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Our correspondent writes up a report card for England’s not so merry fellows in India, ranking how true they were to the B-word philosophy

Alan Gardner15-Mar-2024Firstly, the Light Roller would like to make a statement to our loyal reader.It has come to our attention that we may have, at various unspecified points in the past, referred to the so-called “Bazball” as the greatest thing ever to happen to cricket, a feat of genius with no parallel in the history of the game, the latest English sporting innovation set to sweep the world, and the only thing worth getting out of bed for in the morning.Regretfully, we must now inform you that these views were, at best, misguided, at worst, deviant. The so-called “Bazball” is in fact an overhyped chimera, a flawed piece of one-dimensional thinking that was destined to fail, the latest blight on England’s much-tarnished sporting reputation, and a very annoying word to boot.This much has become painfully clear in the wake of England’s 4-1 humiliation in India, which differed so vastly from their previous visits to the country – such as in 2021, when they valiantly lost 3-1 despite not having a single batter who had ever faced spin bowling, and in 2016, when they stodgily plodded to a respectable 4-0 defeat (which included twice scoring 400 only to lose by an innings).With the so-called “Bazballers” returning home in order to be publicly flogged/made to practise their forward defence, the Light Roller hopes to help make amends with this special England report card.Related

• A project in the balance as England confront the need to evolve

• Why Baz is more of a cricket god than you think

• Never mind the Bazball, here's the Ashes

• Bazball is a doomsday cult

Ben Stokes
Scored his runs at a strike rate of 54.22. Only took one wicket. Failed to produce any miraculous single-handed match-winning heroics. Has this guy even heard of the so-called “Bazball”?So-called Bazball rating: -1James Anderson
About as funky as you would expect of a man who has seemingly been bowling fast-medium swing since the dawn of Test cricket.So-called Bazball rating: 3Jonny Bairstow
The batter who blew India away with twin hundreds at Edgbaston in 2022 barely blew more than a few raspberries this time around – though he did admirably try to hit the cover off every ball in his 100th Test.So-called Bazball rating: 6Shoaib Bashir
Trust in youth, let players express themselves. Ideally make sure they get issued their visa in time. These are the tenets of the so-called “Bazball”. Loses a mark for being an offspinner, which is quite boring.So-called Bazball rating: 7Zak Crawley
Turns out that when Crawley is consistent, England don’t win Test matches. Chalk that one up to Brendon McCullum’s galaxy brain.So-called Bazball rating: 6Tom Hartley: understood the “Bazball” assignment•BCCIBen Duckett
Scored an 88-ball hundred and not much else besides, but – crucially – wound up the opposition at a key juncture with a textbook bit of needless preachy grandstanding in a press conference.So-called Bazball rating: 7Ben Foakes
So endearingly old school that he rarely hits the ball off the square, never mind in the air. Often seems to be working at deliberate cross-purposes to the so-called “Bazball” agenda.So-called Bazball rating: 0Tom Hartley
Got hit for six from his first ball on debut. Hit the first England six of the tour. Often got out trying to hit the ball for six. Oh yes, and he took quite a few wickets.So-called Bazball rating: 9Jack Leach
As he did in the very first Test under Stokes and McCullum, Leach injured himself in the line of duty and was not seen much from that point on.So-called Bazball rating: 5Ollie Pope
Played the “greatest innings by an Englishman in the subcontinent” in Hyderabad, according to his captain. The rest of his series reminded us more of infinite monkey theorem.So-called Bazball rating: 8Next in the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka rivalry: Sri Lanka fielders welcoming Bangladesh batters on to the field with a rendition of Britney Spears’ “(Hit Me) Baby One More Time”•BCBRehan Ahmed
Made an appearance as the Nighthawk, batting at No. 3 in Vizag and bowled nicely on several occasions without changing anything much. Loses several marks for not liking golf.So-called Bazball rating: 4Ollie Robinson
Can you do the so-called “Bazball” if you are injured/busy recording a podcast? No, it would seem.So-called Bazball rating: 1Joe Root
A series of two halves. Was having an absolute shocker, epitomised by his reverse-scoop dismissal in Rajkot, before remembering he is the team’s best batter and losing all the slap-happy credit he had built up.So-called Bazball rating: 9, 1Mark Wood
Scored 48 runs from 53 balls faced for a strike rate of 90.56, thereby topping the standings for the series in the only metric that counts.So-called Bazball rating: 4

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Is the rivalry that accompanies contests between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh petty, small-minded and unbecoming? Yes. Is said rivalry the main reason we take an interest in contests between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Also yes. After the -dance years, we are now officially in the timed-out era, after Sri Lanka’s players celebrated their T20I series victory by posing with the trophy while pointing to their wrists – a classic bit of banter referencing Angelo Mathews’ dismissal at last year’s World Cup. We can only hope the BCB stands ready to respond and is already in discussions with international watchmakers about sponsoring this timeless beef for years to come.

