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West Ham United’s return to Premier League football didn’t entirely go to plan on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked on course to win their third game on the bounce when Callum Wilson made it 2-0 against Bournemouth in the 35th minute. However, the Cherries fought back, and thanks to a penalty and a goal from Enes Unal, came away with a point.

With that said, in the context of the season at large, it’s still a good point for the Hammers, especially as they had to make do without dynamic Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.

Unfortunately, the Dutchman won’t be fit for the Liverpool game, but Nuno might have the perfect solution, one that involves dropping Luis Guilherme.

Guilherme's game vs Bournemouth

Now, the first thing to say is that Guilherme is still a promising talent and someone who could develop into a real star for West Ham.

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However, what is equally true is that he failed to make a case for why he should be in the starting lineup in place of the injured Summerville next time out.

The young Brazilian wasn’t terrible on Saturday, but he was almost entirely ineffective, looking unable to create chances for his teammates or get himself into positions where chances could be supplied to him.

Moreover, the 19-year-old still looks as slight as ever and lacks any real power or pace, which are two traits becoming increasingly important for attackers in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, the manager decided to take him off at the break, which only made his dire statistics even more pitiful.

Guilherme’s game

Minutes

45′

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.01

Shots

0

Passes

10

Touches

21

Lost Possession

9

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (1)

Ground Duels (Won)

8 (1)

Dribbled Past

1

All Stats via Sofascore

In his 45 minutes of inaction, the Brazilian registered an expected assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, took just 21 touches, failed in 66% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times, completed ten passes, was dribbled past and lost seven of eight duels.

In short, Guilherme proved he cannot come in for Summerville again, so Nuno has to bring in one of the club’s most exciting prospects instead.

West Ham's Summerville solution

The player Nuno should bring into the squad to replace Guilherme and help solve the blow of Summerville’s injury is George Earthy.

Now, that might sound bold, and perhaps it is, but the academy gem has long been talked about as one of the club’s next stars, and his time at youth level and out on loan suggests as much.

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, during his time with the u21s, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3618 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 113.06 minutes.

In other words, the Havering-born gem is a dual threat: a goalscorer and a creator.

Earthy’s Junior Record

Team

U18s

U21s

Appearances

60

55

Minutes

4804′

3618′

Goals

25

18

Assists

18

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

111.72′

113.06′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, with 40 appearances for Bristol City last season, during which he was named young player of the year, he has plenty of genuine first-team experience under his belt already.

With all of that said, the “priceless” youngster, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and so it would make sense to play him there against Liverpool, which means the man who’d actually outright replace Guilherme is actually Paqueta.

Yes, the Brazilian is also primarily a central player, but has made 36 club appearances on the left-hand side in his career, as well as six for the Brazilian national team.

Anyway, having the former Lyon gem further forward could help make the team more dangerous in attack, while also allowing the 21-year-old to get up to speed in a more familiar position.

Ultimately, it is not ideal, but Guilherme made it clear against Bournemouth that he cannot start games at the moment. Therefore, bringing the incredibly talented Earthy into the middle and allowing Paqueta to play on the left could be the answer to Summerville’s absence – at least for now.

Related West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern about star winger

The England international is their most crucial man by some distance.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 21, 2025

Partex Sporting Club get out of relegation zone with dramatic win while Rakibul Hasan and Nahid Rana shine with the ball

Mohammad Isam27-Mar-2025Key takeawaysAbahani Limited have taken the lead in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, as it goes into the Eid break. Abahani are now on 14 points, while Gazi Group Cricketers and Mohammedan Sporting Club are on 12 points each. With eight rounds of matches complete, Abahani have taken a significant step towards defending their title.It was a good week for Prime Bank Cricket Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club, who like Abahani won both their matches this week. Mohammedan sealed a seven-wicket win against Shinepukur Cricket Club, but their regular captain fielded for just one over and was rushed to a hospital after suffering a heart attack.Best battersGazi Group’s Anamul Haque reached 500 runs in a Dhaka Premier League season for the seventh time, and became the first to cross the landmark in the 2024-25 season. He struck an unbeaten 149 against Mohammedan last week, following it up with an unbeaten 144 against Gulshan Cricket Club this week. Anamul started the season with two ducks, but now has scored at least a fifty in five of the last six innings, with his other score being 48.Best bowlersLeft-arm spinner <Rakibul Hasan and speedster Nahid Rana took four-wicket hauls against Dhanmondi Sporting Club in Abahani's five-wicket win in Mirpur. Due to workload management, Rana is playing only selective matches for Abahani this season, but he has made an impact. Rana has nine wickets from his four outings, while Rakibul leads the wicket-takers with 17 scalps.Best matchPartex Sporting Club dragged themselves off the relegation zone (bottom three) in dramatic fashion, beating the high-flying Agrani Bank Cricket Club by one wicket. Their middle-order batter Mohammad Rakib was the hero, remaining unbeaten on 80 off 103 balls with five sixes and as many fours. Rakib kept his cool as four wickets fell in the last four overs. With ten runs required off the last over, Rakib first struck a boundary before getting dropped at long-on. He struck another straight boundary before No 11 Abdul Gaffar took a cheeky single off the last ball to win the game.Points to ponderAgrani Bank and Dhanmondi lost both their matches this week. Though Agrani Bank remains in the top six, the big-budgeted Dhanmondi slipped to No. 8 in the points table. Shinepukur and Rupganj Tigers remain at the bottom with just two points each.Players to watchSamiun Basir became only the third bowler in Bangladesh's List-A history to take a five-wicket haul on debut. He took 5 for 27 playing for Legends of Rupganj against Rupganj Tigers in Mirpur. Samiun has a classic left-arm spinner's action, and likes to float the ball to the batter. He also can spin the ball, which would be an asset going forward.

