Labuschagne makes duck on Glamorgan return as bowlers dominate opening day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-May-2025

Bowlers dominated the opening proceedings between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire as 13 wickets fell in a slow-scoring day one at Sophia Gardens.Northants fell from 99 for 1 at lunch to 185 all out including a period of 35 runs for six wickets being shared around by the Glamorgan seamers, Luke Procter was the only batter flying the flag for the visitors, as has been the story all season with 61.Overseas impact Asitha Fernando continued his form as did Andy Gorvin taking three wickets apiece. In reply, a similar story: a steady, watchful start ending with 82 for 3.Marnus Labuschagne made a disappointing return to his two-match stay at the Welsh County in preparation for the World Test Championship final. The Australian fell for a duck from his fellow countryman Harry Conway while Glamorgan’s top run scorer for 2025 – Colin Ingram – is rested.Both sides recorded their first win in the last round of fixtures to make for a tighter Division Two table after five matches than the initial anticipations from April. Glamorgan moved off bottom spot with a win inside two-and-a-half days while Northants, on the high of their bat-first win against Lancashire, decided to insert themselves after winning the toss on a dry, sun-hit pitch in Cardiff.The first session proved Procter’s decision at the toss to be the correct one as the new ball provided little for the Glamorgan all-seam frontline attack. It was a loose start demonstrated by 16 of the first 39 runs coming via four sets of leg-bye boundaries from the Glamorgan openers.Reliable medium-pacer Gorvin provided the only reason to celebrate, sending back Ricardo Vasconcelos after he had passed a personal milestone of 5,000 first-class runs in his short stay. Despite the positives it wasn’t all celebratory for the Northants captain; he was struck in a sensitive area on two occasions, while number three Goerge Bartlett looked unconvincing despite getting through to lunch unscathed.The form wasn’t long-lasting for the visitors as their top-five woes continued shortly after Procter passed 50. Timm van der Gugten led the way with a ball-on-a-string spell, taking his 300th first-class wicket in the process before the rest of the five-strong seam-attack all contributed for themselves with some smart catching in the slip cordon worth an honourable mention.Justin Broad and Calvin Harrison did resist for Northants as Glamorgan shuffled their bowlers but a loose shot on the brink of tea sent Harrison packing and 185 for 8 at tea wasn’t added to in the final session.Zain Ul Hassan backed up his wicket by coming out in stroke-making fashion, taking five boundaries in his stay for 25 before chopping on in a disappointing dismissal. Asa Tribe however went about his work in a much quieter fashion in the opening 46-run partnership. The Jerseyman was bogged down until his eventual dismissal after the tight spells from Ben Sanderson and Procter, who both found lateral movement with the ball.Captain Sam Northeast together with Kiran Carlson, on his birthday, remained not out at the end of play, surviving the final eight overs after a loss of three wickets for two runs, including Labuschagne who fenced low to Justin Broad at third slip for a seven-ball duck.

In what could be a bargain deal, Rangers and the 49ers have now reportedly set their sights on signing one of the most impressive young Scottish talents in 2026.

Update on Russell Martin's Rangers future

Following another defeat in midweek, this time at the hands of Genk in the Europa League, the pressure has increased on Russell Martin. Ibrox once again told the former Southampton boss exactly what they think and even the likes of club legend Ally McCoist could not defend the woeful start that the 39-year-old has endured in Scotland.

Meanwhile, according to Fabrizio Romano, Rangers are contemplating the end of Martin’s tenure, which has so far featured just four wins in 14 games. Sunday’s visit to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership is arguably the most important game of the manager’s Gers career as a result. Defeat there would surely spell the end.

But who could replace him? On that front, a couple of names have already been mentioned. According to recent reports, the 49ers could turn towards Steven Gerrard or Davide Ancelotti. The former manager was unable to return to the club amid contractual issues with former side Al-Ettifaq in the summer, but those have since been solved.

Ancelotti is also a name that the 49ers are familiar with and his position at Botafogo is reportedly far from secure. Whilst questions about Martin’s future continue to appear, however, the Gers are still planning ahead for potential transfer incomings in 2026.

Rangers eyeing David Watson swoop

As reported by TeamTalk, Rangers are now eyeing a move to sign David Watson when his current Kilmarnock contract comes to an end next summer. In what would be a bargain deal for one of Scotland’s most impressive young talents, the Gers could swoop in ahead of any other potential interested rivals.

