace the seat vacated by Congressman Chip Roy, who announced that he will not be seeking re-election. Roy will be running for the state's attorney general position.

"As a proud Texan and lifelong conservative who loves our country, I'm ready to fight for the principles that make Texas strong and America exceptional," Teixeira said in a statement. "…I'm running to ensure District 21 remains prosperous and free for generations to come."

Teixeira played 14 seasons in the major leagues and was a career .268 hitter with 409 home runs and 1,298 RBI.

Making sense of the big talking points at the end of the first day of the auction

Dustin Silgardo and Nagraj Gollapudi24-Nov-20243:43

Moody: PBKS paid dearly for Shreyas and Arshdeep

How did Shreyas Iyer get such a massive payday?

It might strike some as strange that a batter who has not played a T20I in almost a year should earn more than the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Heinrich Klaasen, not to mention Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But that’s the nature of the auction, where supply and demand dictate bids, and objective valuation is sometimes incidental.Related

• Shreyas Iyer: 'I hate losing. That's what has elevated me to where I am right now as a captain'

• Shreyas Iyer appointed Punjab Kings captain for IPL 2025

• DC co-owner Jindal: 'The minute we didn't retain Pant, I knew he was gone'

• Bhuvneshwar goes to RCB for INR 10.75 crore as fast bowlers cash in on day two

• Fleming on Ashwin: 'We can use him in a number of ways'

Delhi Capitals (DC) had Shreyas Iyer as their captain from 2019 to 2021 and reached the playoffs in all three seasons, making the final in 2020. The DC coach at the time was Ricky Ponting, now head coach at Punjab Kings (PBKS). Both DC and PBKS needed a captain going into the auction and focussed on Shreyas, who had won IPL 2024 as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Both teams had big purses in hand and were willing to spend up to a third of that on a captain – remember that there have been just eight captains who have won the IPL, and Shreyas is one of them.As a batter, while Shreyas was somewhat overshadowed by KKR’s hard-hitting top-order batters, he has struck at 140-plus over the past three seasons while averaging close to 35, so he is up there with some of the most effective top-order bats in the IPL.

Why did KKR spend INR 23.75 crore on Venkatesh Iyer?

It was one of the most befuddling sequences in IPL auction history in a long time. Especially because KKR had the option of retaining Venkatesh Iyer as a fifth capped player for INR 14 crore. They instead chose to retain the uncapped Ramandeep Singh for INR 4 crore.To be fair to KKR, their retentions of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh plus the two uncapped players – Ramandeep and Harshit Rana (who hadn’t played for India at the time of the deadline) – looked sensible, since Venkatesh wasn’t expected to be at the centre of such a big bidding war – between KKR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). But, again, what caused the bidding frenzy was the demand vs supply dynamics.4:23

INR 23.75 crore for Venky Iyer – Moody ‘shocked’

When Venkatesh’s name came up, RCB were desperate for a big buy after falling short in their bids for Mitchell Starc and KL Rahul, among others. They had only bought Liam Livingstone at that point, and they still had INR 74.25 crore remaining. KKR had failed to bring back Shreyas and had also fallen short in their bid for Rahul. They had INR 51 crore left. Both teams needed a top-order Indian batter, and most of the big names were not available to fight over.While not the biggest name, Venkatesh is one of just seven Indian batters to have scored 500-plus runs at an average of over 30 and a strike rate over 150 in the past two seasons. The other six had all been retained. That might explain why RCB, who withdrew before reaching the INR 11 crore mark in the bidding for Rahul, were willing to go so much higher for Venkatesh.Also, KKR wanted to retain as much of their IPL 2024 winning squad as possible, and having missed out on both Starc and Shreyas, they really wanted Venkatesh, who might also be a captaincy option.

How did the new RTM rule impact the auction?

