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Also, will someone spare a thought for poor Geoffrey Boycott?

Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Oct-2020The Briefing Look, it’s fine if it’s crap
While the IPL has been showing off with its obnoxious dramatic finishes, Super Duper overs, and redemption stories, Sri Lanka Cricket has been trying to get their own T20 tournament – creatively titled the Lanka Premier League (LPL) – together. They got as far as putting on a wonderfully shambolic draft in which barely anyone seemed to know the rules, but despite which some squads were put together, before five foreign players pulled out. This seems like a setback for the league, but does it have to be so bad? Keep your head up, SLC. You can still do it. We’ve all lowered our standards in 2020. A captain runs out of bowlers mid-game because too many players have withdrawn? Just bring on a bowling machine. The league is short of big-name batsmen? Just have cardboard cutouts of famous foreign players take guard at the crease. We just want to see some cricket. Any cricket. And no one – and I cannot stress this enough – is expecting competence.The death of quality
For decades, the fearless, outspoken, and unblinkingly honest, not to mention fearless Geoffrey Boycott walked the cricketing earth being able to say almost anything he wanted. But upon his exit from the BBC’s team due to health reasons, he lamented this was no longer the case. “[the BBC] have sacrificed quality for equality,” he said to the in September. “It is now all about political correctness, about gender and race. When you work for them you are wary and frightened of saying anything.” Appalling. Which reasonable person would take umbrage at a man who in June said that women cricketers were unfit to give expert opinions on the men’s game, and three years ago suggested he should “black up” to stand a better chance of becoming a knight of the empire, which as we all know is an honour famously monopolised by black people? (Thankfully, in 2019, sense prevailed and the UK government stopped viewing Boycott’s skin colour as an impediment.) Banish the thought, but what if Boycott is right and things persist on their current trajectory? What kind of world would it be if future generations of white men are not even able to make abrasive comments under the guise of forthright opinion on a multitude of media platforms until the age of 80?Turmoil superstars
Everybody knows the South Africa men’s team as one of the most dramatic around. Dropping a bat mid-pitch when all that was required was to run, going into crisis mode after every World Cup, a superstar retiring because he is “tired” then asking to be let back into the team… we’ve come to expect this. Now their board is joining the fray. Why? Like a high catch at an Eden Park semi-final, it’s hard to track exactly (belated trigger warning, SA fans). Cricket South Africa’s CEO was sacked months ago over alleged financial impropriety, the government has stepped in to take control of the board, and the board has now resigned en masse. In a year in which cricket is in phenomenal upheaval, South Africa are on track to being champions of the trash heap. There is a choking jab to be made here but I will stop.Shastri corner
Ravi Shastri, patron saint of the Briefing, has blessed us again. Such is his benevolence that this bounty is unlike any previously bestowed. Last month the Moustachioed One launched a men’s grooming line named 23 Yards. Why 23 yards? Is it the minimum distance his voice is allowed to carry? The maximum distance Virat Kohli should be from him at all times? (If you’re thinking of a leash here, whose neck the collar is on is up to your own imagination.) No. It is because a cricket pitch is 22 yards, and Shastri “truly believe[s] that you can be a champion too. Question is, are you willing to go ?” Okay, but somebody please tell actual World Cup champion and infamous mankading candidate Jos Buttler.The return
Shakib Al Hasan is poised to return to the Bangladesh team after serving a one-year ban over a corrupt approach. Given the seriousness of the offence, and the fact that Shakib can be said to have got off lightly given cricket had largely ceased for a substantial chunk of his suspension, surely the team will go about his reintegration soberly and perhaps a little bit of sheepishness? Nope. Signs are he’s getting a hero’s welcome.Next month in the Briefing– To make up for further player withdrawals, SLC has freshly out-of-work South African administrators play in the LPL.- Shady bookies around the world admit they would have approached players way more brazenly if they’d known there was going to be barely any cricket in 2020 anyway.

Manchester City made it five Premier League games unbeaten yesterday, as Pep Guardiola’s men secured a 2-0 triumph over Everton at the Etihad.

The result keeps the Citizens just a couple of points off current leaders Arsenal, even moving ahead of Liverpool ahead of their clash with Manchester United tomorrow.