Munim’s 161.81 strike-rate has easily made him the most talked-about Bangladeshi batter in the tournament

Mohammad Isam17-Feb-2022Eight months ago, Munim Shahriar faced a make-or-break situation in his fledgling cricket career. Abahani Limited had dropped him after he made 69 runs in four matches in the Dhaka Premier League T20s.One day during training, Abahani coach Khaled Mahmud took the young batter aside. He couldn’t give the young opener enough chances that season, so he understood that Munim perhaps needed a bit of attention from him. Mahmud had a talk with Munim, convincing him that he should continue to bat the way that came to him naturally.”After I was dropped for two matches, (Mahmud) Sujon sir told me, ‘Why are you so worried? Just play freely.’ Those words really had an impact on me,” Munim tells ESPNcricinfo. “In the next game, I made 92 off 50 balls against Prime Bank, and followed it up with a 40-ball 74. I finished the league with 355 runs at 143 strike rate.”Mahmud had first met Munim during the 2019-20 Dhaka Premier League, when Abahani were looking for an opener in the 50-over competition. Mosaddek Hossain, a senior figure in Mymensingh, which is also Munim’s hometown, and Najmul Hossain Shanto, Munim’s Under-19 team-mate, had recommended him to Mahmud.

“After I was dropped for two matches, (Khaled Mahmud) Sujon sir told me, ‘Why are you so worried? Just play freely'”Munim Shahriar

That conversation was the turning point in Munim’s career. His performance for Abahani impressed Mahmud, who then picked him for Fortune Barishal for this season’s BPL. Munim was picked up belatedly, after no one turned his way in the players’ draft. But ahead of the final, he has the highest strike rate for any Bangladeshi batter in a single campaign (minimum 100 runs).Munim has a very modern style of batting: mostly standing still and hitting through the line of the ball. He has played some breath-taking shots in the BPL, particularly over mid-off. During the first qualifier against Comilla Victorians, there was a moment of silence when he smashed Mustafizur Rahman for a six over midwicket. It was a normal pull shot, but Munim made a last-second adjustment by straightening his wrist slightly. It not just looked stylish, but showed that he could take on the country’s best T20 bowler too. And win.Munim’s strike rate of 161.81 has easily made him the most talked-about Bangladeshi batter in the tournament. He has made 178 runs in five innings, and if you have followed Bangladesh’s plights in T20Is the last seven months, it’s easy to see why everyone is excited. He might now be a shoo-in for a call-up for the two T20Is against Afghanistan in early March.The 23-year-old Munim, however, isn’t looking that far ahead just yet. He has the BPL final in mind, and he wants to focus on the job at hand.”After I missed out the first few matches because of Covid, I needed a bit of time to prepare for the BPL,” he says. “The team was trying a few opening combinations. (Jake) Lintott and (Dwayne) Bravo opened with (Chris) Gayle at one point. The night before my first game, Sujon sir told me that I would get to play four matches. It gave me the freedom.”Munim Shahriar has the eagerness and batting style that Bangladesh have long needed in white-ball cricket•AFP/Getty ImagesMunim is very aware that getting runs like he does – going after the bowling from the word go – on Bangladeshi pitches is a high-risk game. “I have only played two tournaments so there’s a long way to go. I know that I have batted this way, and it is far more important to be able to play in this manner in the long-term.”Those who know me are aware that I have an aggressive mindset as a batsman. I follow the process and stick to the plan too. I try to take advantage of the circle, and I like batting against the new ball. I have batted like this since my school days. I even batted like this in three-day matches as well. My coach (the late Hayatul Islam Hannan) always trained me to bat this way.”There are enough cautionary tales in Bangladesh cricket for Munim to keep in mind. One-hit wonders are many, though a few Bangladeshi batters have used the BPL as their launching pads.Shamsur Rahman struck six fifties during the 2013 BPL, which got him into the senior side the following year. Mahedi Hasan did well in the 2019-20 edition, giving him a road into the T20I side. Mehedi Maruf’s splendid 2016-17 season didn’t amount to much, while Sabbir Rahman also took a bit of time to convert his hot-and-cold BPL performances into a national call-up.But Munim has the eagerness and batting style that Bangladesh have long needed in white-ball cricket. There’s reward in backing a talent like him – think David Warner. Whether he stays the course or not is another matter, but he could well change Bangladesh’s batting approach in T20I cricket if he gets a run.

McGrath and Warne couldn’t do it, but could a bowler from another team have provided a breakthrough to change history?