For one, it assured Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, as many had predicted before the auction.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had the initial bid for Pant at INR 20.75 crore in their favour, but DC triggered their right-to-match (RTM) option. With the new rule, LSG had one further opportunity to raise their bid, which they did to INR 27 crore (US$3.17 million approx.), and DC felt that figure was too high.ESPNcricinfo LtdShashwat Goenka, one of the LSG owners, explained that INR 27 crore was not a “magic number” but a figure arrived at after much thought that ensured DC would not buy back Pant.The new RTM rule was brought in to ensure players get what they deserve, though several franchises were not in favour of it. And there were several other beneficiaries of the new RTM rule.Noor Ahmad saw his price doubled as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) upped their final bid of INR 5 crore to hold Gujarat Titans (GT) away. Jitesh Sharma fetched an extra INR 4 crore as RCB went up to INR 11 crore to make PBKS withdraw their RTM option. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) raised their bid of INR 15.75 crore to INR 18 for Arshdeep Singh, which PBKS matched. And it was PBKS doing the raising for Jake Fraser-McGurk, from INR 5.50 crore to INR 9 crore, which DC matched. Uncapped seamer Rasikh Salam went for INR 6 crore after DC used their RTM option and RCB raised their bid from INR 2 crore to INR 6 crore. Similarly, Harshal Patel, Rachin Ravindra and Naman Dhir also saw their prices go up after the RTM option came into play.1:35

New RTM rule makes Noor Ahmad’s price zoom

In all, just four RTM options were used successfully on day one of the auction, since many teams were priced out by the last bidders. Expect that to be a factor again on the second day.

Why did Starc get less than Hazlewood, Boult and Archer?

Starc, the most expensive buy at the IPL 2024 auction at INR 24.75 crore, went for just INR 11.75 crore (US$1.40 million approx.) this time. While he did leak runs at times last season, Starc did produce the key breakthroughs in the playoffs for title-winners KKR. That he and Kagiso Rabada (INR 10.75 crore or US$1.28 million approx.) went for less than some of the other overseas quicks probably had more to do with their entry point at the auction than quality. Starc and Rabada were in Set 1, when teams were still saving their purses for the big Indian names coming up in the next few rounds.RCB, who eventually bought Josh Hazlewood for INR 12.50 crore (US$1.49 million approx.), were clearly waiting for KL Rahul and Venkatesh and therefore stopped their bidding after a point for Starc. Once they could not secure those Indian players, though, they went all-in for Hazlewood.Similarly, Mumbai Indians (MI), who were bidding for Rabada, were waiting for Indian players such as Ishan Kishan. Once they hit the fast bowlers’ set with no buys yet, they bid hard for Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and finally Trent Boult, whom they got at INR 12.50 crore.2:26

‘Combination of Boult and Bumrah is mouth-watering’

Did overseas quicks go at a premium again?

As usual, overseas quicks were in high demand. This is despite there also being a good supply of Indian quicks. Apart from Arshdeep, who was the first player to go under the hammer at the auction and on whom PBKS used an RTM, only Mohammed Siraj (INR 12.25 crore) broke the INR 12-crore barrier among Indian quicks on day one. T Natarajan, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan and Prasidh Krishna earned deals in the INR 9-11 crore range, all falling outside the top-six most expensive pacers.As a result of teams targeting overseas quicks, overseas top-order batters appeared to go at budget prices. Apart from Jos Buttler, who went to GT for INR 15.75 crore (US$1.88 million approx,), and Phil Salt, who went to RCB for INR 11.50 crore (US$1.37 million approx.), no overseas top-order batter crossed the INR 10-crore mark. Only one other top-order batter made the overseas top ten on day one – Fraser-McGurk, on whom Capitals used an RTM to get him for INR 9 crore (US$1.07 million approx.).The rest of the overseas top ten included allrounder Marcus Stoinis, Noor, and five seamers. Glenn Maxwell, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra all went in the INR 4-7 crore range, while David Warner went unsold.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Did big-name Indian players command a premium?

Indeed. Perhaps even more than expected.Just the top five Indian buys – Pant, Shreyas, Venkatesh, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep – went for INR 113.50 crore (US$13.4 million approx.) combined. Add in the next five – Rahul, Siraj, Kishan, Jitesh and Natarajan – and that made it 36.92% of the total spend by the teams on day one of the auction.That’s more than a third of the total spend on just ten players.In contrast, the top-ten overseas players went for 25% of the total spend on day one.Clearly, a lot of teams had come in aiming to spend big on a few players and fill in the squad with budget buys later. PBKS, the team with the biggest purse coming into the auction, had this strategy. They used around 57% of their INR 110.5 purse on just three players: Shreyas, Arshdeep and Chahal.LSG spent nearly 40% of the purse on Pant, while KKR spent more than 46% of theirs on Venkatesh. Even SRH, who came in with one of the smallest purses, were willing to fork out nearly half that on the duo of Shami and Kishan.

Manchester United have been known over recent years to invest heavily in youngsters who can make an immediate and long-term impact at Old Trafford.

