All posts by h716a5.icu

This season could have been catastrophic for Manchester City, but they’re now very much on course to salvage the campaign.

On Wednesday night, even without the sidelined Erling Haaland, the Sky Blues swatted aside Leicester at the Etihad, thanks to first-half goals from Jack Grealish and then Omar Marmoush.

This victory propelled Pep Guardiola’s team up to fourth, ahead of a fascinating Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Citizens could also bookend a generally miserable season with silverware, through to the FA Cup semi-finals for a seventh successive season, set to face high-fliers Nottingham Forest at Wembley in three and a half week’s time.

As Man City rebuild, and Guardiola continues to rejig his team, has he found his new Raheem Sterling?

Raheem Sterling's Manchester City career

As outlined by David Mercer of Sky News, Sterling has spent his entire career ‘in the spotlight’ with ‘newspaper controversies’ often overshadowing his sporting talent.

This was certainly the case when he made the £49m move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015, with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker labeling him ‘overpriced’, claiming Man City paid ‘a lot of money’ for a player who hadn’t ‘really done anything that’s worthy of that price’.

Well, fair to say, Sterling did justify his price tag in sky blue, scoring 131 goals and providing 73 assists in 339 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five EFL Cups.

Guardiola labeled him ‘so important’ to their success, while Vincent Kompany believed, at his peak, Sterling was ‘one of the best wingers in the world’. His form at Chelsea and now Arsenal subsequently show Man City were vindicated to sell him for £47.5m when they did.

Now, can Man City’s current mercurial talent, who exists under a similar level of media scrutiny, rediscover his best form and become a key figure for Guardiola once again?

Man City's new Raheem Sterling

By opening the scoring against Leicester on Wednesday, Jack Grealish ended his 473-day wait for a Premier League goal, dedicating it to his younger brother Keelan, who tragically died exactly 25 years ago to the day.

On Wednesday, Guardiola chose to deploy Grealish as the central playmaker, handing him his first Premier League start since Christmas, a decision that was certainly vindicated.

The England international certainly made a strong case to start as the number ten in Sunday’s Manchester derby too, considering both Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne continue to misfire, notably reduced to a role among the subs.

Minutes played

90

Goals

1

Assists

0

Touches

68

Accurate passes

51/55 (93%)

Shots

2

Key passes

2

Duels won

1/9

Fouls won

1

By his own admission, Grealish has not been at his best this season, but he still has plenty to offer between now and the end of the campaign.

Similar to Sterling, Grealish exists under intense media scrutiny, which John Nicholson of Football365 describes as ‘grotesque’ and hyperbolic stupidity in pursuit of content’.

Chalkboard

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

The most recent example of this came just last month when the Daily Mail ran a story about Grealish spending an evening in a pub in Newcastle, supposedly ‘stumbling’ out in the early hours of the morning.

Back on the pitch, Gareth Southgate described Grealish as “fantastic”, so let’s compare his campaign to those of the aforementioned Foden and De Bruyne, attempting to decipher who Guardiola should start going forward.

Appearances

28

31

39

Minutes

1,430

1,698

2,674

Goals

3

4

10

Assists

5

7

6

Chances created

51

54

70

Take-on success %

41.2%

37.5%

40%

Shot-creating actions per 90

5.56

6

4.66

Pass completion %

87.8%

75.9%

84.8%

Touches per 90

37

60

51

As the table outlines, Grealish comes out on top when it comes to dribbling and pass completion, with Foden registering the best statistics overall, albeit he’s played 1,200 more minutes than his compatriot and 1,000 more than De Bruyne.

So, while none of the trio have been at their best, Grealish might just be the man in form, suggesting their ‘new Sterling’ should start at Old Trafford this weekend.