England spinner is quietly optimistic as she embarks on her second 50-over World Cup campaign

Andrew Miller19-Sep-2025England’s women begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in Guhawati on October 3, but their training camp in the UAE is already well underway. On Thursday, the squad took on New Zealand in a warm-up fixture at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, and with figures of 3 for 36 in nine overs, Charlie Dean emerged from a handy three-wicket win as the pick of the bowlers on show.It’s been a significant few months for Dean. In August, she took charge of London Spirit in the Women’s Hundred, stepping into the void created by Heather Knight’s hamstring injury to guide her team to the Eliminator, where they were beaten by eventual champions Northern Superchargers. And now, as a 24-year-old offspinner with four years of international experience, she’s about to embark on her second 50-over World Cup campaign, in India no less.”It’s a really exciting place to be a spinner,” Dean told ESPNcricinfo, prior to the squad’s departure for the UAE. “I guess it comes with a bit of pressure, because you know that the conditions might suit you. But equally, there’s a lot of excitement about the opportunity that that brings.”Dean has travelled as part of a four-prong spin attack – and a familiar one at that. Despite the sense, when Charlotte Edwards took over as head coach in March, that a refresh of England’s stocks might be in order, the inherent skill of the team’s frontline options has again been trusted for this latest global tournament.Dean is once again joined in the squad by Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Linsey Smith – all four of whom took the field together in England’s opening match of the T20 World Cup, against Bangladesh at Sharjah, this time last year.The less said about the rest of that winter – from England’s grim World Cup exit against West Indies to their 16-0 points whitewashing in the Ashes. Ecclestone, in particular, became the focus of media criticism and subsequently took a mental-health break in the early part of the season while also managing a quad injury. But Dean is adamant that lessons have been learned, on and off the pitch, as they set about restoring their reputation as a team that can challenge at the major events.”Since the Ashes, we’ve all gone away and really tried to upskill ourselves, on and off the pitch,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there with Linsey, Soph and Sarah, and hopefully we can complement each other well, like we have done previously.”Eccles, she is the No. 1 bowler in the world. When I watch her bowl in the nets, I’m just like, wow, she’s insanely skillful and impressive, and she’s been working really hard.Fielding has been an issue for England, but Dean is among the best catchers in their squad•Getty Images”I know Glenny has changed her action a little bit too,” Dean added of her Spirit team-mate, who featured just twice for England this summer, most recently against West Indies in June. This week she announced a change of scene too, with a new deal to join Yorkshire from The Blaze in 2026.”She’s done a little bit of work on her run-up, and it’s feeling a lot smoother,” Dean said. “It’s brilliant that she’s back in the squad after being left out a little bit this summer. And that just proves that, if you go well in domestic and county cricket, you can get back in.”The net result is an England team that will hope to be the same, but different, three years on from their runners-up finish at the last 50-over World Cup in New Zealand. Back then, they were clearly the best of the rest behind a still-dominant Australia, with Nat Sciver-Brunt – their new captain – putting in a heroic display in the final. Now, however, with India primed for a deep run on home soil, England’s expectations are arguably diminished.”We’re in a bit of a rebirth kind of era with Nat coming in as captain, and Lottie as coach,” Dean said. “Hopefully that brings a new lease of life for some of the girls who have been around for a while. So it feels like a really exciting time for us. We’re trying to do a lot of learning and growth in a short period of time, so it feels like a perfect opportunity to see where we’re at.”Coming in, more as dark horses, is probably a great place for us to be,” she added. “We know that on our best day, we can beat any team. We just need to pull out all the stops on that day.”There is a lot of experience in that team, so hopefully we can bounce back from the Ashes, which was a pretty tough time, but we all know that we are better cricketers than we showed over there. Hopefully we can keep practising and training under pressure, and be able to perform in the games that count.”Related