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-2020In this series, , we present our writers with a tricky cricketing scenario and ask them to captain their way out of it.Scenario
You are captaining Australia in the 2001 Eden Gardens Test. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid have just brought up their 200 stand on day four, and India are 158 ahead. It’s clear something special is happening. Now, you are given a lifeline. You can bring in any two bowlers active at the time to replace two of your bowlers. Whom do you bring in to break this epic stand?Andrew Miller:
By a quirk of scheduling, not only would the ideal fast bowler have been available to step in, he was also a short plane ride away, having days earlier claimed eight match-winning wickets in a humdinger of a second Test in Kandy. The winter of 2000-01 was Darren Gough’s apogee. In consecutive away series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he bowled with peerless skill and unquenchable optimism to propel Nasser Hussain’s men to the greatest triumphs of their lives, and in the process produced bursts of reverse-swinging brilliance that neither Waqar Younis nor Wasim Akram, at this late stage of their own careers, were able to better. Where others would have grimaced at yet another Laxman cover drive, Gough would have grinned and gone again. And, assuming that kidnapping Harbhajan Singh, Billy Midwinter-style, and forcing him to switch teams mid-match is out of the question, I would instead co-opt Saqlain Mushtaq as my mystery spinner of choice, his doosra still a relatively new and unfathomable weapon.Sharda Ugra:
There’s no nice way to say this, but if you have to break the growing Curse of Kolkata, there’s no point in calling in steady, disciplined metronomes, nor once-in-a-generation, ball-of-a-century spinners. This is the India who have spinners down pat. They know how to sort out auras. This is Dravid, the batting equivalent of Pigeon without the sulky snarlings, and Laxman, who munches his way through spinners for starters. Since we’ve given an out, take the only one that makes sense.Keep it simple and bring in the heavy artillery. Pace is pace , those ones. The Wizard of Waz, with his minimalist left-arm and ability to mangle off stumps, and the Rawalpindi Express. As Ian Bishop will shout nearly two decades later, they have . This is Eden Gardens, where on dark stormy nights they still hear Akhtar’s stump-rattling from 1999. Dravid remembers. Only Akhtar ever silenced Eden, and, in fact, emptied it out. Better not bother with anyone else. Or Headingleys will happen. For sure.Saurabh Somani:
I’m going to assume anything is possible, since how else could be captaining Australia. So off comes the arm-sling that kept Anil Kumble out of this series, his shoulder is magically healed, and he puts on the Baggy Green. I’ll become the second Australian captain to drop Shane Warne (though just for half a Test, so maybe I’ll be only the most selfish player he’s played with), but Kumble at Eden to Laxman and Dravid is mouth-watering. By 2001, all three knew each other’s games inside out.I’ll also bring in Muttiah Muralitharan, in place of Michael Kasprowicz. Muralitharan had 80 wickets in 12 Tests in 2001, and since Singh is running rings around batsmen, who’s to say Murali wouldn’t? Both of them in tandem can bowl long spells too, which means I have Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath fresh for short, sharp bursts.Karthik Krishnaswamy:
I want scary pace from one end, and who better to call on than Shoaib Akhtar. Two balls like the back-to-back yorkers he bowled to Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar at Eden Gardens in 1999 would do very nicely, thank you.From the other end, I’m calling on a spinner with vast experience of bowling in Indian conditions and with a deep understanding of Dravid and Laxman’s strengths and weaknesses. Welcome, then, to Kanwaljit Singh, Laxman’s team-mate at Hyderabad, who’s in the process of picking up nine wickets in his final first-class game. Kanwaljit’s career lasted over 20 years, and he only got better with age, picking up 163 wickets at 24.65 in his last four seasons. He was perhaps unlucky never to play for India; a match-winning spell them, at nearly 43, would be quite a finish.Getty ImagesSreshth Shah:
With McGrath, Kasprowicz and Gillespie not finding the breakthrough, it’s time to bring in someone similar to McGrath, but with the ability to bounce the ball more. Enter Courtney Walsh. With the lead swelling, Walsh will be able to plug the runs by bowling to his field, and the odd short ball could surprise the batsmen. Due to his higher release position, he may also get some variable bounce with the old ball. Walsh is also a patient bowler, unlike McGrath, who can get flustered when things are not going his way.Allan Donald will provide the extra pace, which may be effective against tiring batsmen. Aim for the toes, get the ball whizzing past the ears, and you could create a chance. He also loved bowling against India.Alan Gardner:
The leading candidate to come in and turn Australia’s fortunes with a prodigious role of his wrist is Muralitharan – by far the most prolific wicket-taker of the period, and with conditions that ought to suit him. However, Muralitharan had an even more underwhelming record in India than his potential team-mate Warne. Also, he might baulk at the idea of being asked to help win a match for Australia. Instead I’ll call on another offspinner with a fiendish doosra in Mushtaq, who claimed four consecutive five-fors against India, in Chennai and Delhi, two years previously. To add further spice, let’s also go with Younis, some way from his pomp but still capable in 2001 of making the old ball veer like an angry wasp – one good delivery might be all it takes to quell ideas of an India comeback for the ages.Danyal Rasool:
He may have been 38 by the Eden Test, but from the turn of the century until the start of this match, no one bar Muralitharan had more wickets than Walsh. And among active players who had bowled in at least 10 matches, only McGrath could lay claim to a better average than his 20.25. But unlike McGrath, who Dravid and Laxman had made look like little more than a glorified Mark Ealham, Walsh actually had the pace and bounce that might have upset the duo on a pitch that packed as much menace as a snail on sedatives.Alongside him – hear me out – I’d plump for Nantie Hayward. Remember him? He was young and unorthodox enough back then to look like an absolute tearaway, while his run-up and flaming red hair made him seem even faster. Laxman and Dravid appeared to have found a rhythm, and if Hayward was guaranteed to deny you something, it was rhythm. Later that year, he would play two Tests against India, and dismiss each of Laxman and Dravid after they were settled.Andrew Fidel Fernando:
Few fast bowlers have ever been as good in India as Walsh, who took 43 wickets at 18.55 in the country. The last of his matches in India was in 1994, and although he didn’t get to play there late in his career, he was as masterful as ever elsewhere. Durable, wily, skillful, and still capable of putting in long shifts, if anyone could wangle his way through Laxman or Dravid’s defence, Walsh was the guy.I’m tempted to have Muralitharan partner him, but the fact is, although he did well against India at home (average under 25), Muralitharan’s record in India is poor (average over 45). Both he and Warne have complained about the SG ball. Instead, I’ll throw in the best foreign spinner to play in India during this period: Saqlain Mushtaq. (Though there is definitely a temptation to see how a 17-year old Dale Steyn would have gone as well.)