Man City have just found surprise De Bruyne replacement & it's not Grealish

Manchester City could now have unearthed their Kevin De Bruyne replacement.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 3, 2025

Death-overs menace, middle-order rock, and a champion in crisis, the Australia allrounder has enjoyed a defining World Cup

S Sudarshanan29-Oct-2025No one at Women’s World Cup 2025 has taken more wickets in the last 10 overs than Annabel Sutherland. She has nine of them, nearly twice as many as the next-most-prolific bowler in this phase, Deepti Sharma (5).The bulk of Sutherland’s death-overs wickets have come courtesy one of the most deceptive weapons in the women’s game, her deadly back-of-the-hand slower ball. Even set batters have struggled to read it. Take for example Sophie Devine, who had scored a fine century in New Zealand’s run-chase against Australia in Indore. Looking to heave Sutherland over the leg side, Devine was far too early into her shot, the ball beating her for lack of pace to hit middle stump.Related

Sutherland's sleight of hand conjures priceless Australia win

How to beat Australia in three easy steps (step 1 – invent a miracle)

Tactics board: Mandhana's level-up, Sutherland's steady hand

Navi Mumbai gears up for India-Australia epic, but will Healy play?

“I know my game pretty well and can read the batter,” Sutherland tells ESPNcricinfo in Navi Mumbai, on the eve of Thursday’s semi-final against India.”It’s a bit of cat and mouse, trying to disrupt the batter’s swing as much as possible and make it really hard for them to get a read on what I’m going to be delivering. It is more about game awareness and trying to just disrupt the batter’s swing. That’s the main part of it.”You could see this happen in Visakhapatnam, where Sutherland’s slower ball made Jemimah Rodrigues lose her shape and spoon a catch to mid-off just when India seemed set for a final-overs explosion.And two other things make Sutherland’s slower ball especially tricky to handle. One, her pace-on delivery is a weapon too; not too long before she dismissed Richa Ghosh and Rodrigues with the slower one, she had prised out Pratika Rawal with a sharp bouncer that cramped the well-set opener for room and got her hooking straight to long leg.And the change-up, when she does bowl it, comes with little to no change in Sutherland’s bowling action.”It sort of comes pretty natural to me,” she says. “[I am] pretty lucky that I’ve got enough mobility to be able to get my arm around and, sort of, bowl it right at the back. I’ve been bowling it for a number of years now, so it comes pretty naturally, which is nice.”Sutherland’s unbeaten 98 against England was one of the innings of the tournament•Getty ImagesSutherland’s five-wicket-haul in Visakhapatnam was a major factor in Australia hauling India back; they only scored 43 runs in their last seven overs, ensuring Australia had to chase 331 rather than something truly gargantuan.And she had made an impact before the death overs too, with a first spell of four overs that cost just 16, and a second of three overs for eight, including the wicket of Rawal in the 31st over. Here, the key weapon was Sutherland’s control of length.”It’s more of a feel thing, to be honest, and it’s your responsibility as a bowler to work out what’s working, what the conditions are, trying to assess really quickly,” Sutherland says about finding the right lengths. “It’s different in every game. Bowlers in ODIs that can really settle in early on the right areas are the ones that are successful consistently. It’s something we’ve spoken about as a team and really trying to hone in on that length. That’s my strength as a bowler and then I’ve got variations to mix in with that.”Sutherland would already be having a spectacular World Cup if all she’d done so far was take 15 wickets at 13.33, putting her second on the wicket-takers’ chart. But she’s also played one of the innings of the tournament, against England in Indore.In that match, Australia were 68 for 4 in a chase of 245. The seamers had found movement with the new ball. The spinners were getting the ball to hold on the surface. Sutherland was unfazed, stitching an unbroken 180-run partnership with Ashleigh Gardner, and finished 98 not out as Australia romped home with nearly 10 overs to spare.’At the end of the day, I’m a competitor and I just really enjoy getting out there and playing a role, whatever that looks like on the day’•Getty Images”Those big moments are why you do all the work and all the training, long pre-seasons, and put in the hours really to try and be best prepared to be able to stand up in the big moments,” Sutherland says. “I certainly put a lot of time and effort into my preparation whether it’s planning with a bit of tactical stuff or your mental mental skills and your physical prep as well.”At the end of the day, I’m a competitor and I just really enjoy getting out there and playing a role, whatever that looks like on the day and putting my hand up for the team, whether it’s with the bat or ball. I really enjoy the moments under pressure as well.”Sutherland is no stranger to India. She has toured the country for international series at the turn of 2023-24 and just before this World Cup. She has been a constant in Delhi Capitals’ (DC) set-up in the WPL. She was a vital cog in their reaching the final of WPL 2025; only Jess Jonassen (13) and Shikha Pandey (11) took more wickets than Sutherland’s nine for DC. Exchanging notes with the likes of Ellyse Perry in the Australia dugout and Marizanne Kapp at DC have also helped round out her skills and awareness.”One of the things I pride myself on is always trying to find ways to get better and learn,” Sutherland says. “Whether that’s leaning on different coaches or players in franchise cricket that you get the chance to play alongside or in different conditions. All those different experiences really add to your game.”Australia go into Thursday’s semi-final on a run of 15 straight wins in ODI World Cups. Their line-up is full of multiple World Cup winners, and Sutherland has one in her bank too, but there’s one thing she hasn’t done yet. She played six matches in the 2022 edition but wasn’t a certainty in Australia’s XI, and when Perry returned for the final after missing the semi-final win over West Indies with back spasms, it was Sutherland who made way.Sutherland will be determined to make up for that now, but there’s one other hurdle to cross first. India, watch out.