What certainly helps their case is that Watson is reportedly keen on completing a move to Ibrox at the end of his current deal even as the chaos of Martin’s tenure continues.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell will be frustrated to lose one of his best players if Rangers swoop in, having handed him plenty of praise in the summer.

He told reporters: “We’ve asked him to do a different role to what he has done in the past. For me, his super strength has always been that ability to take off and arrive in the box, which I won’t take away from him.”

The future is certainly bright, but whether that future takes place at Ibrox or at Kilmarnock is the big question as Watson’s contract continues to tick down.

It has been just over a year since Douglas Luiz left Aston Villa to join Juventus. The move, unfortunately, did not work out for the Brazilian midfielder. He only played 27 times for the Old Lady, featuring for just 877 minutes across his time in Turin.

12 months on, and he is back in the Premier League, once again playing in the Midlands. Only, he is at Villa’s East Midlands rivals, Nottingham Forest, on a loan deal. Luiz is yet to make his debut for the club, but that could change under their new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

The Villans never really signed a replacement for the Brazilian. In fact, his replacement was in-house, with Boubacar Kamara stepping up.

Kamara’s 2024/25 season

French midfielder Kamara did play plenty of times with Luiz. The former Olympique Marseille player, who moved to Villa Park on a free transfer, lined up for the Villans 50 times alongside the Brazilian, according to Transfermarkt.

Yet, last season, in light of Luiz’s departure to Turin, saw the Frenchman feature as a key man for Unai Emery in the middle of the park. He did struggle with injury, but when fit, tended to play 90 minutes for his side.

In total, the 25-year-old, who signed a new deal at Villa Park over the summer, played 42 games for Emery’s side. That included his first, and to date, only Premier League goal, coming against Tottenham Hotspur right at the end of the campaign.

It was certainly an impressive campaign for Kamara, who was described as “a very important player” by his manager, Emery, last December.

Certainly, he did not make Luiz’s absence very felt, due to his stellar efforts.

What might sting Villa fans, however, is that they had a player as good as Kamara, who was viewed as an even better option than Luiz.

Aston Villa have offloaded the next Kamara

There is no doubt that, in their current squad, Villa have some good options in midfield. Youri Tielemans was another key player last season, and Amadou Onana provides a real presence in the centre of the park. Of course, they have Kamara, too.

Yet, how good would it have been if the Villans had also kept Enzo Barrenechea in and around the group? Although the young Argentine midfielder joined the club last summer, he has recently been sent out on his second loan spell, to Benfica. There is an obligation to buy him at the end of the move for a fee of around £13m.

Last term, the 24-year-old spent the season at Spanish giants Valencia. He played 32 times for the La Liga outfit, more often than not sitting in front of the defence as a number six.

Barrenechea chipped in with two assists and a goal, too.

As the video above shows, he is a dream profile. The now-Benfica player can break up play in the midfield, before pinging defence-splitting passes over or through the opposition lines.

In fact, football analyst Ben Mattinson rates him so highly that he said he has a “higher ceiling” than Luiz in that number six role.

The numbers from last season and the start of 2025/26 on FBref highlight the fact that he is similar statistically to Kamara. For example, Barrenechea averaged 5.29 progressive passes and 3.31 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes last season.

In comparison, Kamara played an average of 4.88 progressive passes and made 3.6 tackles and interceptions each game.

All things considered, it is strange that Villa were willing to let Barrenechea go so easily.

His first loan to Valencia showed that he has the talent to compete at the highest level, and given Luiz’s departure, he could have been the dream option in Emery’s squad.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Looking back on this move, Villa fans might always rue the fact they let the second coming of Kamara slip through the net so easily.

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Manchester United's newest star Senne Lammens supposedly became a goalkeeper to 'avoid running and being substituted', with his brother revealing the secrets of the Belgian stopper. Signed from Royal Antwerp this summer for £18.2 million ($24.5m), the 23-year-old has quickly caught attention with his commanding presence between the sticks. His clean sheet on debut in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland before the international break gave United fans a glimpse of his potential.

