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Leeds United have had some brilliant academy products down the years, but one youngster they’ve had on their books has not reached his potential after being likened to Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney at youth level.

Leeds’ best ever academy products

The Whites have been responsible for producing a number of well-known Premier League players over the last 30 years from their famous academy. Some, as a result of the club’s well-documented financial problems in the early 2000’s, made their name known at first team level elsewhere.

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ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

Meanwhile, others have impressed at Elland Road before being snapped up in the transfer market, the latest being Archie Gray, who joined Tottenham in 2024 in a deal thought to be worth £40m.

Leeds’ best academy products in pictures

Right now, Leeds have Archie’s younger brother, Harry Gray, coming through the ranks, and he actually made his first-team debut at the age of 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days.

1

Peter Lorimer

15 years, 9 months and 19 days

2

Tom Elliott

16 years, 2 months and 25 days

3

Aaron Lennon

16 years, 4 months and 7 days

4

Harry Gray

16 years, 6 months, and 13 days

5

James Milner

16 years, 10 months and 6 days

6

Neil Aspin

16 years, 10 months and 8 days

7

Aidy White

16 years, 10 months and 16 days

8

Simon Walton

16 years, 10 months and 25 days

9

Jimmy Greenhoff

16 years, 10 months and 26 days

10

Ryan Edmondson

16 years, 11 months and 16 days

Those in Yorkshire will be hoping they can keep hold of the forward, who is already being likened to Michael Owen and Harry Kane, but one attacker who hasn’t lived up to the hype has been Joe Gelhardt.

Leeds talent set to be sold after Gerrard and Rooney comparisons

Many expected big things when Leeds swooped to sign Gelhardt from Wigan Athletic in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa following the club’s promotion to the Premier League. A deal for the exciting teenager cost the Whites just £1m, and he would progress into the first team, making his top flight debut in 2021.

The attacker has gone on to score just three goals for the Whites, one of which being a stoppage-time winner against Norwich City, while he also produced a piece of brilliant skill which helped keep Leeds in the Premier League in 2022.

However, Gelhardt has struggled for consistency and has been sent out on loan to Sunderland and Hull City, and now looks set to be sold on a permanent basis in 2025 if a club comes in with an offer in the region of £3m-£4m.

Long-time Merseyside Boys’ manager Tim Wyatt even said that Gelhardt caught the eye just as much as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did when they were all 14 years of age.

Wigan’s former head of academy and now sporting director Gregor Rioch was also full of praise for Gelhardt while he was at the Latics, saying he “had the X-factor”.

It’s a case of what could have been for Gelhardt at Elland Road, and still just 23 years of age, he’ll be looking to get his career back on track elsewhere.

Arsenal have now been informed an “unbelievable” forward could be available for a fee of £80m in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Gunners planning to bolster attacking options

At this stage, it seems almost certain that a new striker will arrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing the Gunners are now “working hard” to secure a deal.

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are among the more attainable targets, while Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is also well-liked, although the Magpies have shown little interest in sanctioning a departure this summer.

Not only has Mikel Arteta set his sights on a new striker, but there is also interest in a versatile forward, and Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo is on the shortlist, with the Bees looking to receive a fee of £50m for the Cameroonian.

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ByDominic Lund Apr 21, 2025

Mbeumo’s performances in the Premier League this season indicate he could be a great fit at the Emirates Stadium, but there have now been suggestions the north Londoners could also look to bring in one of Europe’s most renowned forwards.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal have now been informed that Barcelona star Raphinha could be available for £80m this summer, with intermediaries hinting that a deal may be possible in talks.

The Gunners are huge admirers of the left-winger, and they will remain informed about his situation at the Camp Nou, where the Brazilian remains very happy, with Barcelona currently attempting to tie him down to a new contract.

There could be fierce competition for the 28-year-old’s signature, with Chelsea and Liverpool said to be big fans, while there is also interest from the Saudi Pro League, with clubs willing to fork out £100m for his services.