Part of their £800m spending spree in the last four years has seen numerous big-money talents arrive at the club – with Leny Yoro making the move to join the Red Devils last summer.

Despite being just 18, the hierarchy forked out a reported £52m for the teenager’s signature, even fending off competition from Real Madrid for his services.

He’s since become a key component of Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad, already racking up 42 appearances in the last 12 months or so since his big-money transfer.

However, whilst he still has bags of time to reach world-class status, the Frenchman would do very well to hit the heights of one player during his own stint at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd’s best ever young first-team addition

Back in the summer of 2004, eyebrows were raised across England after United paid a staggering £27m for the signature of teenage sensation Wayne Rooney from Everton.

Such a fee was a mammoth investment for an 18-year-old, but over two decades on, it’s clear the transfer is one of the Red Devils’ best in their 146-year history.

He would spend 13 successful years as a star player at Old Trafford, winning countless individual awards along with team success under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The now 40-year-old won England’s Player of the Year award on five separate occasions, even winning the PFA Player of the Year award back in 2009/10 after scoring 34 times in all competitions.

Under the management of Sir Alex, he won five Premier League titles and a Champions League – subsequently making himself one of the most decorated English players of all time.

Individually, he was just as impressive, scoring 253 times for the Red Devils, a tally that ranks him top of the club’s all-time goalscorer charts – sitting ahead of Sir Bobby Charlton.

His talents were also there for all to see at international level, scoring 53 times, a record that saw him top the list for the Three Lions until Harry Kane came along.

Alongside his tangible contributions, Rooney made a name for himself as a warrior on the pitch, with one current player currently possessing a very similar playstyle.

The United player who is becoming the new Rooney

After scoring just 44 times across the 2024/25 campaign, Amorim made it abundantly clear to the United hierarchy that he wanted reinforcements within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo was just one of the signings made during the off-season, arriving in a staggering £71m transfer from fellow top-flight outfit Brentford.

The Cameroonian international has already made a stellar start to life in Manchester, scoring five times and registering one assist in his first ten outings for the club.

His latest appearance against Brighton and Hove Albion was arguably his best to date, subsequently scoring twice and helping secure the manager’s third Premier League win in a row.

He was also joined at the Red Devils by Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian also costing a pretty penny at £62.5m including add-ons from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Brazilian international has occupied the number ten role with Mbeumo at Old Trafford and has undoubtedly played a key role in the recent revival under Amorim.

Unlike the Cameroonian, he’s had to wait to make the desired impact, only registering his first goal for the Red Devils in this weekend’s convincing win over Brighton.

However, he’s still received key praise from former first-team member Patrice Evra, who claimed Cunha “has the same raw chaos as Rooney” – certainly high praise indeed.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford showcase the reasoning behind Evra’s comments, with the Brazilian currently creating 1.2 chances per 90 in the Premier League.

Other figures, such as 1.6 shots on target per 90 and 1.9 dribbles per 90, showcase his ability within the final third, which has already seen the forward become a fan-favourite.

However, his chaos without the ball is reflected in his tally of 0.7 ball regains per 90 in the final third – a tally which ranks him in the top 25% of all attackers in the division.

It’s certainly early days in his career at Old Trafford, but the signs are all positive for Cunha to become an influential figure in any success endured in the years ahead.

Should he continue on his current path, there’s no reason why he can’t have a similar impact to Rooney during his own period at the Theatre of Dreams.

Forget Cunha & Mbuemo: Man Utd star was the shining light against Brighton

Manchester United secured their third win in a row against Brighton & Hove Albion last night.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 26, 2025