Lammens' trial of character awaits at Liverpool

On Sunday, the young Belgian goalkeeper will walk out at Anfield to take on champions Liverpool, in what promises to be the most intimidating test of his career. However, away from the glitz of the Premier League, his footballing story started in Erpe-Mere, a quiet town nestled between Brussels and Ghent. There, in the modest surroundings of KRC Bambrugge, one of four local clubs that would later merge to form Erpe-Mere United, he kicked his first football. The sport runs deep in the Lammens family. His great uncle Paul is now the honorary chairman of the club, while uncle Steven serves as the sporting director. His father, Eddy, a former Bambrugge player, used to coach youth teams that included Senne’s elder brother, Tom. And it was Tom who first noticed Senne’s unusual determination to stand out right from his childhood. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLazy Lammens turns goalkeeper

For the first few years, Lammens played as a striker. Fast, physical, and strong, he was a nightmare for defenders. But at just 10 years old, everything changed, not because of a tactical tweak, but because he disliked running. 

In an interview with Tom revealed why Senne went in goal: "Mainly because he didn’t want to get substituted. He also didn’t like all the running in training." 

His father, suspecting this might just be a phase, sent him to a goalkeeper training camp, thinking it would cure his boredom. Instead, it did the opposite. Senne thrived as his height and agility made him a natural fit. 

"As a player, he was always quite tall and strong for his age, and had a powerful shot," Tom added.

After two years at his hometown club, Lammens followed his brother to F.C.V. Dender, a professional side not far from home. It was there that he began his transformation into one of Belgium’s most promising young goalkeepers. From Dender, he progressed rapidly through the youth ranks, catching the attention of scouts and earning a move to Club Brugge, where he developed his reputation for commanding his area and handling pressure. When Royal Antwerp offered him first-team football, he seized the opportunity, and his performances there soon put him on United’s radar.

Courtois has some advice for Lammens

Ahead of the clash at Anfield, Lammens received some tongue-in-cheek advice from Belgium team-mate Thibaut Courtois, who knows the challenge of Liverpool’s fortress. 

"It’s a hard stadium," he told Belgian media. "Maybe I should tell him to clap the home fans when he arrives at the Kop!"

Courtois who has 107 caps for Belgium and two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, made clear the enormity of the task. "His first game was a flavour of what United will get," he said. "He’s a tall guy, he is not afraid to come on crosses, and he’s a kid with personality. I’m sure he can do a good job. He has a tough game this weekend, so I hope if he plays, it will go well for him. All the best to him."

The Real Madrid star will visit Anfield on November 4 for a Champions League fixture and added: "I will go there myself in a few weeks. It’s always a tough game there, and I guess Liverpool also have to bounce back after losing a few games."

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AFPA monumental challenge for Lammens

Liverpool’s recent form has been shaky, with three defeats in a row across all competitions, but that makes them even more dangerous. Whereas, for United, it’s about momentum. Amorim’s side have found some rhythm, thanks to a win over Sunderland, and with the backline looking solid, they’ll count on their new Belgian shot-stopper to hold firm under relentless pressure. For a 23-year-old who once switched to goal just to avoid running laps, this could be a night that defines him.

RR got off to a strong start in chase thanks to Jaiswal and Suryavanshi but eventually fell to a 10-run loss