However, it was yet another superb showing in England’s top-flight, with Guardiola’s men limiting the opposition to minimal chances whilst taking advantage of the ones that fell their way.

Stats such as 71% possession with seven shots on target further highlight the dominance in the North West – something which has been extremely common during the manager’s tenure.

He will certainly have one player to thank for the success against the Toffees, with his performance against David Moyes’ men nothing short of breathtaking.

Erling Haaland’s excellence against Everton

When you think of a clinical goalscorer, the first name that springs to mind is Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian taking his career to new heights after joining Man City in 2022.

He’s now featured 155 times for the Citizens, scoring a staggering 136 times – subsequently adding multiple to his tally during the win at the Etihad yesterday.

The 25-year-old netted his two efforts within just five second-half minutes – taking his tally to 11 despite featuring in just eight league outings throughout 2025/26.

He was also the most fouled player on the pitch during the triumph, whilst also registering 38% of his entire touches in the game within the opposition box.

Haaland also won 75% of the ground duels he entered, along with a staggering four shots on target – once again being Guardiola’s most threatening option in attacking areas.

Despite the showing of the centre-forward, one other first-team member showcased his worth and is rapidly becoming as undroppable as the City talisman.

The City star who’s becoming as undroppable as Haaland

After missing out on the Premier League title last season, Guardiola and City dipped into the transfer market to try and bolster numerous key areas of the squad.

The goalkeeping department has had a huge overhaul in recent times, with James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma both making the move to the Etihad, with Ederson moving on to join Galatasaray.

The latter of the new duo has cemented his place within the starting eleven, already keeping three clean sheets within his first five league outings for the Citizens.

However, it wasn’t the only area of the pitch that was bolstered, with the hierarchy spending big money on Tijjani Reijnders from Serie A side AC Milan.

The Dutchman made an immediate impact on his debut, registering a goal and an assist in the 4-0 battering of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

He’s since started every game for the club in the Premier League, with his showing against the Toffees evidence of the quality that he possesses in the middle of the park.

The 27-year-old may have been unable to register a goal or an assist, but his underlying stats from the victory are evidence of the star quality he has in his arsenal.

Tijjani Reijnders – stats against Everton
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	59
Touches	41
Passes completed	93%
Dribbles completed	100%
Tackles won	100%
Recoveries made	1
Ground duels won	3
Chances created	2
Stats via FotMob

Reijnders may have only featured for 59 minutes at the Etihad, but he still managed to thrive at both ends of the pitch – undoubtedly playing a key role in the triumph.

He completed 93% of the passes he attempted, whilst also achieving a 100% dribble success rate – highlighting the threat he posed when having the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the Dutch star also managed to thrive, as seen by his superb tallies of 100% tackles won, one recovery made and three ground duels won.

Other stats, such as two chances created and 100% long balls completed, further showcase his all-round quality – which is rapidly making him one of the club’s most crucial players.

As a result of his performance, Reijnders was handed an impressive 7/10 match rating by One Football – further highlighting his superb showing at the Etihad.

After such a showing, Guardiola simply can’t drop the midfielder from his starting eleven, with his addition already looking like an excellent one just eight games into the campaign.

There’s little disputing that Haaland is the club’s most important player at present, but there’s no reason why Reijnders can’t join him in such a category in the months or years ahead.

Pep already sold Man City's next Rodri & he's "better" than Declan Rice

Man City could do with this Premier League star in his prime right now.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 18, 2025

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy was left to rue missed chances after his team lost 2-1 to Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership in his first game in the dugout.

Speaking after the match, in the clip below, the French boss blamed a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and a lack of combination play in the final third after a bright first-half showing.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, the former MLS boss may already be thinking about the areas of his squad that he wants to improve ahead of the second half of the season.

Celtic plotting move to sign Premier League player

In fact, the Scottish Premiership champions are already looking at a possible move for a player who could be a dream first signing for Nancy at Parkhead.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Football Insider, Celtic are plotting a move to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to be their long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel.

The report claims that the Hoops are looking at the £90k-per-week shot-stopper because he could be available with his contract expiring at the end of the season, which could make him an option in January for a cut-price fee or on a free next summer.