Senior seamers Mark Adair and Josh Little fit to return for T20I leg of tour

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2025Ireland have named five potential debutants in their 15-man Test squad to tour Bangladesh next month, while Mark Adair and Josh Little are fit to return for the T20I series that follows.Ireland were without their two senior seam bowlers for the recent T20Is against England but have received a boost to their preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup with both available for Paul Stirling’s side. Adair underwent knee surgery in August, while Little had been suffering from a side injury.The Test leg will see Ireland play a multi-match series for only the second time. Top-order batters Cade Carmichael and Stephen Doheny, allrounder Jordan Neill and left-arm seamer Liam McCarthy have all received maiden call-ups, while legspinner Gavin Hoey, who is uncapped in Tests, also returns to the squad.They will be captained by Andy Balbirnie, with Ireland having won their last three Tests dating back to February 2024.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Andrew White, Ireland Men’s selector, said: “It is fantastic to have Test cricket on the horizon again – and with that we are excited to see Cade Carmichael come into the Test squad following his ODI debut against the West Indies earlier this year.”Not only has he had a great season, but he has also demonstrated the qualities required to be an international cricketer in this format. Cade compiled an excellent century against Afghanistan A in a four-day match in the UAE earlier this year, and anyone watching his two ODI appearances against West Indies will have noticed his composure and his technical ability against quick bowling.”Stephen Doheny is another player who has had a good domestic season and demonstrated a number of technical changes that we hope will enable him to be successful going forward.”It is likely that we will need all of our seamers across the back-to-back Tests. Given the recent number of injuries we have been managing, and the volume of cricket in the coming months, we will need to proactively manage the group in what will undoubtedly be hot and humid conditions. This is only the second time we have played consecutive Tests as part of a tour – it’s a challenge I know the squad will relish as they adapt to Asian conditions.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20I squad is broadly similar to that which played against England, with the additions of Adair, Little and batter Tim Tector. Neill and seamer Graham Hume were omitted.”In terms of the T20 squad, the likelihood is that spin will play a more prominent role – so Gareth Delany, Matthew Humphreys and Ben White are expected to provide options in this area,” White said. “And with Mark Adair and Josh Little returning to the squad, Graham Hume makes way on this occasion.”On the batting front, the 15-player squad allows us to bring in Tim Tector while retaining Ben Calitz to give us middle-order depth.”

Ireland Test squad

Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Jordan Neill, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

Ireland T20I squad

Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

Fixtures

November 11-15 – 1st Test, Sylhet
November 19-23 – 2nd Test, Dhaka
November 27 – 1st T20I, Chattogram
November 29 – 2nd T20I, Chattogram
December 2 – 3rd T20I, Dhaka

There are a few contenders for the other opener’s spot going into the Ashes

Greg Chappell13-Oct-2025In the grand theatre of Ashes cricket, as ever, a good start still tells the oldest story: lay the foundations and the fortress will stand.Cricket’s oldest and most storied rivalry remains a cauldron of pressure, expectation and tactical nuance, evolving since 1877 into a cultural event steeped in national pride and sporting legacy. While the public spotlight often tends to be on dominant bowlers, middle-order centuries, or dramatic collapses, an enduring truth confirmed by historical data is that victory in Ashes Test matches is often founded on a strong start – particularly resilient and productive opening batting partnerships. Over the past 35 years, data for Australian and English Test sides indicates that a solid foundation at the top of the order is not just advantageous but decisive.In a series where the margin for error is often razor-thin, a strong opening partnership transcends mere statistics; it sets the psychological tone. Such a partnership absorbs the pressure of the new ball, effectively drains the early aggression from opposition bowlers, and provides a crucial platform for the middle order, whether for stability or acceleration. In the Ashes, given the heightened intensity, this pattern is magnified more than in many other bilateral contests. Multiple analyses and match data over recent decades affirm the correlation between robust opening stands and positive match outcomes.Related