"Unbelievable" Raphina draws praise from Thierry Henry

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is clearly a big admirer of the Brazil international, stating he “has it all” after Barcelona’s triumph against Napoli in the Champions League back in March, while also tipping him as a favourite for the Ballon d’Or.

The former Leeds United man has been extremely influential en-route to the Champions League semi-finals, picking up 12 goals and seven assists, while also ranking extremely highly on several key attacking metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.60 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.43 (97th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.36 (91st percentile)

Lauded as “unbelievable” by Romano, Raphinha could be capable of taking Arsenal’s frontline to the next level, but given that he remains happy at Barcelona, it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible.

Liverpool are set for a busy summer transfer window, with the upper and lower thirds believed to be the priority areas for Arne Slot and the Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes.

Issues in the goalscoring department recently have amplified the noise from fans looking for a new centre-forward, someone prolific who can ease Mohamed Salah’s talismanic burden – should the Egyptian be plying his trade on Merseyside next year, of course.

However, the rear end of the field is just as important, with Virgil van Dijk’s contract also nearing its end. Regardless of whether the all-inspiring captain stays on for the next few years, a new face is needed.

Liverpool lining up new defender

In a report that the Spanish media are labelling a ‘bombshell’, Liverpool have set their sights on Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo this summer, in the event that Van Dijk departs.

As per the report, negotiations over the signing of the towering centre-back are set to ‘intensify’ in the coming weeks.

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Valued at around €60m (£50m) by the La Liga table-toppers, Araujo has been one of the standout defenders in Spain since joining from Uruguayan side Boston Rivers in 2018, growing in strength and stature each season.

Aged 26, Araujo’s prime years should lie ahead of him, and if Van Dijk is to leave Liverpool this summer, this may be the perfect signing.

The perfect Van Dijk heir

Dubbed “one of the best defenders in the world” by one-time Barcelona great Carlos Puyol, Araujo has been a pillar of strength at the back for Barcelona over the past several years, having accumulated 164 senior appearances in total, notably lifting the La Liga title and Copa del Rey titles once each.

Described as an “athletic monster” and a “cheat code” by BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan, the 6 foot 2 Araujo’s combination of power and pace suggest that he’s got what it takes to succeed Van Dijk.

Though Araujo missed the first half of the season due to injury, he’s returned to action since the new year with a fluid and convincing feel that underlines his quality as one of La Liga’s standout defenders, maybe even Europe’s.

Fearsome and athletic, he matches up very well indeed against Van Dijk, widely considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation.

Goals scored

0.04

0.17

Assists

0.02

0.25

Shot-creating actions

1.15

1.34

Touches

87.93

87.16

Pass completion

92%

92%

Progressive passes

5.09

3.09

Progressive carries

0.50

0.25

Tackles + interceptions

2.18

2.51

Clearances

4.03

3.76

Aerials won

2.76

3.26

Moreover, Araujo has won 62% of his duels in La Liga this season, whereas Van Dijk has won 68% in England’s top flight (both sets of data courtesy of Sofascore).

Though Araujo has faced fitness issues in the past, Liverpool’s impressive injury record under Slot’s wing suggests Anfield could be a hothouse from which Araujo could foster his high-level skills and step up to a new degree of quality.

Liverpool’s star centre-back adds a dimension from attacking set-pieces too, and that’s something Araujo could further emulate. The Uruguay international’s injury problems have limited him to just 14 appearances across all competitions this term, but he’s still managed to chip in with two goals and assists apiece.

Ultimately, Van Dijk’s greatness transcends his defensive role, and it would be futile to expect his replacement to provide the same level of quality.

However, were Slot to get his paws on Araujo’s combative quality, there’s every chance that Liverpool will continue to challenge for the most illustrious honours next year.

His La Blaugrana boss, Hansi Flick, has also described him as a “leader” and “one of the best in the world,” after all.