NEW YORK — He heard the boos in 2022, when he followed his American League MVP season with seven strikeouts in the first two games of the division series. He heard the gasps of his teammates when the Guardians intentionally walked Juan Soto to face him in the DS last year. He heard the questions over the last three years about whether, after carrying his teammates to October every year, he was letting them down when they got there. 

On Tuesday, as he watched his rocket to left field to see whether it would stay fair, save the Yankees’ season and rewrite his postseason legacy, Aaron Judge heard only silence. 

“You just got so much adrenaline pumping and you’re so locked in on the moment,” he said. The noise only turned back on for him as he rounded third base to tie a game the Yankees would win 9–6 to stave off elimination and force Game 4 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays. Toronto had led Game 3 6–1 in the top of the third; the comeback was tied for the second largest in MLB history to avoid postseason elimination, and also tied the second-largest postseason comeback in franchise history. 

The moment was both impossible and inevitable. The question surrounding Judge most of this year was not whether he would win his third AL MVP award in four years (almost certainly yes) but whether he would finally play to his talent level in the postseason (much less clear). He has always rejected that narrative, but ignoring it has not made it go away. Only producing moments like he did on Tuesday can do that. 

Just before the chaos, there was that instant of stillness, as Judge at the plate, Toronto reliever Louis Varland on the mound, Trent Grisham at first base and Austin Wells at second all wondered if this would be just another missed opportunity. “I felt like I made good contact, and I thought we had a chance,” Judge said. “You just never know with the wind, if it's going to push it foul, going to keep curving or not. But I guess a couple ghosts out there helped kind of keep that fair.”

Ghosts and wrists, perhaps. Even if the moment had been lesser, the shot would still have been impressive: It came off a 99.7-mph fastball 1.2 feet from the center of the plate, almost at his elbows. It was the first time since MLB began tracking such things in 2008 that a hitter homered off a pitch thrown so hard and also so far inside. Considering how much velocity has increased in recent years, there’s a good chance it’s the first time in MLB history.

No one who has ever tried to do that could believe it. 

“It would be in the catcher’s glove if I tried to do that,” said Wells.

“I can’t even comprehend,” said reliever Tim Hill. 

“We all went over the video in the dugout after that about 10 times,” said second baseman Jazz Chisholm. 

“I get yelled at for swinging at them out of the zone, but now I’m getting praised for it,” Judge said wryly, his only acknowledgement of the criticism. Mostly he stuck to well-worn phrases: “Just trying to do my job, what I’ve been trying to do all year. Not trying to do too much. Guy’s on base, drive him in. If no one’s on base, try to get a rally going. That’s all you can do.”

He is now hitting .500 this postseason. Even that performance, though, had not been enough: He had produced only walks and singles, and they had come in such low-leverage moments that in the first two games of the DS he had actually made the Yankees 0.69% less likely to win the World Series, according to Baseball Reference. In his one key at-bat, down two with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning of Game 1, he struck out waving at what he realized immediately would have been ball four. 

“Definitely,” he said afterward. “I think all you guys saw that.”

The narrative is not always fair, and it is not always easy to overcome. Ted Williams got 25 career postseason at-bats, had hits in five of them and was forever thought of as someone who didn’t come through when it mattered. Barry Bonds hit .471 and slugged 1.294 in the 2002 World Series, but the Giants lost and he’d hit .196 in his previous five Octobers, so no one cared. Mike Trout has one hit in 15 postseason plate appearances; barring an Angels organizational turnaround, his career will be seen as a missed opportunity. 