• Sciver-Brunt: 'We are a very different team since the Ashes'

• Edwards to introduce new fitness standards

• Dean 'trusts her gut' as captain

• Bates not willing to give up on Test dream just yet

• Australia ready to embrace 'little bit of unknowns'

That, unfortunately, was clearly not the case in England’s infamous exit from the T20 World Cup, when the team collectively lost their heads in a chaotic West Indies powerplay. Edwards’ predecessor, Jon Lewis, was even obliged to come onto the field during the drinks break in an attempt to pull them out of a tailspin.Dean is hopeful that, on Edwards’ watch, many of those traits have now been ironed out – particularly in the course of a hard-fought home summer against India. Though England lost both white-ball series – 2-1 in the ODIs and 3-2 in the T20Is – the fact that they were put under pressure across eight high-octane fixtures was arguably more helpful than a run of stress-free victories.”Lottie brings in this air of calmness,” Dean said. “When she explains the game, she makes cricket seem like common sense, and half the time, it really isn’t. The way she thinks about the game is so clear. And that brings a clarity to the group as well.”No matter the result of the game, we just keep learning from it. All she wants to see from us is growth. And that fits with my way of playing as well. I’m trying to be smarter and play each game situation, rather than just the same script for every game that you play.”Arguably the barometer for England’s performances will be their fielding. It was notably poor at key moments of their last winter campaign, although Dean has consistently stood out as one of the better catchers in the line-up – a trait that she demonstrated in last month’s Hundred with a spectacular one-handed take off Oval Invincibles’ Marizanne Kapp.”We practice day in and day out,” she said. “The narrative of our fielding is it isn’t particularly good, so it comes to me as almost a challenge to prove everyone wrong. Because I know how hard the team is working and how good we can be.”It’s about flipping that narrative and seeing it as a way that we can really show off and prove people wrong. If we see that in little windows, then that’s perfect. Hopefully we can really push towards this World Cup and onwards.”Being a cricketer is all about getting better and learning on your journey. As long as people commit to that, then we don’t care if someone drops a catch, as long as the right attitudes and processes are going on behind the scenes, then we control that narrative. Everyone’s working hard to get better, and I guess that’s all you can ask.”

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Thomas Frank amid the mounting pressure surrounding his position as Tottenham boss.

Thomas Frank facing sack calls after underwhelming Spurs start

The north Londoners have failed to impress under Frank lately and are winless across their last five games in all competitions.

Much has been made of their lack of creative spark going forward too, not to mention their dire home form.

Tottenham have lost 10 home games in the Premier League alone this calendar year, their joint-worst record in club history, with Spurs also losing 10 in 1994 and 2003 respectively.

Only bottom-side Wolves, who appear destined for relegation to the Championship, have a worse record on their own patch this season.

Premier League home form table
Team					Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	GD
16. Burnley					2	1	4	7	-2
17. Nottingham Forest					2	1	4	7	-5
18. West Ham					2	0	5	6	-9
19. Tottenham					1	2	4	5	-1
20. Wolves					0	1	6	1	-11

Granted, their problems at home this year stretch back to Ange Postecoglou’s final half a season in charge, but the Australian notably had fewer options to play with during one of the worst injury crisis’ Spurs had ever seen.

Frank was backed with a £171 million transfer war chest in the summer window, including a deal for highly-rated young playmaker Xavi Simons, yet Tottenham’s head coach has relegated him to the bench in each of their last four outings.

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Emilio Galantini

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Frank’s constant tinkering has also drawn criticism, with ex-Lilywhites defender Ramon Vega recently telling talkSPORT that this will be affecting the players’ rhythm.

Vega went on to suggest that Frank doesn’t have the bottle to manage a club like Spurs, while sections of the fanbase also call for his dismissal early doors.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has already been linked with the Tottenham job, but Romano has now provided his own update on Frank’s future at N17.

Fabrizio Romano shares Thomas Frank update out of Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano says that Spurs are monitoring Frank closely amid the growing fan unrest, but there are no immediate plans to replace him as yet.

Frank is poised to take on former club Brentford this weekend, and nothing but a win will do at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to convince some supporters that he is indeed the right man for the job.

Spurs have another crucial home game just a few days later when they face off against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, two very winnable games that could seriously help to change the mood.

They also travel to Nottingham Forest on December 14 before their final match pre-Christmas against Liverpool in north London, with Frank hoping for a vital points swing to get them nearer the Champions League places.

January is right around the corner as well, and reports suggest that Tottenham are intent on signing a new attacker to provide that much-needed extra threat going forward.