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The RCB batter has scored over 600 runs in the IPL for the fourth time in a season, but his attacking mindset has stood out in this edition

Abhimanyu Bose10-May-20241:22

‘Impressive how often Kohli used the sweep against spinners’

You are making your IPL debut. It’s against the franchise from your state. You are opening the bowling to two giants of the game. You beat Virat Kohli with one that jags away second ball. You get your third ball to swing away ever so slightly and get Kohli to miscue it in the air. Ashutosh Sharma, running back from point, gets to the ball, but he doesn’t hold on. You had Kohli out without a run on the board, and then you didn’t.But that’s cricket, right? You move on. It’s okay that Faf du Plessis hits you for two back-to-back boundaries to close out that over. You come back and have him cutting a short ball straight to deep point in your second over. One giant down, one to go.You follow it up with two more dots to Kohli and then you get the second giant, who has still only made 10 off nine balls so far, to hit a drive straight to the fielder at cover. Both RCB openers gone in an over? Wait, Rilee Rossouw can’t hold on to a tough chance. Kohli escapes again.Related

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You then have Will Jacks caught at short fine leg by Harshal Patel in the fifth over, but are robbed of another potential wicket when the same fielder drops Rajat Patidar at deep fine leg two balls later.Despite picking up two big wickets in his first three overs, it was still a case of what could have been for Vidwath Kaverappa and Punjab Kings.Kohli went on to make a 47-ball 92, helping RCB dominate the middle overs, while Patidar blazed a 23-ball 55. According to ESPNcricinfo’s luck index, Ashutosh’s drop of Kohli cost PBKS 45.98 runs, Rossouw’s spill cost them 35.87 runs and Harshal’s missed chance cost them 23.69 runs.Virat Kohli reserved his best slog sweep of the night for Sam Curran•BCCIKohli and Patidar both made the most of the lives they were given, as RCB – notorious for slowing down after the powerplay – upped the tempo in the middle overs. They have looked to assert themselves in the game in a late-tournament streak that has still kept them in the race for the playoffs.Finishing on 56 for 2 after the first six, RCB raced to 100 in 8.3 overs, and were on 119 for 3 at the halfway stage of their innings. Only twice in their IPL history had RCB scored more in the first ten overs of a match, out of which one was in a 15-over match against PBKS in 2016.While Patidar did take the pressure off Kohli in this phase (overs 7 to 10), especially by taking down Rahul Chahar for three sixes in his first over, Kohli himself struck at 222.22 – although, he was yet to face spin.”It was important to keep up my strike rate through the innings, so I was just focused on taking the momentum forward for the team,” Kohli told the broadcaster at the mid-innings break.Rain and hail stopped the game at the ten-over mark, and when it resumed, PBKS managed to get a couple of quiet overs of spin away.But then Kohli brought out a weapon he has recently started using with greater frequency of late – the slog sweep.He followed a flick through midwicket against Liam Livingstone with a slog-sweep past a diving midwicket fielder, before clearing the rope with another slog-sweep against him in his next over.In all, Kohli scored 23 off 13 against Livingstone and Chahar, although he probably saved his best slog-sweep of the night for Sam Curran.2:34

Should Kohli open for India at the T20 World Cup?