Before Tuesday, in 20 high-leverage postseason plate appearances, Judge had three walks, two singles and a double for a batting average of .176 and a slugging percentage of .235. He had never homered. (League average in those spots was a .225 average and a .377 slugging percentage.) 

“I don’t worry about Aaron and his state, even understanding all the outside noise,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. (For his part, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joked that his plan for attacking Judge the rest of the way was to hope “he gets a bad night’s sleep and has some bad food tonight or something like that. Give him credit, man, that was a ridiculous swing.”)

After the Blue Jays jumped out to that 6–1 lead, the Yankees embarked on what felt like a sequence emblematic of their season: a furious comeback attempt that would fall short. But Grisham and Judge led off the bottom of the third with back-to-back doubles, and Cody Bellinger singled to make it 6–3. With one out in the fourth, Wells popped a ball to short left field and took second in astonishment as third baseman Addison Barger failed to come up with it. Grisham worked a walk. As he stood at first base, he thought, . 

“Knowing the moment, knowing how he is, his personality—it just felt like the right time,” Grisham said afterward.

Varland’s first pitch was a knuckle curve that Judge chopped foul down the third-base line. Next came a 100-mph fastball down the middle that Judge could not catch up to. With an 0–2 count, Varland uncorked that 100-mph fastball up and in. Judge caught up. 

“I think it’s all timing,” Judge said. “That’s what a lot of hitting comes down to. If you’re not ready to swing and ready early, you’re not going to hit anything. After he blew my doors off on the pitch before, I said, ” He added, “He’s got all the leverage, so he’s probably in attack mode, is what I’m thinking. You’ve got to attack that head-on. You can’t be passive or try to be scared in the box. You’ve just got to trust your play and trust your gut and kind of see what happens.”

After what happened, Jazz Chisholm’s go-ahead home run and Wells’s single to drive in an insurance run in the fifth felt almost like formalities. But that the Yankees got 6 ⅔ scoreless innings from a sometimes beleaguered bullpen bodes well for them.

The Blue Jays are still in the better position, needing only one win in the next two games, but somehow it doesn’t feel that way after they blew a five-run lead for the first time this season. In Game 4, the Yankees will start Cam Schlittler, who last week in the winner-take-all AL wild card series Game 3 against his hometown Red Sox authored one of the best playoff games of all time (eight innings, no runs, no walks, 12 strikeouts). The Blue Jays will counter with a bullpen game. After six relievers pitched on Tuesday, the Yankees’ hitters have now seen every arm on the staff. And if they can force a Game 5, anything can happen there. 

Judge’s legacy is still incomplete—and in New York, he will be a disappointment until he wins a World Series. (Perhaps until he wins several.) If they lose on Wednesday, this season will still be a failure. Judge knows that as well as anyone—and for as much as he tries to keep an even keel, he believes as much himself. But for one night, at least, he quieted the noise. 

Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie are in both ODI and T20I squads after missing the Test tour of India

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2025Ackeem Auguste has earned a first call-up to West Indies’ ODI squad for the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in the second half of October, as replacement for Evin Lewis who has been ruled out with an injured wrist.Khary Pierre, who made his Test debut in the first match against India earlier this month in Ahmedabad, has earned a recall to the ODI side as the third spinner alongside Gudakesh Motie and allrounder Roston Chase, while Alick Athanaze has also made a return to the squad after playing his 13th and last ODI in December last year.”The selection of Ackeem reflects the pathway Cricket West Indies is creating for our emerging players who have shown the qualities to perform at the international level,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a CWI statement. “He is a player for the future, one who has progressed from Under-15s to the senior level, and another Academy graduate to feature in an international squad this year.”West Indies tour of Bangladesh

1st ODI – October 18, Dhaka
2nd ODI – October 21, Dhaka
3rd ODI – October 23, Dhaka
1st T20I – October 27, Chattogram
2nd T20I – October 29, Chattogram
3rd T20I – October 31, Chattogram