Chris Sutton took aim at one Leeds United star after spotting an “odd” moment in the Whites’ dramatic 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

Leeds lose late on at Man City

It was very nearly an unforgettable afternoon for Leeds, who came from behind to level things up at 2-2 in the second-half, courtesy of Lukas Nmecha’s reactions to rebound from his own penalty.

As so many have experienced at the Etihad over the years, however, it simply wasn’t to be for Daniel Farke’s men. The Citizens’ simply had too much quality and, for a split second, Phil Foden had too much time. The England international fired home his second goal of the day in the 91st minute to break Leeds’ hearts.

Upon reflection, Farke will be wishing that he started with Dominic Calvert-Lewin rather than setting up to frustrate Man City. It took just 59 seconds for Foden to give the hosts the lead, before Josko Gvardiol’s goal looked to be the beginning of a thrashing.

Farke soon changed things at the break, though, and Calvert-Lewin’s effort from the bench set the tone for Nmecha to then go and convert the rebound of his own spotkick.

The Yorkshire side certainly deserved at least a point, but simply felt the harsh reality of the Premier League in its full extent instead. From here, they must pick themselves up and go again against Chelsea at Elland Road.

Things won’t be getting any easier for a Leeds side who could be three points adrift of safety if other results go against them this weekend.

Chris Sutton, covering the game for BBC Sport, was particularly critical of Pascal Struijk in the first-half after spotting an “odd” moment from the Leeds defender.

Sutton slams "odd" Pascal Struijk moment

Taking aim, Sutton slammed Struijk for how he was “content” with entering the break at 2-0 down, wasting time at the end of the first-half. The defender’s aim was damage control and, to his credit, it worked in his favour as Leeds soon came from behind.

The moment, which sparked Sutton’s frustration, may well have helped Leeds stay in the game. It was an absolute onslaught from Man City in the first period and Farke desperately needed to get his side back into the game without letting the hosts out of sight. And the £50,000-a-week defender was well aware of that.

The visitors can take a lot of positives, despite their defeat. It’s very rare that sides come to the Etihad, find themselves 2-0 down and don’t find themselves on the end of a battering. Leeds, however, showed plenty of fight.

Leeds eyeing move for 4-3-3 Farke successor who has admirers at Elland Road

Roberto Mancini has returned to management as Al Sadd’s new head coach, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal after missing out on the Nottingham Forest job. The former Manchester City and Italy boss now follows Xavi in taking charge of Qatar’s biggest club, with his debut set for November 24.

• Mancini returns to the dugout in Qatar

  Mancini is officially back on the touchline after being unveiled as the new head coach of Al Sadd, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the reigning Qatari champions. The 60-year-old returns to management for the first time since stepping down as Saudi Arabia coach in October 2024. Mancini had held talks with Nottingham Forest about replacing Ange Postecoglou this season, but the Premier League club ultimately chose Sean Dyche, opening the door for Al Sadd to make their move.

  The appointment marks a significant coup for the Doha-based club, who previously revived their project through Xavi Hernandez, before the Barca legend made his return to Spain. With Mancini now stepping into the same role once occupied by Xavi, Al Sadd are again banking on a high-profile leader to elevate standards and reassert dominance in Qatar.

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• AFP
  

  What Mancini’s arrival means for Al Sadd’s ambitions

  Mancini’s arrival signals a clear strategic shift. His resume – from winning City’s first Premier League title, to lifting the Euro 2020 trophy with Italy underlines Al Sadd’s ambition to modernise and compete internationally. This move also comes at a period of transition for the club, who currently sit sixth in the Qatar Stars League and recently dismissed Felix Sanchez. The board are aiming for a reset built on elite coaching experience and star names.

  That approach is further highlighted by the permanent signing of Roberto Firmino from Al-Ahli, giving the Italian an immediate marquee player to build his attack around. The Firmino-Mancini partnership is viewed internally as a new foundation for a long-term rebuild.

• From City glory to Doha: Mancini’s next chapter

  After leaving City in 2013, Mancini has managed across various clubs across Europe like Galatasaray, Inter, Zenit and Italy before taking charge of Saudi Arabia. His return to the Middle East now places him at Qatar’s most successful club, one that has historically attracted high-profile talent both on and off the pitch. The likes of Spain legends Raul and Xavi have played for the Qatari club, and the latter went on to coach them to the Stars League title, among other trophies.

  Mancini turns 61 later this month, adding an extra milestone to a comeback that he hopes will restore his managerial momentum. His versatility and experience across top leagues make him a strong fit for a squad seeking tactical clarity and discipline.

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• AFP
  

  What comes next for Al Sadd under Mancini?