It adds that the Scottish giants are in the process of identifying a replacement for Schmeichel because the 38-year-old veteran’s deal is also due to expire next year.

Football Insider states that there are also immediate concerns about the Dane’s current performance levels, which is why Ortega could be a dream first signing for Nancy.

Why Celtic should sign Stefan Ortega in January

Instead of waiting to sign him on a free transfer in the summer, Celtic should push to land the Manchester City outcast on a cut-price deal in January, as he is currently behind both Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in the pecking order at The Etihad.

As Football Insider outlined, Schmeichel’s performance level has not been particularly high for the Hoops this season. Per FotMob, the experienced stopper has conceded 1.34 more goals than expected in the Premiership and 0.50 more than expected in the Europa League.

This suggests that the Denmark international has not been up to scratch as a shot-stopper in domestic or European action for Celtic, which is why signing the City goalkeeper immediately could be a shrewd move.

Ortega, who once left Guardiola on the floor with a save against Tottenham Hotspur, may only be a third-choice option in England, but he is playing for serial Premier League winners and has proven his quality in the English top-flight in seasons gone by.

Whilst Schmeichel has struggled as a shot-stopper for Celtic this season, the German star has largely been an excellent shot-stopper in the Premier League and the Bundesliga in the past five years.

Stefan Ortega in Bundesliga & Premier League
Season	Games	Goals (xG) prevented
25/26 (Premier League)	0	N/A
24/25 (Premier League)	13	-0.7
23/24 (Premier League)	7	+2.0
22/23 (Premier League)	3	+3.1
21/22 (Bundesliga)	33	+4.8
20/21 (Bundesliga)	34	+3.1
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old has conceded 12.3 fewer goals than expected across his top-flight career to date, which is an exceptional statistic that highlights how impressive his shot-stopping is.

Ortega, who was hailed as an “exceptional goalkeeper”, has shown that he can be a reliable shot-stopper at the top level, whilst journalist Pete O’Rourke noted that he is “very effective” with the ball and would “fit” the style that Nancy wants to implement at Parkhead.

His ability on the ball, which is a prerequisite to playing in goal in a Guardiola side, means that he will suit a team like Celtic, who are expected to dominate possession and play out from the back, making him a good stylistic fit for the club.

Ortega, though, also has, as evidenced by his statistics in Germany and England, the shot-stopping quality on top of that to ensure that the Hoops do not concede cheap goals with the few shots that they do give away.

Worse than Maeda: Nancy must drop Celtic flop who lost the ball 23 times

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy must drop this flop who was even worse than Daizen Maeda against Hearts.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 8, 2025

Therefore, the board must back Nancy by making a move for Ortega in January, instead of the summer, because a player of his quality could immediately improve the team and improve their chances of enjoying a successful end to the 2025/26 campaign, making him a dream first signing.

The Chicago White Sox appear to be heading towards new ownership, but not for a while.

On Tuesday, the team announced a “long-term investment agreement” had been made between owner Jerry Reinsdorf and billionaire Justin Ishbia that “establishes a framework" for Ishbia to take a controlling share of the franchise down the road.

Per the team’s statement:

Ishbia, brother to and co-investor with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, is already a minority investor in the White Sox, but now looks to potentially see his share of the franchise increase into a controlling interest.

Ishbia had previously been connected to potentially purchasing the Minnesota Twins, but has since refocused, and apparently come to terms, on a deal of sorts with the White Sox.

“Having the incredible opportunity to own the Chicago White Sox and be part of Major League Baseball for nearly 50 years has been a life-changing experience,” said Reinsdorf in the team’s announcement. “I have always expressed my intent to operate the White Sox as long as I am able and remain committed to returning this franchise to the level of on-field success we all expect and desire.”

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has enjoyed a fairly strong start to life in the dugout at Ibrox since he arrived to take over from previous manager Russell Martin.

The German tactician, who left Sheffield Wednesday earlier this year, has won all three of his matches in the Scottish Premiership, beating Dundee 3-0 at Dens Park last time out.

Rangers, though, have also lost both of their Europa League games under the new boss and lost 3-1 to Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and some players in the squad will still feel they have more to offer to Rohl.

The Rangers players who have rarely been used by Danny Rohl

Across the German head coach’s six matches in charge of the club in all competitions, the manager has been fairly consistent with his team selections overall, which has left some players by the wayside.