Also included for both the ODIs and the T20Is is Shamar Joseph, who missed the Test tour of India, along with Alzarri Joseph, because of an injury, the nature of which CWI didn’t disclose at the time. Motie is another player who missed the Test tour of India as West Indies wanted to manage his workload in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup early next year.The Bangladesh series will be the penultimate one of the year for West Indies.”The squad assembled will strive to maintain a winning mentality and strong team cohesion, essential components for long-term success ahead of the World Cup,” Sammy said. “Facing Bangladesh provides another opportunity to earn crucial points in our push for automatic qualification to the showpiece event.”Ramon Simmonds has been on the rise in recent months•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesFor the T20Is, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds and Amir Jangoo have been included in the squad. While Jangoo has been picked as the back-up wicketkeeper-batter to captain Shai Hope, it’s a continuation of a steady rise for Simmonds, who picked up 13 wickets for Barbados Royals in the recent CPL 2025 and then returned 4 for 15 in only his second T20I, against Nepal last month.Related

Sammy: WI 'did not reap financial rewards' of their legacy

Lara asks West Indies players to 'find a way'

In what CWI called “a concerted effort to provide players with valuable exposure to subcontinent conditions in advance of the series”, Motie, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Auguste and Jangoo will train at the Chennai Super Kings Academy prior to the Bangladesh series.”With the 2026 T20 World Cup around the corner, it is important for our players to get as much practice as possible in these conditions, with that tournament being held in India and Sri Lanka,” CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said. “In addition to the important aspect of acclimatisation, the camp will feature skill and tactical training and development specific to those conditions, which is critical to preparing the players ahead of this series as well as next year’s World Cup.”The tour of Bangladesh will start with the three ODIs, on October 18, 21 and 23, all in Dhaka, followed by the three T20Is in Chattogram on October 27, 29 and 31.West Indies ODI squad for tour of BangladeshShai Hope (capt), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario ShepherdWest Indies T20I squad for tour of BangladeshShai Hope (capt), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Ramon Simmonds

For Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, 2025 has been a tale of two halves.

From the start of the season until July 21, Senga went 10–4 with a 1.39 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. Since then, Senga is 4–4 with a nightmarish 6.56 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.

As a result, New York announced Friday. that it would option Senga to the Triple A Syracuse Mets. In a corresponding move, the Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the 10-day injured list.

Senga joined New York for the 2023 season after a decorated career in Japan, and immediately made a splash. Even as the Mets struggled, he went 12–7 with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. He finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting and was runner-up for Rookie of the Year.

Injuries abbreviated his 2024 season, but he appeared to return to form to begin '25. That gradually changed, culminating in his allowance of a season-high five earned runs against the Marlins Sunday.

New York currently occupies the NL's final wild-card spot, and leads the Giants by four games with 22 left to play this season.

Four-wicket hauls from Murphy and Sangha in vain for Australia A

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2025Prabhsimran Singh’s 68-ball 102 was backed up by half-centuries from captain Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag as India A chased down 317 to clinch the three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A 2-1 in Kanpur.India A were placed comfortably on 262 for 3 in the 35th over during their chase, but they lost five for 39 to lose grip. Vipraj Nigam and Arshdeep Singh then took them over the line, adding an unbroken 21 for the ninth wicket and helping India A win the decider by two wickets.Prabhsimran had set the tone for the victory by adding 83 for the first wicket with Abhishek Sharma in just 11.2 overs. Abhishek and Tilak Varma fell in quick succession but Prabhsimran continued to bat aggressively. He struck eight fours and seven sixes before falling to legspinner Tanveer Sangha in the 20th over.Iyer and Parag launched from the platform Prabhsimran had set, adding 117 off 92 balls for the fourth wicket. While Iyer hit 62 off 58 balls, his second fifty-plus score in three one-dayers ahead of the Australia tour, Parag smashed 62 off 55.However, Sangha dismissed both batters in successive overs, bringing Australia A back into the game. Sangha proceeded to remove allrounder Nishant Sindhu before Todd Murphy struck twice in two balls, sending back Ayush Badoni and Harshit Rana in the 42nd over. Nigam (24*) and Arshdeep (7*), though, ensured that India A closed out the chase with 24 balls to spare.Earlier, Arshdeep and Rana had Australia A in trouble, reducing them to 44 for 4. While Arshdeep removed openers Mackenzie Harvey and Jake Fraser-McGurk, Rana dismissed Harry Dixon and Lachlan Hearne. Cooper Connolly’s 49-ball 64 then resurrected Australia A’s innings, but the hosts found themselves in trouble again at 135 for 6 in 21 overs.Captain Jack Edwards and Liam Scott then added a 152-run stand off 123 balls for the seventh wicket to take Australia A forward. Some useful runs down the order helped Australia cross 300 before they were bowled out for 316 in 49.1 overs. Arshdeep and Harshit picked up three wickets apiece for India A.

Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.

The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.

Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.

During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.

Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United

After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.

The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.

However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.

Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.

His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.

Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim

In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.

Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.

The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.

Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.

However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.

The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.

He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.

The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.

Minutes played

90

Touches

110

Passes completed

83

Aerials lost

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Crosses completed

0

He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.

Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.

The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.

His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.

Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

ByRobbie Walls Nov 25, 2025

Kylian Mbappe has publicly vented his frustration after Real Madrid dropped more La Liga points in a 1-1 draw with Girona, allowing Barcelona to remain top of the table. The French superstar scored but was left visibly irritated as Madrid recorded a third-straight away stalemate, prompting him to declare that the team “needs to change the dynamic” amid growing pressure on Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid draw with Girona – Barca go top of La Liga

Real Madrid failed to reclaim top spot in La Liga after being held by Girona, marking their third consecutive away match without a victory. Azzedine Ounahi’s powerful first-half finish stunned Alonso’s side, who struggled for rhythm and control in a hotly contested game. Mbappe levelled the score from the penalty spot, but his influence was limited as Madrid lacked precision and dominance in the crucial phases.

The result came a day after Barcelona beat Alaves at Camp Nou, meaning Los Blancos now sit second, one point behind the defending champions in a title race that is tightening rapidly. Real Madrid saw a Vinicius Junior goal ruled out, an Mbappe strike disallowed due to handball, and required Thibaut Courtois to make vital saves to avoid defeat. Despite some late pressure, their final efforts lacked composure, reflecting a deeper trend of attacking inconsistency away from home.

The stalemate has further intensified scrutiny on head coach Alonso, whose team has dropped the five-point lead they held following El Clasico despite promising early signs in the campaign. Ahead of a demanding clash at San Mames against Athletic Club, concerns are growing around Madrid’s form, concentration levels and inability to assert themselves on their travels. With Barcelona continuing to capitalise, every dropped point now feels increasingly significant.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMbappe vents his frustration at Real Madrid's form

Mbappe voiced his anger on Instagram after the match, making clear that the team’s performance levels are far from acceptable during this crucial stretch. He wrote: “This isn’t the result we wanted tonight… We need to change the dynamic and show who we are as a team.”

The Frenchman was particularly disappointed after a night in which he scored but struggled to impose himself consistently due to Girona’s compact defensive shape. “Absolutely not the result we wanted tonight, but the league is still on and very long,” he added, reiterating the importance of keeping perspective.

Despite scoring his 14th league goal of the season, Mbappe lamented how little influence he had in open play as he was constantly crowded out and deprived of service. He has been in exceptional scoring form, including a recent four-goal haul against Olympiacos, but this match once again highlighted Madrid’s struggle to build fluid attacking moves on the road.

Madrid's dip in form piles the pressure on Alonso

Madrid’s recent dip in form has created a delicate moment in what was expected to be a strong transitional campaign under Alonso. Their away performances have lacked tempo, sharpness and the assertiveness that previously defined their early-season success. While the team remains firmly in the title race, the accumulation of draws has placed extra weight on every upcoming fixture.

The Girona match exposed familiar issues: an inconsistent midfield structure, a reliance on individual moments rather than sustained patterns, and an inability to maintain control over 90 minutes. The atmosphere at Montilivi appeared to unsettle the players as they struggled to dictate play with the authority usually expected of them.

Yet amid the frustration, Mbappe continues to rewrite record books, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as only the second player to score more than 53 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid. His productivity remains extraordinary even as the team around him falters.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Real travel to San Mames up next in must-win clash

Madrid face a challenging trip to San Mames to meet Athletic Club next, a stadium where points are notoriously difficult to secure and away sides can wilt in the face of the intense atmosphere. Alonso has urged unity and renewed intensity as the squad aims to avoid extending their winless away run. With Barcelona now setting the pace, Madrid must respond immediately to prevent the current dip from evolving into a full-blown crisis.