Brazil are short in key areas, while Belgium's golden generation has been and gone – but they're not the only ones who might struggle

Once the World Cup draw is over, the months that follow tend to bring plenty of excitement. This is the time to dream, to find the positives. Now, fans can look at their group and start to believe, piece together the math that would allow qualification, or an unlikely run. 

But of course, the opposite can also be true. Even in an expanded World Cup that will see 32 out of 48 teams advance to the knockouts, there are reasons for concern. Whether it be inexperienced sides who might find it hard to get out of a group, or presumptive favorites who could struggle to squeak by, not everyone can succeed here. 

And there are a fair few candidates to get it all wrong next year. Brazil look weak. Belgium's golden generation has come and gone. Meanwhile, Croatia simply are too old to make a run (then again, we've said those words before).

GOAL looks at the teams to worry about now that the World Cup groups are set…

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  5Egypt

  This really depends on which version of Mohamed Salah shows up. Let's be honest, the Egyptian has struggled for months now, reaching back into the end of the 2024-25 season. He doesn't look like the same player, while off-field turmoil hasn't helped. If Salah goes quiet for his country, Egypt have few other apparent attacking weapons. It could be a difficult one – even if they do have an admittedly kind group. 

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  4Croatia

  This is where the story ends, right? Croatia were, for some time, football's great overperformers, making a historically unlikely run to the World Cup final in 2018, and managing to stay alive in pretty much every major tournament since. That tendency came on the back of a real belief in their quality and, in recent years, experience playing in the biggest of moments. But now they're very old. Luka Modric was once the architect of it all, and he's 40(!) 

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  3Mexico

  The serious issue with the Mexican national team is the expectation that follows them around them. represents a truly mad soccer nation, and haven't had a successful World Cup campaign in years. Surprisingly, the talent pool has rather dried up. Raul Jimenez and Chucky Lozano are very much players of the past – even if they still might make the side. And the new crop of players looks a little mixed. Gilbert Mora is 17, and, at the moment, is the guy expected to carry the team on his shoulders – which tells you all you need to know. 

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  2Brazil

  Brazil have never quite convinced under Carlo Ancelotti in his six months at the helm. Sure, the former Real Madrid manager was handed a tough job here. hadn't truly settled on a manager after Tite left in the wake of the 2022 World Cup. And it showed. Managers came and went, players struggled for form. Ancelotti was supposed to be the stabilizing force. Thus far, his record as Brazil manager reads: three wins, one draw, one loss, with one goal conceded – but only nine scored. It's the very antithesis of what Brazilian football should be. 

  And in World Cup games, can they really be trusted? Vinicius Jr is in rotten form. Raphinha has failed to hit the heights of last year. There are question marks at the back. Neymar is a complete enigma. It's tough to see a run here. 

Ange Postecoglou has reportedly been tipped for a shock return to management with Premier League strugglers Leeds United, but is likely to face competition from Brendan Rodgers. The Whites find themselves in the relegation zone, winless in their last four matches and spiralling into a crisis that now threatens to sweep away manager Daniel Farke, only months after he masterminded a 100-point promotion campaign.

Leeds plunge toward crisis as pressure mounts on Farke

Seven defeats in 12 games have left the Whites 18th in the table, and according to , there are no reassurances coming from Elland Road’s hierarchy regarding Farke’s future. His Premier League record, dating back to his Norwich City days, now gives him the lowest points-per-game return of any manager with more than 50 matches in the competition’s history (0.61). With Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool looming in their next three fixtures, Leeds appear to be edging toward a tipping point. 

Postecoglou, who was once hailed as the charismatic architect behind Celtic’s resurgence, has unexpectedly become a name floated for the Leeds hot seat. His brief, bruising stint at Nottingham Forest, where he lasted a record-short 39 days, may have dented his Premier League credentials, but not his admirers within the Leeds boardroom. Figures at Elland Road are said to be intrigued by his front-foot philosophy, believing it fits the club’s identity.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRodgers emerges as a serious contender

Rodgers, who stunned Celtic supporters last month by resigning and exiting Parkhead for the second time in his career, is reportedly eager for a Premier League return. His departure sparked a furious statement from Celtic chief Dermot Desmond, who accused him of behaviour that was "divisive, misleading and self-serving". 

He told Celtic's official club website: "Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation as manager of Celtic Football Club. I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded.

"When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust. In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue."