Alagappan Muthu18-May-20250:55

Chawla: The way Wadhera paced his innings was most impressive

The break in the IPL witnessed the departure of two huge pillars of Indian Test cricket. It resumed with a 23-year-old and a 14-year-old taking T20 batting to new heights. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi put on a 76-run opening partnership where 74 runs had come in boundaries. But even with that head start, it was heartbreak for Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they lost by 10 runs. Punjab Kings (PBKS) are now up to 17 points. They were assured of a playoffs spot after Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) later on Sunday evening.Wadhera, the unsung heroPBKS equalled an IPL record for most 200-plus totals in a season (6). They made 219 for 5. That it happened after they lost three wickets in the first 19 balls just added even more sheen to their achievement. The top-scorer Nehal Wadhera (70 off 37) attended a mid-innings interview where he said his captain Shreyas Iyer had told him to keep hitting despite wickets falling and that mentality was the reason why they made the most of beautiful batting conditions in Jaipur.Most of PBKS’ firepower has come from their openers. But on Sunday, both Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya couldn’t get going. That though allowed Wadhera all the time he needed to come into his own. He is a lovely spin-hitter (strike-rate 156, average 84 this IPL). Two of his best shots came off Wanindu Hasaranga on either side of Iyer’s wicket – one where he picked the googly and hit down the ground for six and the next where he picked the leg break and slog swept it for six.Wadhera could’ve been out on 48 had Hasaranga been able to hold onto a tough caught and bowled chance.Shashank Singh scored quickly and creatively•Getty ImagesShashank Singh nails the finisher roleTushar Deshpande went into death overs mode in the 15th itself, using yorkers and bouncers of varying pace to save himself. Akash Madhwal, who was having a rough evening, might have thought he’d bought his team some relief when he dismissed Wadhera with four overs still left. Shashank Singh, at the time, was looking scratchy. He could’ve been dismissed for 11 off 10 if Dhruv Jurel had not misjudged where the boundary line was at long-off while trying to take a catch.Shashank made the most of the life he got and became a menace for an RR attack that had plans to deal with him. The wide yorker was a big part of that, but the finisher one-upped them by moving around in his crease, twice scooping off the wide line to find the fine leg boundary and once taking guard almost two feet outside his crease in order to meet the yorkers on the full. Shashank made 59 off 30 balls.Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, CarnageNobody was ready for how the RR innings began. Jaiswal went 4, dot, 4, 4, 6, 4 in the very first over bowled by Arshdeep Singh. Suryavanshi wasn’t lagging behind. From his place deep in his crease, and with the kind of power that doesn’t really tally with his age, he found leverage to hit bowlers looking for his nose and his toes out of the park. RR were 51 for 0 in three overs. Fifty of those runs in fours and sixes. One run off a wide. The first scoring shot that wasn’t a boundary took 26 balls to arrive. On the back of this unreal partnership, RR put up their highest powerplay total (89 for 1) in IPL history.Harpreet Brar picked off both Rajasthan Royals openers•BCCIHarpreet Brar turns it aroundWith the ball flying to all parts – and regular captain Shreyas Iyer subbed out to manage a finger injury – PBKS turned to Harpreet Brar (4-0-22-3) to see if pace off the ball would work. It did. Brar bowled one in the powerplay, got the benefit of a spread-out field after that, he still had to deal with a left-handed batter for most of his spell, nothing fazed him. Because he was clear with what he wanted to do. If he went full, he was not going to give RR the chance to get under the ball. He offered no room either. If he went short, he bowled it quick and kept the stumps in play to deny the batter time to swing. Riyan Parag found that out when the speed of his hands was no match for the skid of Brar’s arm ball. RR hit 19 boundaries in the powerplay. Brar came on to control the middle overs and they hit only four boundaries between overs 7 and 14.The endRR’s finishers have been under the scanner all season. Shimron Hetmyer has the fifth-lowest strike rate of all batters who have at least 50 runs in the death overs. Jurel has been found out by spin. Here too, he made only 15 off 13 against Brar and Yuzvendra Chahal, but he was able to get on top of the PBKS quicks. He had a season strike rate of 179 against pace coming into this game. He upped it to 211 on Sunday.A tense finish was on the cards, but Arshdeep came back for the 19th over, and nailed his lengths, whether he went yorker, or knuckle-ball into the pitch, and gave away only nine runs. That left RR with 22 runs to get off the last six balls. They managed to do that once in this game. Twice was asking for too much.

Former Manchester City and Atletico Madrid legend Sergio Aguero has praised Atletico striker Julian Alvarez for his versatility and impressive performances this season, in which he has scored seven goals and provided three assists. The former Argentina striker has dismissed speculation linking Alvarez with Barcelona and encouraged fans to simply enjoy watching the player this season.

• Barca interested in Alvarez after blistering start to season

  Alvarez has been identified by Barcelona as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Having grown up idolizing Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Alvarez is seen as someone for whom agreeing personal terms would not be difficult. Other names such as Erling Haaland, Serhou Guirassy and Etta Eyong have been discussed, but with it being an election year at Barcelona, Alvarez presents the strongest credentials for club president Joan Laporta.

  Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City for €75 million (£65m/$84m) in search of more first-team opportunities after being second choice to Haaland. In his first season, he scored 24 goals and provided five assists across all competitions, helping Atletico secure third place in La Liga. However, Atletico were eliminated from the Champions League by rivals Real Madrid in a penalty shootout, amid controversy over Alvarez allegedly double-touching the ball before his penalty, which he then missed on the retake. The club also reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, narrowly missing out on the final after a 5-4 aggregate defeat.