Eight Tigers employees have been accused of misconduct toward women over the last two years, according to a wide-ranging Wednesday morning report from Alex Andrejev and Brittany Ghiroli of

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli—who interviewed 45 current and former employees of the organization—that group includes at least four vice presidents.

"Seven of those eight were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment [Detroit's parent company]," Andrejev and Ghiroli wrote. "The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation."

The report comes amid much excitement in Michigan over the Tigers' best on-field record since 2013, which employees told masks a misogynistic, dysfunctional culture.

"We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure," the team's parent company said in a statement. "We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace."

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli, six of the men have left the company, and a seventh was suspended after the reporters requested comment.

With everything on the line, here's how Gotham FC can top the Spirit for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

For the second time in three years, Gotham have charged into the NWSL Championship after delivering upsets to higher-ranked teams. Jaedyn Shaw disagrees that they’re underdogs, per se (see: “underdog, my ass” comment after they downed Kansas City), but they’ve been the surprise story of the postseason. Saturday night, they could take their Cinderella run all the way to the title. Here’s a few reasons why they might:

Getty ImagesReason 1: Defensive strength

Simply put, Gotham is hard to score on. In part, that’s because they have one of the best goalkeepers in the league (more on that shortly). But notably, they also don’t allow their opposition many chances to score. With a team that defends from the front, a midfield that’s hard to cut through, and a solid defensive line waiting behind, Gotham finished the 2025 season having allowed just 76 shots on target. That’s an average of 3 per game and is tied with the first-place Shield winners, Kansas City, for fewest shots on goal allowed in NWSL. 

There’s a number of reasons they’re dynamic defensively, and it involves players across all of their lines. Emily Sonnett is in top form as a leader in their backline. Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale awaits her opportunity at left back to thwart Rose Kouassi creating from the right. Jaelin Howell, who just earned her first USWNT callup since 2022, could have a massive match as she jockeys for control of the midfield. 

As a team that likes to have possession, they’re also effective at limiting the opposition by reducing their opportunities to get on the ball. The Spirit are also hard to score on, but they allowed 107 shots on target throughout the season, averaging four per game. They also conceded 33 total throughout the year, compared to Gotham’s 25. In a game of margins, that could matter.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReason 2: Ann-Katrin Berger

Gotham may have the Rookie of the Year (Lilly Reale), but they’re also stocked with veteran talent. One of Gotham’s most essential veterans is 35-year-old German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. 

Berger was named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024 and was nominated in 2025 after another strong season cleaning up the few shots that Gotham does allow. Berger’s steady presence has been pivotal for club and country the past few years. The German keeper helped see her team to an Olympic bronze medal in 2024 and a semi-final finish at Euro ‘25 with clutch penalty heroics and massive saves. 

This postseason, Berger has come through for Gotham multiple times. She made seven essential saves in their upset of Kansas City, and was called on to make a few key ones against Orlando to see them to the final. Saturday in San Jose, she could be a difference maker.

Getty ImagesReason 3: Peaking at the right time

The Washington Spirit finished the season in a comfortable second-place position and have been the more consistently strong team throughout the year. But Gotham is glistening at the moment, with multiple players hitting their top form at just the right time. 

That includes USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle, who was out with injury in the first half of the year but has five goals and two assists in 16 games since returning. That also includes 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who joined Gotham in early September and has looked like a unique talent finally in the right spot with the move. 

Shaw has been electric for Gotham in the postseason, scoring in both of their playoff tests, including the stoppage-time match-winner against Orlando. The team’s top scorer, Spanish striker Esther Gonzalez, is just returning from injury and hasn’t scored in five games, isn’t in her top form of the season. But Esther has scored game-deciding goals for Gotham in two previous trophy matches. If she catches fire Saturday night, it’ll be hard to discount this ‘underdog’ team that’s hitting its collective stride at precisely the right moment.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesChampionship

Gotham FC will face the Spirit on Saturday, November 22 at 5pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.