There are seven first-team players, or players on the fringe of the first-team, who have played in less than half of Rohl’s first six games with the Ibrox giants.

Joe Rothwell

2

Findlay Curtis

1

Emmanuel Fernandez

1

Lyall Cameron

1

Nedim Bajrami

0

Bailey Rice

0

Liam Kelly

0

As you can see in the table above, three players, albeit one of them being the back-up goalkeeper, have yet to make a single appearance for the German boss.

Lyall Cameron’s lack of game time under the new manager is surprising after he was heralded as an impressive addition to the squad from Dundee in the summer.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

He was described as ‘one of the most influential players’ in the SPFL by the BBC’s Dundee fan writer Ethan Hampton, yet he has not had much of a look-in under Rohl.

Why Danny Rohl must finally unleash Lyall Cameron

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder should finally be unleashed by the new manager because he could be an ‘influential’ player for the Gers if given the opportunity to play regular minutes in the Premiership.

Cameron has only played four times in the league so far this season, showing that he can’t get a game at the moment, and has only played nine minutes under Rohl, which came against Kilmarnock, per Sofascore.

Last season, however, during his time with Dundee, the Scottish star started 32 of his 33 appearances in the Premiership and provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

33

4

Starts

32

2

Goals

9

0

Key passes per game

1.6

1.0

Big chances created

6

0

Assists

5

0

As you can see in the table above, Cameron was as influential as Hampton suggested, as he produced 14 goals and assists in 32 starts as a central midfielder for his previous club.

However, he has not been given enough of an opportunity to showcase his talent in the Premiership, with just nine minutes across Rohl’s first three league games in the dugout.

This is why the former Sheffield Wednesday tactician should finally unleash Cameron from the start after the international break, because his time with Dundee suggests that there is far more to come from him in a Rangers shirt.

The Scottish whiz is not going to show the best of his abilities with nine minutes off the bench or by being an unused substitute, and now is the time to introduce him to the team to see if he can provide goals and assists on a regular basis, as he did with Dundee.

Rangers teenager was their next Igamane in the making but he left for £0

Rangers must regret losing this young star who could have been their next Hamza Igamane at Ibrox.

ByDan Emery Nov 18, 2025

Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is in hot water with the FA after being accused of disgusting behaviour towards Leeds supporters during the recent Premier League clash between the clubs. The former Manchester United player has been charged over a spitting incident and has just under three weeks to respond, facing possible sanctions for his conduct.

Midfielder charged over alleged spitting

Hannibal was walking behind the goal at Turf Moor when the alleged spitting incident is claimed to have taken place – he appeared to react badly to something that was said, having been in thet area to pass a note to Clarets goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Tunisia international, who later came on for the final seven minutes, plus stoppage time, was the subject of a complaint by a Leeds fan to Lancashire Police. The FA then reviewed the incident, prior to launching an investigation and now charging Hannibal.

An FA spokesperson confirmed: "Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri has been charged with misconduct following their Premier League fixture against Leeds united on Saturday 18 October. It's alleged that the player acted in breach of the Laws of the Game and/or in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or indecent behaviour by spitting at or in the direction of Leeds United supporters around the 67th minute. Hannibal Mejbri has until Friday 28November to provide a response."

AdvertisementHannibal's feud with Leeds fans

It isn't Hannibal's first run-in with Leeds fans. Influenced by his Manchester United past – the player spent a total of five years with the Old Trafford club after joining from Monaco as a teenager and was targeted with derogatory chanting likening his hair to that of Simpsons character Sideshow Bob during an FA Youth Cup tie in 2020 – he appeared to taunt Leeds supporters during a Championship fixture, shortly after signing permanently with Burnley in 2024. Last month's incident has seen an escalation of that ongoing feud that has now lasted several years.

What punishment is Hannibal facing?

The standard suspension in England for a player deemed guilty of a spitting offence is six games. That sanction was famously issued to Manchester United defender Jonny Evans over an incident during a clash with Newcastle in march 2015, while Magpie striker Papiss Cisse was slapped with a seven-game ban due to a previous suspension. Hannibal could get a longer ban, with reporting that it is considered a "non-standard" incident that is more complex than usual. He could, however, avoid a harsher punishment by quickly responding, accepting the charge and apologising. If Hannibal contests the charge, he would be summoned to a hearing to give evidence and an independent regulatory commission would decide what sanction to issue if he is found guilty.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Hannibal?