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Australia’s sustained Ashes dominance during the period between 1990 and now was largely anchored by three exceptional opening pairs. These batters were revered not just for statistical consistency but for their critical contributions in pivotal Ashes campaigns.The partnership of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer (1999-2007) stands out. They were arguably Australia’s most celebrated opening pair in the modern era, forming the bedrock of a dominant Test side. They opened together in 113 innings, accumulating 5655 runs at an imposing average of 51.88. Crucially, they registered 14 century and 24 half-century partnerships. Their performances in the Ashes were formidable, particularly in the comprehensive home victories in the 2002-03 and 2006-07 series. They consistently blunted the England attack, often negating the new-ball threat within the opening hour. Their ability to score at a measured rate while preserving wickets perfectly complemented Australia’s aggressive middle order, demonstrating a durable, muscular method.Following them, David Warner and Chris Rogers (2013-2015) offered a blend of dynamism and discipline. Despite being a relatively short partnership of just 41 innings, they amassed 2053 runs at an average of 51.32. Rogers’ stoic technique was the ideal balance to Warner’s explosiveness. Their adaptability was pivotal in helping Australia regain the Ashes during the 2013-14 home series, laying down crucial early platforms. This pair recorded nine century and seven half-century stands in their Tests together.Sam Konstas has not been in the best form, but he’s well worth giving a longer rope to•Associated PressPreceding these modern pairs were Mark Taylor and Michael Slater (1993-1999). Opening in 78 innings, they accumulated 3887 runs at an average of 51.14, with ten century and 16 fifty stands. While Slater usually attacked from the outset, Taylor’s calm and balancing presence ensured Australia rarely found themselves under undue pressure in the first session. Their synergy and balance were instrumental in Australia’s sustained dominance during the mid-1990s.The success of these pairs is borne out by statistics. The win percentage of teams when there is a 50-run opening stand is about 39%, which rises to 44% when the opening partnership scores 100 or more. Opening stands of under 50 runs are accompanied by a win rate of about 31%. You can imagine this trend holds particularly true in Ashes Tests, where early wickets can trigger pressure-induced collapses due to the consistently high quality of seam bowling on both sides.A 2013 statistical study published in the , titled “An Investigation of Synergy Between Batsmen in Opening Partnerships” explores this aspect. It affirmed that in Ashes Tests, opening partnerships significantly affected match outcomes, especially when the batters displayed effective synergy – complementing each other’s strengths and mitigating weaknesses. It was found that “opening partnerships with synergy – even with moderate averages – had a statistically significant positive influence on the probability of team victory in Ashes Tests”. The study concluded that the ability of pairs to function as cohesive units was a stronger predictor of winning outcomes than standalone brilliance or individual averages.In matches where the Australian pairs posted partnerships of 50-plus runs, Hayden and Langer’s sides achieved victories 65.7% of the time, those of Warner and Rogers 56.3%, and Taylor and Slater’s, 65.3%.England’s current opening pair, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, embody a stark tactical departure from the Australian pairs. Their approach is aligned with the “Bazball” philosophy, which prioritises tempo and aggression. Between 2022 and 2025, they have opened in 73 innings, scoring 2281 runs at a moderate average of 32.12. Their strike rate of 72.38 is nearly double that of traditional openers like Taylor and Langer. They have three century and 14 half-century stands.While England’s modern approach is exhilarating to watch, their win rate in matches with stands of 50-plus runs is just 47.3%, significantly lower than all three noted Australian pairs above. This contrast underscores a vital nuance: while the English pair might have the edge in being incendiary, scoring quickly does not always correlate with consistent match-winning outcomes. History shows that durable, synergistic and consistent big opening partnerships are most likely to decide the outcome in close and hard-fought contests.As Australia look ahead, the selectors face a crucial decision at the top of the order, one heavily influenced by the historical mandate. Ideally, they will want to show faith in the promising youth of Sam Konstas for the first Test. His treatment by the selectors since his debut has been quixotic. Considering that it takes an individual ten Tests, at least, to work out if he fits at this level, and how to succeed, Konstas not being picked in Sri Lanka was unfathomable. So much so that he is now on the outside looking in when he could have been lining up for his first Ashes Test and perhaps a long and distinguished career.The fact that Queensland’s Matt Renshaw has begun the domestic season in imperious form means that the selectors might be swayed towards the safe hands of the two Queenslanders – Usman Khawaja being the other.Renshaw is a specialist opener with a connection to Khawaja. The two are domestic opening partners, and the established synergy between them is of the sort that has historically been a hallmark of the best Ashes opening pairs. This weighs heavily in Renshaw’s favour. Despite the potential imbalance of having two left-handers, they complement each other well: Khawaja prefers to play off the back foot, while Renshaw can hurt the opposition down the ground if bowlers fail to adjust their length from one player to the other.Mitchell Marsh might be a left-field choice to open, but it wouldn’t be the worst call if he did•AFP via Getty ImagesThe selectors are unlikely to want to experiment with their opening combination, as they have with Steven Smith and Travis Head recently, in such an important series, and Marnus Labuschagne’s rich form may entice them to bat him in his normal spot at No. 3 and slide the bowling-fit Cameron Green to the more suitable No. 6 spot and use him as the allrounder. That means Beau Webster will be the unlucky one to miss out on the final XI which already looks more definitive than it did as little as two weeks ago.A left-field choice that might tempt the panel, if they want to fight fire with fire, would be to consider Mitchell Marsh, the current T20 captain. Marsh is in good form and possesses the ability to counterattack with the best of them. He is regarded as one of the best players of pace in the country and comes from a long line of openers, his father and older brother having opened. However, the move would be a risk the selectors might not be prepared to take unless Marsh has changed his mind about taking on the family business.Renshaw’s timing has been impeccable – he has made runs at the right time; and in batting, as is well known, timing is everything. The fact that he has been included in the ODI squad for the series against India suggests that he is in mind as Khawaja’s partner for Perth. As a former selector, I would support that decision.Opening partnerships matter profoundly in Ashes Test cricket. While attacking starts, such as those offered by the Duckett and Crawley partnership, are exhilarating, durable and synergistic partnerships provide the strategic control and psychological upper hand necessary in the longest and most intense format. From Hayden and Langer’s muscular method to Taylor and Slater’s balance, Australia’s most successful openers over the past 35 years have served reliably as both shield and spear. England’s current pair offer a compelling modern model, but one that must still prove it can consistently deliver wins at the elite Ashes level.Ultimately, the selection of Khawaja’s partner must prioritise that crucial foundation, ensuring that the necessary shield is built before the fireworks can truly begin, thereby guaranteeing that the fortress will stand.