Despite the acrimony, Rodgers’ coaching reputation remains largely intact. His time at Leicester saw him deliver an FA Cup triumph and consecutive European qualifications before the Foxes’ late nosedive in 2023.

Will Postecoglou accept the offer?

Reports indicate Postecoglou has privately ruled himself out of any immediate managerial return, including the vacancy at Celtic. After an emotionally draining few months, he is believed to be deliberately stepping back from frontline football to rest and recharge before deciding his next move. To many Celtic supporters, Postecoglou remains a beloved figure who delivered five domestic trophies in two years and revolutionised the club’s style of play. But for now, he appears committed to pause rather than plunge into another high-pressure environment, making a Leeds move far from guaranteed.

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GettyWhat comes next for Leeds?

Farke arrived at Elland Road with a clear mandate to lead Leeds back to the big time, stabilise the squad and embed a long-term identity. For a year, he did exactly that. But the Premier League has exposed his tactical rigidity and the limitations of a squad still adapting to top-flight intensity. Leeds look vulnerable in transitions, short on creativity and low on confidence. The issues are exacerbated by the relentless fixture list. The next three matches may prove terminal. Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool represent an unforgiving gauntlet for a side battling to stay afloat. Anything less than a shock turnaround could leave the Leeds hierarchy with a decision they already appear to be preparing for.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph in the 2024/25 campaign allowed numerous players to write themselves into the club’s history books forever.

The Lilywhites ended their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, and did so in tremendous fashion after defeating fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou handed the fanbase memories to last a lifetime with the triumph, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position as manager in North London.

Thomas Frank was elected as the man to take the reins during the summer, with the Dane handed the responsibility of taking the club to the next level after the European success.

However, his appointment has prevented numerous players from kicking on in their careers, with the first-team members often struggling to replicate the form they demonstrated under the Aussie.

The biggest losers from Thomas Frank's appointment at Spurs

Yves Bissouma was often one of Postecoglou’s first names on the teamsheet during the 2024/25 campaign, as seen by his tally of 44 appearances across all competitions.

The Malian international featured in 11 of the 15 club’s European outings last campaign, but it’s safe to say his spell under Frank has been far from successful to date.

He was left out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final after being late numerous times, resulting in missing out on the club’s Premier League squad for the current 2025/26 campaign.

However, he’s not alone in that regard, with Brennan Johnson one of the Lilywhites’ most important players in the previous campaign, as seen by his phenomenal goalscoring record.

The Welshman scored 18 times across all competitions – even netting the winner in the Europa League final – subsequently ending the year as the club’s top goalscorer.

Like Bissouma, he’s struggled for consistency this time around, with the 24-year-old only starting five league games out of a possible 11 since Frank took charge in the summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has no doubt pushed him down the pecking order, with the manager seemingly preferring the Ghanaian international over him at present.

Spurs star is no longer "one of the best in the world"

Spurs’ £120m spending spree during the summer window has made competition for places even tougher in 2025/26, with the first-team now having incredible depth in certain areas of the squad.

Given the number of competitions the Lilywhites are currently featuring in this season, it’s crucial Frank has the ability to rotate and rest certain players when needed.

Competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League will likely take priority, which has seen numerous players have to settle for minutes off the bench as a result.

Djed Spence has taken his career in North London to the next level over the last couple of years, with the full-back taking advantage of the injury crisis last campaign.

The Englishman made himself a regular starter under Ange last campaign, which has resulted in the 25-year-old now becoming an international regular under Thomas Tuchel.

His starts at right-back has provided competition for Pedro Porro in such an area of the pitch, with the Spaniard often missing out from the starting eleven as a result in recent months.

The 26-year-old has become known for his ability in possession rather than out of it, with Spence the complete opposite and making him an excellent fit for Frank’s system.

In 2024/25, Porro registered nine assists across all competitions, the most in a single season since his move to England – resulting in one journalist labelling him the “best in the world”.

However, in the ongoing campaign, the full-back has only registered one assist to date – showcasing his struggles – with his underlying stats also a cause for concern.

He’s completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 8% of all players in England’s top-flight this season.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

1

Passes completed

72%

Crosses completed

17%

Duels won

3.9

Times dribbled past

1.3

Fouls committed

1.3

Dribble success

42%

Porro’s crossing success has also taken a massive hit in recent months, as the Spaniard has only completed a total of 17% of his efforts as of the middle of November.

Out of possession, he’s struggled just as much, as seen by his tally of just 3.9 duels won per 90, with such a figure placing him in the bottom 25% of all defenders in the league.

His lack of defensive talent is also evident in his tally of being dribbled past 1.3 times per 90, which is higher than 82% of other full-backs in the division at present.

Such numbers will certainly be a cause for concern to the manager, especially given the quality of players such as Spence already on the books in North London.

Despite his form under Ange, Porro could now find himself on borrowed time in the near future, with the hierarchy potentially tempted to cash in on him and invest in other areas of the squad.

He can end Bentancur's stay: Spurs gem is showing "shades of Mousa Dembele"

Tottenham Hotspur have a star who could end Rodrigo Bentancur’s career in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 19, 2025

Manchester United are in transition, but after a 2024/25 campaign that must be buried and forgotten, Ruben Amorim has succeeded in endowing his squad with more zest and zeal than was previously on display.