  The ex-Inter boss will take charge of his first match on November 24, away to Al-Wahda in the AFC Champions League. Until then, interim manager Sergio Alegre continues to oversee training. With Al Sadd pushing to climb the table and recalibrate their identity, all eyes will be on whether Mancini can spark an immediate reaction and emulate the success Xavi once delivered in Doha.

The 2025 MLB season is set for the second half after the All-Star break, which makes it the perfect time to look back at the biggest stories of the offseason.

This past winter saw a number of massive signings and trades that reshaped the league. Since we have a pretty good idea how a lot of those deals have turned out already, here are our grades for the biggest moves of the offseason:

Mets sign Juan Soto

The biggest story of the offseason was Soto’s decision to sign the largest contract in professional sports history with the Mets. The four-time All-Star landed a 15-year, $765 million deal but opened the season slowly. After that uncharacteristic start, he began to come on in June and now looks like himself. Since May 31, Soto is slashing .311/.456/.674 with 15 home runs, 30 RBIs and a 1.130 OPS. That explosion helped him become the National League Player of the Month in June.

While Soto has rounded into form, his fWAR (2.9) ranks 28th among MLB hitters, which holds this grade down. He’s 11th among hitters in WAR (3.9), so that metric seems to like him more, and his 155 wRC+ ranks seventh.

Check back at the end of the season; it’s highly likely this grade will be higher.

Grade: B

Cubs trade for Kyle Tucker

The Cubs made the biggest trade of the offseason, landing Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. The 28-year-old outfielder has been excellent for his new team, slashing .280/.384/.499 with 17 home runs, 56 RBIs and an OPS of .882. His 4.0 WAR ranks fourth in the NL, and he’s helped lead Chicago to the top of the National League. Sounds like a huge win, right? Well, not completely.

To land Tucker, the Cubs had to surrender a lot of talent and it’s looking like this could be a deal that helps both franchises. The Astros received Isaac Paredes, 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith and righty Hayden Wesneski. While Wesneski underwent Tommy John surgery in May, Paredes made the All-Star team and Smith debuted and has surprised as a rookie. Paredes has produced 2.6 WAR and Smith is up to 2.2.

While Tucker is set to hit free agency this winter and is looking at a massive payday, Houston will have Paredes for two more years and Smith is under team control through 2030. The Cubs did well to get Tucker, but the Astros did better as of now.

Cubs grade: B+
Astros grade: A

Yankees sign Max Fried

The Yankees made a splash after losing Soto by inking Fried to the biggest contract ever for a lefthanded pitcher. His eight-year, $218 million deal sent the message that New York was still open for business. The 31-year-old has been worth it so far.

Fried finished the first half at 11-3 with a 2.43 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts against 27 walks in 122 innings. He’s tied for the MLB lead in wins, his 2.9 fWAR ranks sixth in the American League and his FIP (3.02) is tied for fourth in the AL. Most importantly, Fried stepped in as the Yankees’ ace with Gerrit Cole out for the season following Tommy John surgery. He has taken on that mantle and run with it.

Fried made his third All-Star team and has cemented himself as New York’s ace entering the second half.

Grade: A-

Diamondbacks sign Corbin Burnes

The Diamondbacks went big when they signed Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract. By landing the former NL Cy Young Award winner, Arizona signaled its intention to compete in the NL West after a disappointing 2024 campaign. It didn’t take long for disaster to strike. 

Burnes pitched 11 games, going 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 64 ⅓ innings. Unfortunately, he left his June 1 start with elbow discomfort. A few days later the Diamondbacks announced Burnes would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Since Burnes will miss the bulk of the 2025 campaign, this move gets an incomplete grade.

Grade: Incomplete

Red Sox trade for Garrett Crochet

In need of a true ace for the top of their rotation, the Red Sox swung big and landed Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox on Dec. 11. They gave up prospects Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez to get the All-Star lefty, then turned around and handed him a six-year, $170 million extension. It was a huge risk for a pitcher with massive upside who had struggled with injuries and had yet to top 146 innings in a season.

So far, the deal has been a great one for Boston. Crochet was named to his second consecutive All-Star team after finishing the first half 10-4, with a 2.23 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and an MLB-leading 160 strikeouts in 129 ⅓ innings. He is building off of his breakout 2024 campaign. He’s currently second in MLB in fWAR among pitchers (4.3) and the 26-year-old is Tarik Skubal’s only real competition for the AL Cy Young award. Only Crochet’s well-documented injury history keeps me from going higher.

Grade: B+

Giants sign Willy Adames

In a move that felt like a franchise reaching, desperate to land any kind of free agent hitter, the Giants threw $182 million over seven years at Adames this offseason. The 29-year-old had been good with the Milwaukee Brewers over the past few years but his 32-home run 2024 campaign felt like a classic contract year performance.