Curran went for a full slower ball, wide of off, in the 16th over, and Kohli moved across to stand on offstump before getting forward and low, with the back knee touching the ground as he swung the ball high and far over long-on.He finished the over with another six down the ground, taking 58 off 27 deliveries in the middle overs (7 to 16), which means he struck at 214.81 in the phase. Compare that to his strike rate in the middle overs this season before this match (133.33) and in IPL 2023 (133.96), and you will see a stark difference in his approach.”I’ve brought out the slog-sweep to the spinners. I just mentally put myself in that situation and I didn’t practice it at all,” Kohli said at the presentation. “I know I can hit it because I’ve hit it a lot in the past. So, I just felt like I need to take a bit more risk and for me that shot was something that I used to hit regularly back in the day.”His intent in the middle overs has been a hot topic of discussion, with him also being picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.Kohli said that batting without the fear of getting out has helped him score faster.”So, I think it just takes a bit more conviction and take out that thought that props up: ‘what if you get out’,” Kohli said. “I’ve been managing to stay ahead of that thought in this IPL and that’s really helped me in the middle overs in this IPL, keeping my strike rate up and keeping the scoring rate going for the team as well.”Kohli, who has been around since the first edition of the IPL, acknowledged that he is still looking to add gears to his game.”[I am working on] some added challenges in terms of improving your own game, certain aspects of your game that you want to get better at, because it’s an ever-evolving process and I am certainly not a guy who wants to sit around saying this is the way I play and not improve on the things I need to.”On Thursday, Kohli went past 600 runs in a IPL season for the fourth time, and he did so at a strike rate higher than any other year. His knock against PBKS helped him edge his strike rate in IPL 2024 (153.51) past that of 2016 (152.03).RCB’s campaign may still be dependent on other results going their way but with the T20 World Cup approaching, Kohli breaking his shackles in the middle overs and being ready to take greater risks is a prospect that bodes well for India.

Old-ball graft and final-day burst highlight slingy seamer’s invaluable qualities

Cameron Ponsonby20-Mar-2022It’s good. It’s promising. All that learning stuff that Andrew Strauss spoke about before the tour? This is it, here. Saqib Mahmood has passed his GCSECBs.Four wickets on debut, with a fifth ruled out for overstepping: this was an excellent start for the Lancastrian quick who finished the second Test in Barbados with the best match figures of any fast bowler on a pitch that offered them next to no assistance.Mahmood looks like he could be the round peg for the round hole in England’s bowling attack. For years, the accusation against this team has been that their ten-deep bucket of identikit right-arm seamers created a bowling attack too one-size-fits-all to pose any sort of challenge away from home. They needed something different.Related

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Which is where Mahmood comes in. His abilities complement the needs of a set-up awash with opening bowlers adept on the green seamers of Edgbaston and Lord’s. Where others want the new ball, he’ll have the old. Where others swing the ball conventionally, he reverses it. Where others bowl quickish, he bowls fast. He is the family member whose favourite Celebration chocolate is a Bounty, hoovering up with joy what others avoid.”You want to be the guy the captain throws the ball to,” Mahmood said at the close on day four. “To break partnerships and take wickets. That’s the stuff I get satisfaction from. On green seamers, every seamer feels in the game but on ones like this, I really want to be a guy who can stand up and break a partnership.”Mahmood’s peak in this game arguably came in the moment that was taken away. His yorker – which clean-bowled Jermaine Blackwood – tailed in and beat the set batter for pace, only for it to be ruled out as Mahmood had overstepped.His average speed in this Test was only around 82mph/133kph, though he occasionally touched 88mph/141kph: not lightning fast, but his catapult-style action gives him the impression of a bowler who feels quicker than the numbers suggest. It was a delivery more reminiscent of Jasprit Bumrah than Jake Ball and should give England hope that they have a bowler who, rather than being dependent on conditions, is able to operate independently of them entirely.”I felt like criminal number one, the biggest criminal out here,” Mahmood reflected. “I was pretty gutted but tried not to let it affect me. Rooty spoke to me and said ‘you bowled great; don’t let it affect you’. Stokesy said he did the same for his first wicket. I was just concentrating on the task ahead more than anything. I’m glad we got him out because every run he scored made me feel horrible.”His burst on the final day – where he dismissed both Shamarh Brooks as well as half-wall, half-human Nkrumah Bonner – gave England hope in a situation that otherwise seemed desperate. The ball to Brooks may not have moved masses, but the one to Bonner did, with movement off the seam in conditions where all others had failed to break from the straight and narrow. The ability for a seamer to break through in unhelpful conditions is something that England have been screaming out for; on debut, Mahmood took the first step to answering the call.Mahmood struck in his first over on the final day•Getty ImagesThere might be an element of redemption in this debut for Mahmood as well. First called into a squad in 2019, he has been around the set up for much of the two years since. England know Mahmood well. For that reason, it would be fair to wonder whether the odd doubt ever entered his mind that perhaps England had seen what he had to offer and not liked it. This tour really did represent an ‘if not now, then when?’ moment for Mahmood.But if England didn’t see it before, they do now. “It was really impressive,” Root said, “[…] on a wicket like that, to seem so effective and to offer so much. He burst the game open for us [with] a brilliant spell. He created a lot of pressure and made things happen on a wicket where no seamer looked like they could. It’s a great sign for him and for us.”In the fourth innings, Mahmood bowled the most of any seamer, and more than Chris Woakes and Fisher combined. After the tea break, with seven wickets in a session needed for victory, Mahmood was the man Root turned to.Mahmood remains close with his former academy director at Lancashire, John Stanworth. Recalling watching him bowl for the first time at the tender age of 14, Stanworth said: “It was just, ‘wow, who’s this?’ You knew just straight away there was something to engage with.” Many of the England supporters watching Mahmood bowl with a red ball for the first time this week will have thought much the same thing.