Amorim’s United have a perfectly respectable Premier League record so far this season. Seventh in the standings, the five-match unbeaten streak has eased the pressure and placed the side in a promising position, only four points behind second-place Manchester City.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have played crucial parts in achieving this. INEOS have revamped the Red Devils’ frontline, and now there is far more togetherness and understanding when on the attack.

But, as United look to wedge their way back into the Champions League and then compete for that silver cup after so many years, Amorim may fancy a higher breed of player, and it would indeed appear that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are aiming for the stars.

Man Utd eyeing marquee signing

Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but for too long they have struggled to match that reputation with sustained success on the field.

While the Theatre of Dreams crop have edged back onto the once-trodden path, it seems INEOS are interested in a marquee addition to balance against the shrewd summer signings. Someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps?

Not an easy task, replicating that one-time signing under Sir Alex Ferguson, which proved to be one of the best in the history of the game, with CR7 of course now recognised as one of the finest and most accomplished footballers in history.

But United should be aiming to sign one of the game’s superstars, a game-changer whose quality differs from everyone else under Amorim’s wing.

Maybe that’s why Man United are interested in striking a deal for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, whose future in the Spanish capital has been a hot topic for several years at this stage.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is reported by Spanish sources to be considering a shock departure from Real Madrid, given that he no longer feels like the protagonist next to Kylian Mbappe.

United are on red alert, and are even understood to have prepared a £200m offer to lure him away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Chelsea are also long-term admirers, and so INEOS and Jason Wilcox would need to act speedily to get this one over the line.

What Vinicius Junior would offer Man Utd

Vinicius Jr is widely recognised as one of the most talented forwards of his generation. Having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for just south of £39m in 2018, the Brazilian has scored 111 goals and supplied 87 assists across 338 senior outings, notably winning two Champions League and three La Liga titles.

A big-game player and with so many different ways to hurt his opponents, the £353k-per-week talent has been embroiled in something of a tumultuous year at Real Madrid, and it’s starting to look increasingly likely that he will not see out the duration of his prime in the iconic white shirt.

Mercurial, dynamic and always dangerous, Vinicius Jr is blessed with such frightening speed and control when on the ball, such creativity when zipping up and down the left flank.

Hailed as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr could reach that potential by completing a reversal of Ronaldo’s record-breaking transfer to Spain way back when, taking his world-class reputation and hitting new heights in a different league.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up’s volatile nature at times is also part of what makes him special. He is a natural-born competitor, and he hates losing. Perhaps Man United need such a player, someone with the aura and determination of Ronaldo.

There have been several flare-ups in Spain this season for the South American star. He has been somewhat at odds with new manager Xabi Alonso, and he has blanked across his past four La Liga matches, albeit still having scored five goals and provided four assists across 12 matches.

But there’s no denying Mbappe has taken on the focal role, and it is for this reason that Vini might want to leave, moving to United and earning greater tactical freedom to play across the frontline and in a role that would see him designated as the club’s superstar.

Left winger

284

86

73

Centre-forward

60

29

15

Right winger

14

3

2

Attacking midfield

2

1

0

Ronaldo proved he could do it over several years in the Premier League, but then he transcended expectations when moving to Real Madrid and becoming their main man.

The Portuguese legend scored 145 goals for United across two spells, winning the Ballon d’Or – the first of five – in 2008 and claiming three Premier League titles and the first of many Champions League trophies across that glittering first stint, led by Sir Alex.

Vinicius Jr has enjoyed illustrious success in Spain and is accepted by all as one of the game’s finest. But could it be that he too needs to enjoy the talismanic handle to hit his finest form? In this, he could find that United offer the perfect platform for him to slide into, tackling a project that needs plenty of work but is showing the signs of a corner turned.

Under Amorim’s guidance at Old Trafford, he could achieve this, emulating his Los Blancos idol in leaving Real Madrid after sustained success and forging a new path.

The respective situations are hardly identical, but there are undoubtedly similarities, and Vincius Jr has the power and personality to hit the jackpot in England and lead the Man United resurgence, combining with Mbeumo and Cunha and Benjamin Sesko to restore United to their one-time power as a behemoth of the British and European game.

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Rangers need to replace sporting director Kevin Thelwell, and a highly qualified candidate who also happens to be a boyhood Gers fan is currently out of work.

McCoist fumes at Rangers after defeat to Brann

Danny Rohl’s first game in charge of the Gers was not a game he will want to remember in a hurry, with his side losing 3-0 away to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

One person who appears to have reached breaking point is Rangers legend Ally McCoist, who slammed the team the morning after the game, describing it as his lowest ebb with them yet.

“Last night is probably as depressed as I have been during this whole debacle, because I actually feel for the manager. I don’t know what he is going to do.

“He might improve them in terms of a little bit of organisation – set plays, you can do all that, bits and pieces, but I do not think there is anywhere near the level of improvement in that team that will even be required to get them up the league domestically, to tell you the gospel truth. There are just absolutely miles off it. They are getting outfought, outrun, outmuscled – I mean, it’s actually very sad to watch.”