  Alvarez has enjoyed a red-hot start to the 2025-26 season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists across all competitions. Despite being accused of bad-mouthing Diego Simeone, Alvarez dismissed the claims, saying it was merely frustration after being substituted. Now, former Argentina and Atletico striker Sergio Aguero has praised Alvarez for his performances this season.

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  Ex-Man City star heaps praise on Alvarez

  In an interview with Stake, Aguero dismissed talk of a transfer for Alvarez and encouraged fans to enjoy watching the player, saying: “Atletico Madrid should enjoy having him on their side, and so should the fans. I wouldn't speculate on future signings; I think this is the time to enjoy his achievements with Atletico.”

  He also praised Alvarez’s performances and versatility, adding: “What Julian has achieved is astonishing. A player with the ability to move all over the pitch, he demonstrates an enormous level of sacrifice and talent.”

• Aguero's glittering career with Atletico and City

  Aguero joined Atletico Madrid in 2006 and formed a formidable strike partnership with Uruguayan legend Diego Forlan. During his time at the club, he scored 101 goals and provided 47 assists in 234 appearances across all competitions. He helped Atletico win the 2009-10 Europa League title after defeating Fulham in the final. The following season, they qualified for the UEFA Super Cup and defeated Champions League winners Inter 2-0, with Aguero scoring in the 83rd minute.

  Aguero later moved to Manchester City, where he won the Premier League under Italian coach Roberto Mancini, famously scoring a last-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers to cement his legendary status at the club. He went on to win five more titles under Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola, scoring 260 goals and providing 65 assists in 390 appearances before moving to Barcelona. However, due to a heart condition, Aguero was forced to retire prematurely from football in 2021.

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  What comes next?

  Alvarez will hope to emulate Aguero’s success at Atletico and win trophies in Europe as Atletico face Arsenal today in the Champions League. The Spanish side started their campaign with a 3-2 loss away to Liverpool, conceding a last-minute goal from Virgil van Dijk. They bounced back with a 5-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, with Alvarez scoring in the 82nd minute. Arsenal will pose a stern challenge, while Atletico aim to finish in the top eight and secure direct qualification to the round of 16.

  Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Alvarez emphasized the need to be more solid defensively while remaining sharp in attack:

  "We're doing very well, but we need to be more decisive in away games. We also need to improve defensively so they don't concede, and then be sharp in attack so we can win games."

Newcastle United have come on leaps and bounds under Eddie Howe’s wing, but the Toon have been hit with their fair share of adversity over the past few months.

Backed by PIF, Howe has worked wonders at St. James’ Park, transforming Newcastle from perennial relegation contenders to a force to be reckoned with both at the top of the Premier League and in Europe.

And, to boot, United ended so many years of searching for silverware last season, beating Liverpool at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup and seal their first major domestic honour since 1955.

Liverpool have carried the battle on, however, having pushed throughout the summer transfer window for Magpies talisman Alexander Isak. The Reds landed their man on transfer deadline day, signing him for a record-breaking £125m fee.

It’s a cruel, cruel blow for Howe’s project, no doubt about it. Although that said, Newcastle have recruited well this summer and have equipped themselves with players capable of matching the outfit’s lofty ambitions.

How Newcastle are replacing Isak

Toward the end of the transfer window, Newcastle welcomed Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa to their ranks. There is an exciting contrast to the two forwards, one of whom is experienced and renowned within the Premier League, with the other hailing from Germany, and with a high ceiling ahead of him.

Both of them are talented goalscorers, who will contribute to the latest chapter at this wonderful football club. But neither of them is Isak.

Indeed, Isak’s influence reached beyond that of merely being a prolific frontman. The Sweden international was described by pundit Ally McCoist last season as being “the best all-round centre-forward” in the Premier League, with his lethal finishing merely the endpoint of a dynamic, snappy skillset.

Newcastle have replaced him in the aggregate, but it might be too much to expect either replacement to step up and offer the same level of quality from the get-go.

For Anthony Gordon, this is the perfect chance for him to step up and prove to those of a Toon persuasion that he can adopt the talismanic berth at St. James’ Park.

However, after a testing start to the season, the England international has it all to do, with more misery potentially pulling him away from a place as Isak’s proverbial successor and toward territory occupied by someone like Miguel Almiron.