Just a few years ago, Alek Manoah was a legitimate Cy Young candidate and an All-Star for the Blue Jays. Now, he's been out of the league for the better part of two years, and is officially parting ways with Toronto.

Manoah was designated for assignment on Tuesday, per a team announcement, in what could very well signal the end of his tenure with the organization. Having risen to prominence as a breakout rookie in 2021, Manoah looked like one of the best pitchers in the sport in 2022, when he made the All-Star Game and had a 6.0 WAR with a 2.24 ERA across 31 starts.

He failed to replicate that season in 2023, when he had a -1.1 WAR, a 5.87 ERA and 1.740 WHIP. He last pitched for the Blue Jays in May of 2024, after which he was shelved as he underwent Tommy John surgery. Manoah was finally reinstated from the IL on Sept. 11 and was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, but now looks destined to exit the organization following his latest designation.

Manoah was hopeful of competing for a spot in Toronto's starting rotation in 2026, but will now have a chance to latch on with another organization instead.

The Blue Jays also announced they have activated Anthony Santander from the 60-day IL and placed Ty France on the 10-day IL.

Keep up to date with all the player movements ahead of the 2026 women’s Tier 1 county season

ESPNcricinfo staffKeep up to date with all the movements around the counties as preparations are made for the 2026 women’s Tier 1 county season.DurhamIN:
OUT:
OVERSEAS:EssexIN: Liberty Heap (Lancashire)
OUT: Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Kelly Castle (both released)
OVERSEAS:HampshireIN: Pippa Sproul (academy)
OUT: Mary Taylor (Warwickshire), Freya Davies (retired), Daisy Mullan (released)
OVERSEAS: Amanda-Jade WellingtonLancashireIN:
OUT: Liberty Heap (Essex), Hannah Rainey (released)
OVERSEAS:The BlazeIN: Emma Jones (Surrey)
OUT: Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire), Scarlett Hughes (released)
OVERSEAS:SomersetIN: Bea Willis (academy)
OUT: Fran Wilson (retired), Laura Jackson, Amelie Munday (both released)
OVERSEAS:SurreyIN: Emily Burke (academy), Rachel King
OUT: Emma Jones (The Blaze), Alexa Stonehouse (Warwickshire – loan)
OVERSEAS:WarwickshireIN: Mary Taylor (Hampshire), Alexa Stonehouse (Surrey – loan)
OUT:
OVERSEAS:YorkshireIN: Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Olivia Thomas
OUT:
OVERSEAS:

Vice-captain plans to stay in the moment as seminal tour of Australia looms

Matt Roller10-Oct-20257:05

Advantage England if Cummins misses first Ashes Test?