Hannibal has 17 days to respond to the FA charge, but it might be in his best interest to give his side of the story as soon as possible. Premier League football is currently paused and Burnley are not back in action until hosting Chelsea at Turf Moor on November 22.

Hannibal has joined up with Tunisia's squad for international friendlies over the course of the next week against Mauritania, Jordan and Brazil. The Eagles of Carthage have qualified for next summer's World Cup, making it a third appearance in a row for them after missing out in both 2010 and 2014.

Hannibal being banned might not actually be too much of a blow for Burnley. Aside from a stoppage time game-winning assist off the bench against Wolves the week after facing Leeds, his impact this season has been minimal. The 22-year-old hasn’t started a Premier League game since being substituted 65 minutes into Burnley’s 3-2 loss against Manchester United, while that aforementioned assist is his sole goal involvement across 10 league appearances spanning 290 minutes.

MatériaMais Notícias

A estrela de Marcos Leonardo brilhou mais uma vez. O camisa 9 do Santos foi o responsável foi marcar o gol da virada por 2 a 1 diante do Palmeiras neste domingo (8), na Arena Barueri, em partida válida pela 26ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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+ Confira a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

Porém o bom momento não é de hoje. Marcos Leonardo é o artilheiro do Peixe na temporada, com 12 gols em 20 jogos do Brasileirão. O poder de decisão do jovem centroavante vem sendo fundamental para a recuperação do Santos na competição nacional, visto que nas três vitórias consecutivas do Alvinegro, o camisa 9 balançou a rede em todas – não foi diferente neste domingo.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Marcos foi o autor do gol que quebrou um tabu de quatro anos do Peixe contra o Palmeiras – o último triunfo diante do rival havia sido apenas em 2019. O Menino da Vila, que marcou quatro gols nas últimas três partidas, é a “cara” da retomada do Peixe contra o rebaixamento, e vem reforçando o seu papel fundamental a cada confronto.

Além de ter marcado o gol da virada, o centroavante de 20 anos alcançou outra importante marca pelo Alvinegro. Ele entrou na seleta lista dos 50 maiores artilheiros da história do Peixe justamente no dia em que balançou a rede pela primeira vez contra o Palmeiras. Ao total, são 157 jogos e 53 bolas na rede com a camisa santista.

+ Tomás Rincón cumpre expectativa, assume faixa de capitão do Santos e lidera reação

Com a vitória, o Santos chegou a sua terceira vitória seguida e subiu para a 14ª posição do Brasileirão, com 30 pontos, três a mais que o Vasco, primeiro time na zona de rebaixamento. O Peixe só volta a campo no dia 20 de outubro (sexta-feira), após a parada da Data Fifa, para encarar o Bragantino. A bola rola às 19h (de Brasília), na Vila Belmiro.

Chelsea are one of the world’s most active clubs in the transfer market, and they could now be set to beat Liverpool and PSG to the signing of a proven Premier League star.

Chelsea left with problems to juggle amid hectic fixture schedule

Winning the Club World Cup was a momentous moment in recent Chelsea history, and particularly for the club’s finances.

BlueCo took home over £80 million worth of prize money after reigning victorious in the States, and this helped them end last summer’s window as one of England’s biggest spenders.

However, if recent developments are anything to go by, the physical output expended by players over what was a very long 2024/2025 season, with the CWC to blame for this, may have created some frustrating consequences for Enzo Maresca.

Cole Palmer is out for six weeks due to a groin problem, meaning the England international now joins Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill as long-term absentees from the line-up.

Offering his honest opinion, former Blues star Pat Nevin believes Chelsea’s pre-season has something to do with the recent absences they are experiencing.

Either way, there will be opportunities for other Chelsea players to stake their claim in light of Palmer’s absence, including Blues loanee Facundo Buonanotte.

Nevertheless, January will be very important, given it offers a chance for Chelsea to strengthen their lighter areas by recruiting top talent.