Anthony Gordon needs to step up

Last season, Gordon left plenty to be desired at Newcastle. The 24-year-old had previously been crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24 after an exceptional breakout season, but interest from Liverpool that summer knocked him out of kilter after the saga came to nought.

Gordon was on the fringes after joining from Everton for £45m in January 2023, but a full pre-season allowed him to grow into his skin and repay the faith, clinching 28 goal contributions across all competitions.

Almiron is fondly remembered for his contribution and passion on Tyneside, but there’s no denying he lacked clarity and incisiveness in the final third, with the lion’s share of his time in England yielding not-so-prolific returns.

Newcastle signed Almiron from Atlanta United in the MLS, enjoying his football for seven years before sending him back over the pond.

Tenacious and lively, the Paraguayan winger lacked bite in the final third, with an incredible purple patch during the 2022/23 campaign serving as the extent of his clinical form in the Premier League. But what form it was, with the maverick swishing this way and that, playing with such gusto as he timed his runs and found the right pockets of space at the right times.

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Gordon will hope that he does not follow suit, having only scored six goals in the Premier League last season and starting the current campaign off wobbily, seeing himself sent off during that frantic fixture against Liverpool in August.

He has described himself as a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, and he shares with Almiron a sort of crackling energy when on the ball and in the danger area, one of the fastest players in the Premier League besides.

Howe has been forced into playing the left-sided forward in a makeshift centre-forward berth at times – including the opening weeks of the current campaign – and that has disrupted the player’s fluency, but the fact remains that this is a critical juncture for a player who needs to step up now that Isak has completed his move to Merseyside.

There’s no question that Gordon’s ceiling is higher than Almiron’s ever was. The Three Lions star has been priced in the ballpark of £100m in the past, after all.

And, of course, it’s important to remember Gordon has proven himself and then some within this Newcastle team before, and during a testing time for the club at that.

He is a forward who wears his passion on his sleeve, and though that has at times been to his own detriment, the winger will be determined to bounce back and prove he can lead this new-look frontline over the coming years.

Looking at it from a different, more sobering perspective, Gordon must ensure this campaign does not get away from him too, for if this is the case, his flash-in-the-pan prolific mess in the Premier League might leave him remembered in a similar way to Almiron.

Again, there is confidence from the Toon hierarchy that this will not be the case, but the time for action is now.

PIF have signed Newcastle their own Gabriel in "outstanding" £30m warrior

Newcastle’s summer signing shone vs Arsenal, drawing Gabriel comparisons.

ByWill Miller Sep 30, 2025

Before the international break, Tottenham Hotspur’s fast start to the season was stunted at home to Bournemouth, who claimed a 1-0 win down N17.

But fears of that same plague of inconsistency have been pushed aside after an emphatic 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, shifting Spurs into second place in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Three wins from four marks an impressive start to life for Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer after the Australian coach slumped with his side down to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Even the Europa League triumph couldn’t save him, but in spite of all the upheaval – including the shocking exit of Daniel Levy – Tottenham are reshaping into a force to be reckoned with.

The exciting signing of Xavi Simons bears testament to that.

Xavi Simons' Spurs debut

Simons, 22, looked Chelsea-bound for much of the summer transfer window, but Tottenham ended up winning the race and now they boast one of the most exciting playmakers in the business.

Against West Ham, the Netherlands international impressed across his 71 minutes on the field, making the assist for Pape Matar Sarr’s opening goal after the interval, curling a corner in and over the rabble and onto the unmarked Senegalese’s head.

Then the Lilywhites’ task was made easier by Tomas Soucek’s red card after a reckless challenge on Joao Palhinha. Two more goals ensued, and while Simons didn’t land a debut strike for himself, he looked very much at home on the Premier League stage.

Finer displays will follow, but this was very promising indeed, especially when considering he was deployed out wide instead of his natural berth at number ten.

Simons has what it takes to effectively replace the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, maybe even rivalling such stars as being Tottenham’s finest attacking midfielder since the days of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in their pomp.

Spurs' new version of Dele Alli

In January 2024, Tottenham beat off fierce competition from Barcelona to sign teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall. In fact, all the pointers previously claimed the Sweden prospect would join La Blaugrana, but he was convinced by the Lilywhites project after a hijack.

An elite talent, Bergvall has since settled into life as a Tottenham senior, and he’s still only 19 years old. In this regard, he’s somewhat like the aforementioned Dele, and might even come to be Frank’s own version of the fallen England sensation.