There is so much unrest at Rangers right now, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, with potential big changes happening now that Rohl is in charge.

Rangers backed to make key backroom change

Writing on X, Hearts & Hand’s David Edgar urged Rangers to replace Thelwell with David Weir, who was most recently technical director at Premier League side Brighton, a club famed for their top level recruitment.

Weir, a boyhood Gers fan and former player, started at Brighton as the pathway development manager, and his brilliance in player development saw him progress to assistant and later chief techincal director, a role he left in September of this year.

It’s fair to say that Thelwell and CEO Patrick Stewart are unpopular figures at Rangers right now, and for Rohl’s sake, a fresh start makes sense in those backroom roles. In Weir, the Gers would be bringing in a man who has been hailed as a “recruitment mastermind” who also knows the club extremely well, and who was a popular figure during his playing days.

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It remains to be seen if a decision will be made with the likes of Thelwell and Stewart, but it does feel as though they have reached the point of no return at the club now.

The supposed love triangle that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez finds himself at the centre of has taken a new twist, with Wanda Nara furiously denying that she was looking to enter into an affair with the Argentina international. The former wife of Galatasaray striker Mauro Icardi was said to have messaged Fernandez behind the back of his partner Valentina Cervantes.

Awkward TV: Nara mingling with Fernandez's partner

It was reported back in October that model and TV presenter Nara had sent a flirty message to World Cup winner Fernandez. Said contact was said to have been made despite the 24-year-old being in a relationship with childhood sweetheart Cervantes.

The matter was further complicated by the fact that Fernandez’s partner is taking part in the Argentinian version of Celebrity MasterChef – a show that is hosted by Nara. Cervantes will have to interact with Nara throughout that production.

Said meetings will take place after Nara allegedly said to Fernandez after spotting him back in his native South America: "I just saw you in the neighbourhood, write to me if you want." It was claimed that the Chelsea star made Cervantes aware of the message.

AdvertisementNara reacts to 'nonsense' speculation

According to local media in Argentina, Cervantes is now "uncomfortable" at the thought of Fernandez crossing paths with Nara. She was previously married to ex-Argentina international Maxi Lopez, before then coupling up with former Inter striker Icardi. Their often strained relationship was brought to a close when divorcing in 2024.

Nara has since dated musician L-Gante and been romantically linked to Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi. She has been back in her homeland fronting the latest series of Celebrity MasterChef.

She has strenuously denied seeking to enter into any kind of romantic clinch with Fernandez. She is reported to have said of rumours that lack any substance, with Cervantes being addressed directly: "I’ll take this opportunity to clarify the nonsense they’re saying about me and your husband; it’s false." She went on to say when offering advice on how to handle life in the spotlight: "Made-up stories. Welcome to fame. That’s how it is."

Cervantes' response to reports of Nara message

Cervantes has been around professional sport and celebrity culture long enough to know how the game works. She has previously said, while insisting that there are no issues between her and Nara: “They’re always going to stir that up, but what do I know? It’s mostly people who create it, because I have no problem with her. She’s never done anything to me.”

She responded to the initial reports of a message being sent by Nara to Fernandez by saying when asked if she was aware of the gossip: "Yes, I saw it. No, as far as I know, I haven’t seen any messages. No, no, Enzo never spoke to me about anything. No, he never spoke to me about any of that."

She went on to say: "I saw it the other day. I was just telling the guy, my family sent me the clips, because I don’t watch TV at home. No, I’m not going to bother Enzo about something like that. I didn’t even ask him."

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AFPPremier League & 2026 World Cup: Fernandez's focus

Fernandez is focused on his professional commitments for now, having helped Chelsea to Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup crowns in 2025. He has become a leader at Stamford Bridge, filling the armband at times when Reece James is absent, and has four goals to his name this season.

Former Premier League star Micah Richards has said of Fernandez justifying the faith shown in him by the Blues, with a big-money transfer from Benfica having been completed in January 2023: "I love [Moises] Caicedo, I love Enzo. Enzo has changed his game completely. He was a holder, but now he gets forward at every opportunity, he takes penalties.

"He’s one of the most, I don’t want to say improved because he still bought for £100m. But in terms of being able to adapt from one position to the other, the way he leads his team, he’s a top midfielder, really top midfielder."

Chelsea will be back in Premier League action against Wolves on Saturday, before Argentina take in a friendly date with Angola on November 14 – with the Albiceleste, who still have Lionel Messi at their disposal for now, having already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Internacional superou o São Paulo por 2 a 1, de virada, no Beira-Rio, em jogo válido pela 23ª rodada do Brasileirão. Calleri abriu o placar para o Tricolor ainda no primeiro tempo, de pênalti. No segundo tempo, Fabricio Bustos e Renê viraram o jogo para o Colorado, e deram números finais ao placar.

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Com este resultado, o Internacional deu fim a uma seca de vitórias que já durava 10 jogos no Campeonato Brasileiro, e agora ocupa a 10ª colocação na tabela da competição. Por outro lado, o São Paulo segue sem vencer no campeonato – este foi o sétimo jogo sem vitórias – e continua despencando na tabela, ocupando a 12ª posição na classificação.