Adames’s overall numbers look pretty grim through 96 games he’s slashing .220/.307/.373 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs. His WAR (0.9) and fWAR (1.5) don’t look good, nor does his wRC+ of 94. But there may be hope on the horizon. Since June 22, Adames has ticked up a bit. In that time he’s slashing .286/.370/.529, with four home runs and 16 RBIs. It’s a small sample size that includes a BABIP of .356, so it may not actually be much of a turnaround, but it’s something. Giants fans can dream on the .899 OPS in that stretch as they prepare for the second half.

It’s possible with Rafael Devers now in the lineup the pressure will come off Adames and he’ll flourish, but as of now his contract looks rough.

Grade: D

Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki sign with Dodgers

We’re lumping these together because of the results. Sasaki was one of the most coveted free agents of the offseason due to his stuff and potential at 23 years old. There were warning signs during his last season in Japan that he might be injured as his velocity ticked down. There may have been something to that.

After eight starts, in which he went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP and 24 strikeouts against 22 walks in 34 ⅓ innings, Sasaki was shut down with a shoulder injury. He began throwing again before being shut down once more, and there is no timetable for him to pick up a baseball again.

Snell was a massive offseason signing. The Dodgers made the former NL Cy Young Award winner a priority and inked him to a five-year, $182 million deal in November. Unfortunately, they have gotten a total of nine innings out of him due to a shoulder injury. Snell has made two starts this season, and is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA but, again, has only thrown nine innings so the stats are meaningless. The 32-year-old has been back throwing and could head out on a rehab assignment soon. 

Given how high-profile the Snell and Sasaki signings have been, it’s remarkable the Dodgers have only gotten 43 ⅓ innings out of the two high-end hurlers. We don’t know what to make of either deal yet.

Grade: Incomplete

Red Sox sign Alex Bregman

The Red Sox waited out the market and signed Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal in February. It’s been a solid addition, despite some drama. Bregman missed the end of May and all of June due to a quad injury, but when he’s been active he’s been excellent.

In 53 games this season, Bregman is slashing .298/.380/.546, with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. His .927 OPS and wRC+ of 153 would both be his best since 2019. The downside of Bregman’s signing was the fact that it started the sequence of events that led to Rafael Devers being traded to the Giants. Oh, and Bregman can opt-out after this season, and he may do it if he continues to put up great numbers.

In a vacuum, the signing was a good one, though Bregman missing 45 games dulls its shine a bit.

Grade: B

Jharkhand cruise to their third straight win of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Karnataka, who were beaten by Rajasthan, have now lost two in a row

Shashank Kishore30-Nov-2025

Associated Press

Ishan Kishan struck his fifth T20 century, an unbeaten 50-ball 113, as Jharkhand made light work of Tripura’s 182 for 7 in Ahmedabad. Jharkhand achieved their target in 17.3 overs, with eight wickets to spare.This was their third straight win of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.Kishan, also Jharkhand’s captain, struck ten fours and eight sixes, and his third-wicket stand of 153 with Virat Singh took his team to victory. Virat finished unbeaten on 53 off 40 balls.Tripura’s batting effort was led by Vijay Shankar (59 not out in 41 balls) and Manisankar Murasingh (42 in 21). Two days after making an incredible 95 not out to help Jharkhand get past Karnataka, Anukul Roy proved his al-lround chops, this time picking up 2 for 29 to be among Jharkhand’s best bowlers. Mhatre slams second consecutive ton Ayush Mhatre cracked his second straight T20 century, this time off 58 balls, as Mumbai crushed Andhra by nine wickets to record their third straight win at SMAT 2025-26.Chasing 160, Mumbai romped home in just 15.1 overs, with Mhatre walloping five fours and nine sixes in his innings. He put on an unbeaten 101 for the second wicket with India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, whose contribution was an unbeaten 31.Tushar Deshpande was the pick of the Mumbai bowlers, taking 3 for 25 off his four overs. Shams Mulani was equally impressive, taking 1 for 24 off his four. Andhra, who started poorly, were kept afloat by Ricky Bhui (48), while SDNV Prasad’s unbeaten 32-ball 44 hauled them towards 160.Nagarkoti swings thriller Rajasthan’s wayFormer India Under-19 star Kamlesh Nagarkoti picked up three wickets as Rajasthan pipped Karnataka by one run in a last-over thriller. This was Karnataka’s second straight defeat and significantly dents their chances of making it to the Super Four phase. Rajasthan, meanwhile, pocketed their third straight win.Rajasthan posted 201 for 5 on the back of useful contributions from Deepak Hooda (43 in 28), Kartik Sharma (46 in 31) and Mahipal Lomror (48 in 30).Karnataka were rocked early as they slipped to 51 for 3 by the seventh over, before Karun Nair (51 in 32) and R Smaran revived the innings.Karnataka looked good to chase the runs down even though the asking rate spiralled to over ten an over for the last six overs. That was when Nagarkoti removed Abhinav Manohar and Pravin Dubey, who orchestrated their opening win with a last-over six, to turn the tide in Rajasthan’s favour. Smaran remained unbeaten on 48 off 31 balls.Patidar shows good form in comeback matchRajat Patidar marked his return from a month-long layoff with a sparkling 20-ball 43, setting up Madhya Pradesh’s 37-run win over Uttar Pradesh in Kolkata. This was their second win in three matches.Coming in at No. 4, Patidar injected immediate momentum to the innings, cracking five fours and two sixes during a 60-run stand with Harsh Gawli that lifted MP to a competitive 184 for 7.UP’s chase disappeared early courtesy seamer Shivam Shukla, but Rinku Singh kept them afloat with a counter-attacking 65. He was the last man dismissed, caught by Patidar off legspinner Rahul Batham, as UP were bowled out in 18.3 overs to slump their first loss of the competition. Batham finished with figures of 3 for 33.