Andre Cury, the agent of Chelsea wonderkid Willian Estevao, has hinted at a future transfer to Barcelona for the Brazilian forward less than 24 hours after the 18-year-old scored in a brilliant win over Hansi Flick's side in the Champions League. The Blues crushed the Catalan giants 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Estevao playing a starring role and outshining Lamine Yamal on the night.

• Estevao stars as Chelsea crush Barca

  Estevao has been loving life in the Champions League with Chelsea in his debut campaign in England. The teenager scored a brilliant goal to help crush Barcelona on Tuesday night, becoming the second-youngest player, after Kylian Mbappe, to score in each of his first three Champions League starts in the process. Speaking after the game, Estevao admitted it had been a special night. 

  He told the club's media: "I don’t really have the words to sum up how I’m feeling right now. It was the perfect night and I’m grateful to God for making everything happen for me. The goal was all very quick; it happened before I knew it. I saw the space, wiggled my way through and scored. It was definitely the most special moment in my career and I hope I keep scoring more in the years ahead. I’m so happy, also because my family were here watching as well.

  "From the moment I arrived at Chelsea, I have felt a connection with the fans. I’m just so happy I can score for them and I hope there are many more. I am enjoying things very much because football is the thing I love to do the most. Playing football will never be a burden for me because it makes me happy."

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  How Barcelona missed out on Estevao

  Estevao's agent has now spoken out about the youngster's fondness for Barca, revealing that his client held many rounds of talks with the Catalan giants about a move before he signed for Chelsea. Cury told : "We talked to Barca about Estevao in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. We went to the offices to offer the player because I believed that he would have a great future in world football. Barca is not financially healthy and of course it is not possible to carry out an operation. It's sad, but football is like that. The people in Barca's technical staff always approved the signing of Estevao, but Deco was tied up because the club's finances didn’t allow it."

  The Brazilian youngster has previously admitted that his biggest dream in football is to play for Barcelona after growing up watching the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in action. Cury went on to add that even though Estevao had missed out on his dream move to Barcelona, he is still very fond of the club: "Estevao has a five-year contract and is enjoying his time at Chelsea. But he has a special affection for Barcelona."

• Estevao and Yamal tipped to be the new Messi and Ronaldo

  Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had some huge praise for Estevao after the match. He told : "As Raphinha said, probably in the next 10, 15 years, Estevao and Lamine Yamal are probably going to be the next Messi and Ronaldo. But for both, they are 18. They need to enjoy, try to improve every day. This the most important thing for them.

  "The goal Estevao scored reminded me of the one he scored against us in the Club World Cup. It's very similar, the same action. He needs to relax. He needs to enjoy his football, he needs to play football. Him and Lamine [Yamal] are such young boys at 18, if you start to talk about Ronaldo and Messi, that's too much pressure for young boys like them. They need to arrive at the training ground happy for sessions, but when you start to compare them with those two, it's too much for them."

  Estevao's agent also feels that Estevao and Yamal could feature together in the same team, despite both players preferring to play off the right flank. He added: "Think about the duo Neymar and Messi, it's better than just having Messi or just having Neymar."

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  Chelsea face another huge clash next

  Chelsea now head into another huge clash as they face Arsenal in a top-of-the-table Premier League showdown on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will go into the game in great spirits after a thumping win over Flick's side and know that victory over the Gunners will cut the gap to the league leaders to just three points.