+ Veja a classificação e simule os resultados do Brasileirão

CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA

>!A PRIMEIRA DO JOGO! A primeira chance clara do jogo surgiu aos 17 minutos de jogo, em cobrança de escanteio do São Paulo. No meio dos zagueiros, o baixinho Lucas subiu e finalizou de cabeça, tirando do goleiro Keiller. A bola passou à direita do gol, com perigo.

>!NO PAAAAAAU! Aos 40 minutos da primeira etapa, mais uma vez em cobrança de escanteio, Calleri subiu e cabeceou no canto do goleiro do Internacional. Caprichosamente, a bola bateu na trave. Não foi dessa vez que o artilheiro do São Paulo encerrou o jejum de gols.

>!QUE LAMBANÇA! E as saídas de bola com o goleiro fizeram mais uma vítima no futebol brasileiro. Keiller dominou errado após recuo e perdeu o controle da bola. Alisson foi para a disputa e acabou derrubado pelo goleiro do Internacional. Pênalti para o São Paulo, convertido por Calleri aos 49 do primeiro tempo.

>!BOMBA DO BUSTOS! A pressão do Internacional no início do segundo tempo era brutal! Em um dos vários lances de ataque, uma bola cruzada do lado esquerdo atravessou toda a área e morreu no pé de Bustos. Na risca da pequena área, o lateral-direito encheu o pé para empatar o jogo.

>!VIRA, VIROU! O gol de Renê fez valer o preço do ingresso. Após bater a marcação do meio-campo em uma boa tabela com Alan Patrick, o lateral-esquerdo não hesitou e acertou um foguete no canto esquerdo de Rafael, para colocar o Colorado à frente no placar.

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?
O Internacional começou o jogo marcando a saída de bola do São Paulo e exercendo pressão, tentando utilizar o ‘fator casa’ a seu favor. O Tricolor não apenas se segurou como, aos poucos, foi se acertando no jogo e arranjando formas de sair da marcação do Colorado. O time de Dorival levou muito perigo nas bolas paradas e contou com a ajuda de Keiller para abrir o placar já nos acréscimos.

E A ETAPA FINAL?
Mais uma vez, o Internacional começou a segunda etapa pressionando o São Paulo. Dessa vez, no entanto, o Tricolor não soube o que fazer para escapar da marcação na saída de bola e acabou engolido pelo rival. A proposta do Internacional surtiu efeito e o time virou o jogo ainda na primeira metade do tempo, enterrando qualquer chance de reação do São Paulo.

+ Confira mais detalhes de Internacional x São Paulo

OS NÚMEROS DA PARTIDA

O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
O São Paulo volta todas as suas atenções para a primeira partida da final da Copa do Brasil, diante do Flamengo no Maracanã. O jogo está marcado para o domingo (17), às 16 horas (de Brasília) e é o primeiro passo do Tricolor na busca pelo título inédito. O Internacional, por sua vez, volta a campo apenas na próxima semana, no dia 21 (quinta-feira), diante do Athletico-PR na Arena da Baixada, pelo Brasileirão.

FICHA TÉCNICA
INTERNACIONAL 2 x 1 SÃO PAULO
Local: Estádio Beira-Rio, em Porto Alegre (RS)
Data e hora: 13/09/2023 (quarta-feira), às 21h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva (Fifa/MG)
Assistentes: Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira (MG) e Leone Carvalho Rocha (GO)
VAR: Rodolpho Toski Marques (VAR-Fifa/PR)
Público e renda: 20.763 pessoas e R$ 318.063,00
Cartões amarelos: Gabriel Mercado (18’/1ºT), Gabriel (30’/1ºT), Keiller (47’/1ºT), Matheus Dias (52’/2ºT) e Lucca (53’/2ºT) para o Internacional; Diego Costa (19’/1ºT), Pablo Maia (41’/1ºT) e Rafinha (30’/2ºT) para o São Paulo.
Cartões vermelhos: não houve
Gols: Calleri (49’/1ºT) (0-1), Fabricio Bustos (14’/2ºT) (1-1) e Renê (25’/2ºT) (2-1)

INTERNACIONAL: Keiller; Fabricio Bustos, Hugo Mallo, Gabriel Mercado (Nicolás Hernández, no intervalo) e Renê; Gabriel (Rômulo, no intervalo), Bruno Henrique (Matheus Dias, aos 44’/2ºT) e Alan Patrick (Campanharo, aos 47’/2ºT); Maurício (Igor Gomes, aos 32’/2ºT), Wanderson e Lucca. Técnico: Eduardo Coudet

SÃO PAULO: Rafael; Rafinha (Nathan, aos 35’/2ºT), Diego Costa, Lucas Beraldo e Caio Paulista (Patryck, no intervalo); Pablo Maia, Alisson, Wellington Rato e Lucas Moura (Michel Araújo, aos 24’/2ºT); Luciano (Rodrigo Nestor, aos 24’/2ºT) e Calleri (Alexandre Pato, aos 35’/2ºT). Técnico: Dorival Júnior