Chelsea now frontrunners to sign Morgan Rogers

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now the frontrunners to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, and could beat rivals Liverpool to capture the England international.

Starting off this term with two assists in his opening ten appearances across all competitions, the 23-year-old is valued at around £80 million, and he is also being closely tracked by Paris Saint-Germain.

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ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

Amid a return of 30 goal contributions in 2024/25, Chelsea have identified Rogers as a “key target” moving forward, and they believe internally that he is ‘well-suited to both the intensity of the Premier League and the competitive demands of European football’ present at Stamford Bridge.

Fotmob shows that the Halesowen-born playmaker, previously labelled “excellent” by Thomas Tuchel, has created seven chances and completed seven dribbles in the Premier League this campaign. He is beginning to motor after a slow start to life following a difficult summer where speculation over his future was rife.

Looking to steal a march on their rivals, Chelsea could now be set to tap into his long-term potential by offering a package that reflects his scope to develop into a world-class star.

Newcastle United fell to their third Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon, with Danny Welbeck’s double securing a 2-1 win for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Eddie Howe’s side must have thought they secured a point after Nick Woltemade netted his fourth goal in just five league outings after his summer arrival from Stuttgart.

However, it wasn’t meant to be, as the aforementioned star’s effort was in vain after Welbeck’s goal secured Fabian Hurzeler’s side all three points at the AMEX.

The Magpies now sit in the bottom half of the table at present, with just two wins to their name – needing a huge reaction in the coming games to get their campaign back on track.

Such a result will likely leave the manager bitterly disappointed, but more so, the failure to impress of numerous players who were handed chances to impress from the off.

Newcastle’s disappointing performers against Brighton

Despite being under fire for his lack of impact of late, Howe decided to stick with Brazilian international Joelinton as part of his three-man midfield.

However, his showing against the Seagulls was a hugely disappointing one, with the 29-year-old subsequently being withdrawn from the contest at the break.

He failed to create any chances for his teammates despite completing 21 passes, whilst also losing 100% of the aerial battles that he entered on the South Coast.

Joelinton wasn’t alone in failing to deliver against Hurzeler’s men, with full-back Dan Burn unable to help the Magpies secure all three points against his former employers.

The 33-year-old only managed to win four of the 14 duels he entered during his 90-minute performance, subsequently being dribbled past twice by former Newcastle star Yankuba Minteh.

Despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team member produced an afternoon to forget, with Howe desperately needing to take action.

The Newcastle star who needs to be dropped after Brighton

After the sale of Alexander Isak during the summer window, it was vital Newcastle invested well into the squad to avoid a drop off in the Premier League standings.

As previously mentioned, Woltemade has hit the ground running for the Magpies, already looking like the club’s most threatening option within the final third.

The opposite end of the pitch also received hefty investment, with Malick Thiaw joining in a £40m deal from AC Milan – subsequently cementing his place in the starting eleven in recent weeks.

However, fellow summer addition Anthony Elanga has struggled to produce the type of displays that saw the hierarchy fork out a fee in the region of £55m for his services.

The Swede has failed to score or assist in any of his ten outings across all competitions, with his showing against the Seagulls highlighting his lack of impact to date.

He was named in the starting eleven for the clash against Hurzeler’s men this afternoon, but once again failed to match the faith shown in him by his manager, Howe.

Like Joelinton, Elanga was hooked at half-time due to his lack of impact, with his underlying figures showcasing how dismal he was during the Magpies’ latest defeat.

Minutes played

45

Touches

20

Passes completed

12

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

0

Duels won

50%

Dribbled past

1

Match rating

4/10

He failed to complete any of the dribbles or crosses that he attempted, with only one of his attempted passes being made into the final third of the pitch.

Elanga also came out on top in just 50% of all the duels he contested, even being unable to create any chances for his teammates during his 45-minute outing.

To further highlight his lack of impact, he only achieved a total of 20 touches, a tally lower than that of goalkeeper Nick Pope, who achieved a total of 40.

As a result of his performance, Elanga was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin – further showcasing his lack of impact.

Given his display, Howe desperately needs to get the winger firing, which should see the 23-year-old being dropped to the substitutes’ bench in the coming matches.

His mammoth price tag has certainly increased the pressure on his shoulders, but time needs to be handed his way to allow the attacker to adapt to the demands in the North East.