Dele, now 29, is clubless after being released by Como in Serie A, but it’s not hard to remember those days of old when he played with such rarely-seen gusto, a true wonder-kid after joining Spurs from MK Dons in League One in 2015.

His first three seasons in the Premier League were beyond spectacular, and had he continued in that thread of form throughout his career, Dele would surely be hailed now in conversations similar to that of the division’s greatest.

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Bergvall is not the same as Dele, but his athleticism and intelligence and movement and application all bespeak the skill set of a top-level talent.

And against West Ham, the Scandinavian’s goal-and-assist performance carried shades of Dele back in his heyday.

Cristian Romero arced an aerial pass through to Bergvall moments after Soucek’s red card, and the youngster’s success in timing his run and turning the ball beyond the hapless goalkeeper with a precise header underlined his Dele-esque performance.

Because, after all, such headed goals were staples of the Three Lions star’s skills when he was in his prime at Tottenham. Who remembers that performance against Chelsea back in 2017, for example?

But the similarities don’t stop there. Bergvall’s success at such an early age is bringing him into direct comparison with a young Dele, and it’s something Spurs can now use to deepen their connection with the fanbase as this new era gets up and running.

After all, at 19 years and 223 days old, Bergvall is Tottenham’s youngest scorer in the Premier League since… You guessed it, Dele, who was 19 years and 205 days old when he scored in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in November 2015.

There’s no question that Tottenham landed one of Europe’s prized up-and-coming midfielders when beating Barcelona to his signature, and now, with Frank at the helm, there’s a sense that Bergvall is coming into his own.

He’s a European champion, and he’s now showcased his ability to produce a rounded display in the Premier League, with data from Sofascore revealing that he won five duels, made two tackles and created a key pass against struggling West Ham.

He also completed 100% of his dribbles, demonstrating a progressiveness that will help Tottenham to no end.

Football.london handed him an 8/10 match rating, drawing attention to his neat interplay and clever touches, as well as his intelligent involvement in the build-up to Tottenham’s third, when Van de Ven sealed three excellent points for the north Londoners.

Bergvall remains a young midfielder making his way in the Premier League, but already, he is so accomplished within Tottenham’s squad.

He has featured 50 times for the Londoners and is starting to show in Frank’s system an ability to stand out among his peers, something Dele did with such prodigious aplomb during the early days of his time in a Tottenham shirt.

He'll be Frank's own Bale: Spurs have hit gold on "phenomenal" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur have unearthed themselves a new gem over the last couple of months.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are currently on the lookout for a new head coach at Ibrox after they decided to part ways with Russell Martin on Sunday night.

The Rangers board finally made the decision to sack the former Scotland international after a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership, which left the Gers in eighth place in the division.

Martin only won five of his 17 competitive games in charge of Rangers, including one win in the Premiership, and he cannot have many, if any, complaints with this decision.

Now that Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell have made this call, the Ibrox chiefs must come together to make a successful appointment that will get the supporters back onside.

Title-winning boss is interested in Rangers job

Rangers are a massive club that represents a significant opportunity for numerous managers, due to their history and fan base, which means that there will be plenty of candidates vying for the job.

Manager Focus

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This is evidenced by journalist Ben Jacobs reporting that Dutch head coach Mark van Bommel is “interested” in replacing Martin in the dugout at Ibrox.

The Dutchman, who favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been out of work since he moved on from Belgian side Royal Antwerp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that the club would not have to pay out any compensation to bring him in.

Jacobs adds that van Bommel was one of the managers who was approached by the club before Martin got the job this summer. This means that he is on their radar and could be an option once again.

If the Light Blues do opt to go back in for the former Royal Antwerp head coach, he could be a repeat of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, which may not be a bad thing.

Why Mark van Bommel could be Giovanni van Bronckhorst 2.0 for Rangers

Since Steven Gerrard left Ibrox to join Aston Villa in 2021, van Bronckhorst has been the most successful Rangers manager. He won the SFA Cup and reached the final of the Europa League.

Barry Ferguson, Michael Beale, and Russell Martin failed to win any trophies. Philippe Clement won the League Cup but did not have the success in Europe that the Dutchman did.

Prior to replacing Gerrard at Ibrox, van Bronckhorst had won the Eredivisie title and two League Cups during his time with Feyenoord in the Netherlands, and he used that winning mentality to win a trophy and come within a couple of penalties away from winning a European trophy.