Liverpool are in uncharted waters, with these deep fathoms threatening not only the future of Arne Slot, who won the Premier League a matter of months ago, but that of Mohamed Salah, one of the greatest players in the club’s history, too.

Where is the respite? At the moment, Liverpool can’t catch a break, fumbling a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Leeds United on Saturday after previously drawing against well-worth-their-money Sunderland at Anfield. All told, the Reds have won only two of their past ten league fixtures, losing six.

But Liverpool have sculpted this disaster themselves. They have patented a startling ability to wreak havoc on their own progress, with tactical imbalances sparking crises of confidence, sparking mutiny.

Salah’s flaming interview at Elland Road will go down in the history books, and though FSG have since underlined their faith in Slot’s stewardship, the severity of this crossroads cannot be understated.

The latest on Slot's Liverpool future

Slot is in an unenviable position, with Salah’s outburst proving the latest and most damaging in a long line of mishaps since the summer.

While FSG retain the faith in the 47-year-old, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last year after Jurgen Klopp stepped down, there’s an acceptance that results are needed quickly if something is to be salvaged from this campaign.

The fact of the matter is that Slot’s Liverpool started wobbling well before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he now needs to show that he can sort out the defence and restore balance to the team. He needs to show that quickly.

27

Games

52

23

Wins

26

3

Draws

10

1

Losses

16

2.66

PPG

1.69

73

Goals scored

91

27

Goals conceded

69

Liverpool are in big bother, and though FSG have been steadfast in their backing of the Dutchman, their leniency will only stretch so far, especially when there is such an exciting successor for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to consider.

Liverpool could hire Slot upgrade

Last week, it was reported that FSG have been considering Julian Nagelsmann as a candidate to replace Slot, should the Reds coach be sacked, though they will face a tough task in wrestling him away from the German national team, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming large.

Nagelsmann, 38, is among the world’s finest young coaches, having managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in his homeland.

Would he be willing to park his international ambitions? Probably not. That’s why it’s anticipated he could be lined up ahead of the start of next season, meaning Liverpool would need to find an interim boss if Slot is dismissed before the end of the term.

What Nagelsmann would offer Liverpool

Nagelsmann has been described as the “best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, and though he’s the junior of practically all of the game’s standout managers, he’s hardly inexperienced, with a keen tactical mind that could be the remedy to a Liverpool team who have fallen by the wayside.

This is a fluid and interchangeable tactician. Nagelsmann employed a counter-pressing system at Leipzig before changing to a more dominant playing style at the Allianz Arena. He recognises the quirks and whims of the players at his disposal, and he crafts a system that caters to his troops.

Journalist Kai Iliev has even named him a “world-class manager” for his ability to fix a range of flaws within Germany’s national set-up. Now they are contenders. Now they believe again.

Liverpool could do with a bit of that, right? The appointment of Nagelsmann might even play into keeping Salah at the club; with the Egyptian King’s relationship under Slot having broken down, something has to give.

Liverpool, of course, will now back Salah over Slot. To do the contrary would result in anarchy. But this latest splinter in an outfit splitting wide open is not the root cause. Slot’s system is in a tailspin, and if he cannot establish form and fluency quickly, he will find that he has exhausted all the credit in the bank, and Edwards and Hughes will be forced into making a tough call.

The German coach’s principal 4-2-3-1 set-up would accommodate new signing Florian Wirtz and allow Salah to arc inwards once more and find passages into the danger area. This season, the 33-year-old has only posted five goals and three assists across all competitions.