Newcastle are brewing the homegrown Elanga in 18-year-old "huge talent"

Newcastle’s attack has struggled this season, but rising star could be the future spark they need

ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

Against an unbeaten and formidable home side, MI will want to put up a win and get their campaign back on track

Sidharth Monga12-Apr-20252:26

Jaffer: Fraser-McGurk’s high-risk style difficult to sustain

Big picture: DC vs MI, a run-feast in Delhi?Never mind the extreme ends of the table these teams inhabit right now, this is the kind of match that could threaten the record for the highest number of runs scored in an IPL match. Delhi Capitals (DC) are built to go big, and have been scoring at a trickle under ten an over. Delhi has comfortably been the quickest-scoring venue in the IPL since last year.Mumbai Indians (MI) sit at the bottom of the table, but they are never a million miles from a big innings. Also their bottom is not like, say, Chennai Super Kings’ bottom. Two of their four defeats have been close ones. A matter of two good hits. Their captain’s game is on point, Jasprit Bumrah is back, their middle order is finding its muscle, and they could easily get on a roll.The last time these two teams played, it was at the exact same ground, which found a way to rejuvenate its tired pitch square a year ago. Add to its small boundaries, and is it any surprise the match aggregate crossed 500? DC scored 257 riding on Jake Fraser-McGurk’s 84 off 27 balls, but won by just ten runs. Another instance of MI falling short by two good hits. Against an unbeaten and formidable DC, MI need to somehow find those two hits.Team news and likely XIIsFaf du Plessis didn’t field for 12 overs of DC’s bowling in their last match, but since his injury was deemed external he was allowed to open the innings. He missed the previous game with a groin strain. If he is fit and ready, DC have no reason to make any changes.Delhi Capitals (probable) 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Abishek Porel, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Ashutosh Sharma, 7 Axar Patel (capt.), 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 12 Mohit SharmaMI are closer to finding their best combination, but their batting order might be up for a change. Tilak Varma could be promoted to No. 3, leaving Will Jacks under scrutiny.Mumbai Indians (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Will Jacks, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt.), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Vignesh Puthur.Big question: Will the openers finally fire?Both these sides’ openers have been among the least productive this IPL. Their opening partnerships are in the bottom quarter. MI openers have put on the fewest runs together, and DC are the third-lowest. The thing is, when they get going they have the potential to be among the most dangerous. Fraser-McGurk and Ryan Rickelton are among the most explosive, Rohit Sharma and du Plessis among the most accomplished.In the spotlight: Hardik Pandya vs KL RahulRight from the days, it might appear Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been tough to separate. Their career paths have been similar in that they are both irresistible and versatile when at their best, but there are things that keep them from being at their best often. Both have had to deal with injuries – Hardik more than Rahul – and both have faced psychological challenges, especially during the IPL. This year they both seem to be at their best. Face to face, though, Rahul has been winning, scoring 96 runs off 55 balls from Hardik, getting out only once.KL Rahul has scored two fifties in three innings•BCCI

Pitch and conditionsDelhi is the highest-scoring venue since last year. That shouldn’t change at all unless the hosts tactically want it to be lower-scoring and can influence the groundsmen to do so. There was a dust storm in Delhi two days before the match, bringing down the temperatures a little, but don’t expect any rain or much respite from the heat.Key stats MI lead the head-to-head between these two sides 19-16. At home, though, DC are 9-5 against MI. In the last match, Trent Boult took a first-over wicket for the 31st time in the IPL, four clear of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at No. 2 on that list. In all T20 cricket, Boult is fifth, behind Shaheen Shah Afridi, David Willey, Bhuvneshwar and Mohammad Amir.Next three fixturesDC will host Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday before traveling to Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Two of MI’s next three matches are against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In between they will host Chennai Super Kings.Quotes”Nowadays, there is a lot of domestic cricket, so, everyone knows how to play the wicket. We don’t think that ‘we have to play here and there.’ Because in IPL, you have to play everywhere. And as far as batting is concerned, the main thing is the situation.”
“We have had a lot of individual performances in the last five matches. Only the collective performance is missing. When everyone did well in one game, we won by a big margin. That shows the potential of our team.”