Eredivisie title (16/17)

Belgian Pro League title (22/23)

Dutch League Cup (17/18)

Belgian Super Cup (23/24)

Dutch League Cup (15/16)

Belgian League Cup (22/23)

Dutch Super Cup (18/19)

Dutch Super Cup (17/18)

As you can see in the table above, van Bommel’s managerial success is not drastically different to van Bronckhorst’s before his move to Rangers in 2021.

The former Royal Antwerp head coach has won a league title in his career, in the 2022/23 campaign, and won two other trophies with the club before his exit in the summer of 2024.

This means that the Light Blues would be bringing in a manager who knows how to win trophies, a league title specifically, and could instill a winning mentality into the current team, that had been managed by a head coach in Martin who has never won a league title in his managerial career.

Rangers should be winning trophies, including titles, and they may need to appoint a proven winner to do that, which is why van Bommel could be an interesting option to turn to.

He's like Mourinho: 54-year-old manager wants to replace Martin at Rangers

Russell Martin’s job as Rangers manager is no more, so who could be his replacement?

ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2025

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية أن المدير الرياضي لنادي برشلونة، ديكو، اجتمع مع وكيل أحد لاعبي الفريق، بعد يومين من الخسارة في مباراة الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الكلاسيكو بين فريقي ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، مساء الأحد، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بهدفين لهدف.

وافتقد برشلونة خدمات العديد من لاعبيه في مباراة الكلاسيكو بسبب الإصابة، من بينهم داني أولمو، الذي اجتمع وكيل أعماله مع ديكو يوم الثلاثاء، حسبما ذكرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية.

وأوضحت أن وكيل أولمو اجتمع مع ديكو، في أحد مطاعم برشلونة لمناقشة خطة اللاعب، الذي يمره بفترة صعبة بسبب الإصابات، وتنص الخطة على عودته خلال فترة تتراوح بين أسبوع إلى أسبوعين حال استمرار تحسن حالته.

وأفادت بأن الاجتماع كان وديًا نظرًا للعلاقة الجيدة بين الطرفين، حيث لا يوجد قلق بشأن حالة داني أولمو، ولكن هناك رغبة في تحديد مصدر الانزعاج بدقة وسبب تكراراه.

وأشارت إلى أن مصادر برشلونة تؤكد أنه من غير المستبعد إمكانية إجراء فحوصات إضافية في المستقبل على أولمو، إلى جانب إمكانية إجراء تحليل شامل لتحديد أسباب تكرار إصابته في الأشهر الأخيرة ووضع خطة وقائية شخصية.

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وسبق أن خضع أولمو، قبل عام، لفحص بدني شامل من أجل تقييم مختلف معايير الجسم والعضلات، مما سمح بتكييف التدريب مع احتياجاته الخاصة، ولكن نظرًا لاستمرار الشعور بعدم الراحة، وخاصةً في ربلة الساق، فليس من المستبعد إجراء المزيد من الفحوصات لفهم سبب إصاباته المتكررة.

هذا، وتتمثل خطة النادي مع أولمو في إيجاد الحل الأمثل للجانب الطبي ليتمكن من استعادة مستواه الذي أسر قلوب جماهير برشلونة وساهم في فوز الفريق بلقبي الدوري والكأس العام الماضي.

ويُعتقد أن لاعبًا بمثل قدراته لا يمكن الاكتفاء بمشاركته في بعض مباريات فقط، حيث هناك أمل أن يكون لاعبًا أساسيًا للفريق بعد تعافيه.

وأكدت الصحيفة أن هناك قلق متزايد يحيط بـ أولمو، ولكن هناك كذلك يقين بإمكانية حل تلك المشكلة من خلال ضبط الجهود والتنسيق المناسب بين الجهاز الفني والخدمات الطبية.

ويمتلك داني أولمو عقدًا ساريًا مع برشلونة حتى 2030، ويهدف النادي إلى ضمان استقراره على المدى البعيد، مع العلم أن هناك إمكانية لعودته قريبًا إلى التدريبات رفقة الفريق حال عدم تعرضه لأي انتكاسا، ويكون متاحًا خلال أسبوعين تقريبًا لاكتساب المزيد من الوقت للعب والعودة إلى مستواه المعهود.