Who could have expected this when Liverpool lifted the Premier League title? Salah was not the main man but the author of his long-term outfit’s illustrious success.

It’s not controversial to suggest that many, many Liverpool supporters would be dejected if Salah were to leave this winter, and it would be sure to put more than just a dampener on Slot’s reign at the Anfield helm.

If results do not continue over the coming weeks – with Salah off to AFCON after Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend – FSG will have to face the reality of theirt spiraling situation and make a change.

Could that prompt Salah to stay? Working under Nagelsmann on Merseyside, it just might, though whether the Reds are able to keep the African legend appeased and reach a decision that would see him remain at the club he has served so well over the past nine years remains to be seen.

In any case, this is a staggering, stomach-sinking situation, one that nobody could have foreseen, and Liverpool’s powers that be need to make sure an upswing is found – quickly.

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Celtic look set to finally confirm the appointment of their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead with the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

Rodgers tendered his resignation at the end of October, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, and experienced manager Martin O’Neill has taken the reins as interim head coach for the past month or so.

The former Celtic boss, as shown in the graphic above, won the Scottish Premiership title in his first two seasons back at Parkhead, and it will be down to Nancy to overcome Hearts to win the division in his first season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Hoops are set to confirm the appointment of the MLS boss before the weekend, but that means that it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout for the weekend’s clash with Hibernian.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna were also said to be in the running for the role, but it is the Frenchman who is poised to replace Rodgers.

Whilst Nancy will have to deal with the players that he inherits for the first month or so of his reign in Glasgow, the incoming boss has already been linked with a move to bring one of his Columbus Crew stars to Scotland.

The Columbus Crew star Wilfried Nancy could bring to Celtic

Earlier this week, it was reported that Celtic are lining up a move to bolster their attack by swooping for one of the French head coach’s key players from the MLS side.

Chalkboard

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

Nancy is reportedly set to swoop for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali to provide him with a proven and lethal number nine at Parkhead for the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The Palestine international scored three goals in five MLS games for Nancy towards the end of the 2025 campaign, per Sofascore, after a £5.7m move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly back in July.

Prior to his almost £6m move to the MLS in July, Abou Ali’s form for Al Ahly in Egypt caught the eye, as he showcased his reliability in front of goal in the Egyptian Premier League.

Appearances

19

16

Goals

18

10

Minutes per goal

76

118

Big chances missed

5

1

Conversion rate

40%

23%

Big chances created

3

2

Assists

4

3

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old frontman scored a staggering 28 goals in 35 appearances in those two seasons, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Columbus Crew would want for the prolific striker because they paid almost £6m for him earlier this year, and he has already scored three goals in five league games.

If the MLS side demand a hefty fee that Celtic are either unable or unwilling to pay in the January transfer window, Nancy will have to look at alternative ways to bolster his attacking ranks at Parkhead.

For example, the French boss could unearth his next version of Abou Ali by helping young striker Callum Osmand fulfill his potential when he is back fit and available for selection.

Why Osmand could be Celtic's own version of Abou Ali

The Jersey-born star is currently out with a hamstring injury and a timeline has not been given on his return date, so it remains to be seen when he will be available to the incoming Hoops boss.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Osmand both missing through injury, Ireland international Johnny Kenny is the first-choice number nine at Parkhead. The young forward has had an impressive run under interim boss O’Neill with four goals in five matches, per Sofascore.

However, it may be the former Fulham youngster who is the most likely to emerge as the star goalscorer of the Nancy era when you consider his record at first-team and academy level to date.

Appearances

150

83

Goals

47

49

Games per goal

3.19

1.69

Assists

11

13

Games per assist

13.64

6.38

As you can see in the table above, Osmand has scored and created goals at a much more impressive rate than Kenny has throughout his career to date, with an exceptional haul of 49 goals in 83 matches.

Whilst the majority of those goals have been at youth level, the 20-year-old star also showcased his quality in the first-team with a poacher’s finish against Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Unfortunately, Osmand then suffered his hamstring injury off the bench against Midtjylland in the Europa League in the very next game, shortly after winning a penalty from which Reo Hatate scored.

The ex-Fulham youngster, who was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, scored one goal and won a penalty in his first three first-team outings for the Scottish giants, which is an impressive start to senior football for the young attacker.

His exceptional goalscoring record in his career suggests that he has the potential to emerge as a real star for Celtic in the future, once he is back from injury, because he has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, the summer signing could be unearthed as Nancy’s next version of Abou Ali, who has been a prolific scorer for his last two teams, as another number nine who can provide a lethal presence in front of goal, if the Hoops are unable to get a deal done for the MLS star.

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