Harry Brook is ever the straight-talking Yorkshireman. He will fly to New Zealand on Friday night to captain six white-ball internationals but knows that there is one question occupying England fans’ minds more than any other: when he returns home from Australia in January, will he bring the Ashes urn with him? His response: “I bloody hope so.”England’s recent record in Australia is dreadful, but their quiet optimism about this winter’s series has been reinforced by the revelation that Pat Cummins is increasingly unlikely to play in the first Test. Australia have played down the severity of his back injury, but Andrew McDonald conceded on Friday that Cummins is “running out of time” before November 21.Cummins’ absence would be a shame for the series, but can only be seen as a boost to England’s chances. Brook said that Australia have “a hell of a lot of good bowlers” who could deputise, but Cummins’ package of leadership, pace and skill is impossible to replicate and England know as much.”He is an amazing bowler and has been for many years,” Brook said at Thursday night’s PCA awards ceremony, in partnership with Toyota. “He bowls at high pace, with high skill. With him out of their side for the first game, from what we’ve seen, hopefully that plays into our hands… [But] we can’t take anybody lightly.”Related

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The series will be the biggest challenge of Brook’s career to date: it is his second Ashes series, but his first in the country where England have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests. He has built a remarkable away record – he has scored seven hundreds in his first 11 overseas Tests – but has only played in Pakistan and New Zealand, and will head down under with his eyes open.”I don’t know what I’m stepping into,” Brook said. “I know it’s a massive thing, but I’m still trying to get over that India series. That was awesome to be part of: to play 25 days out of 25 was mega. That was the most intense series I’ve ever been part of. If the Ashes tops that, I will be a very happy man.”It is obviously intense. I can’t even remember much about the 2023 Ashes, if I’m honest. It’s a very similar group of players that we’ll come up against: a very strong bowling attack and on home soil they’ll present different challenges. I haven’t had too much experience of the pitches out there, so I have to stay in the moment as much as possible and play what’s in front of me.”England’s series against India was the “most intense” that Brook has experienced•Getty Images

Brook’s experience in Australia is limited to a short spell at Hobart Hurricanes as a 22-year-old where he did “horrendously”, and a walk-on role (56 runs in five innings) in England’s T20 World Cup win three years ago. “I see white-ball and red-ball as completely different sports, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I’m going out there with a clear mind.”He started manically in his first Ashes series, hooking compulsively as England let a strong position slip at Lord’s, but played priceless innings in their wins at Headingley and The Oval to secure a 2-2 draw. His return of 363 runs at 40.33 featured four half-centuries in nine innings, and Brook played down the potential significance of scoring his first Ashes hundred on this tour.”That’s not something I really think about,” he said. “I want to be a match-winner. If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well. If that’s getting 75 and getting us out of trouble for a little while and gets the team into a better position, I’d rather that than get a hundred and lose the game.”Brook’s captaincy experience in the white-ball team may yet be called upon in the Ashes•Getty Images

Another potential challenge for Brook in Australia is the prospect of captaining a Test match for the first time, after his appointment as Ben Stokes’ deputy. He described the role as “an honour” but does not expect to be called upon: “I see Stokesy playing all five Tests, if I’m being honest. I think he’ll power through, even if he has a little niggle.”Brook’s promotion means a return to the ranks for Ollie Pope, whose position at No. 3 looks increasingly precarious – even if Brook described him as a “vital part” of England’s side: “I dropped him a couple of messages a couple of weeks ago, talking about golf mainly. I don’t think he’s too bothered. He’s just happy to still be in the squad.”Stokes has not played competitively since damaging a shoulder muscle while attempting to bowl England to victory in the drawn Manchester Test against India; perhaps Brook’s biggest role as deputy will be to save him from himself: “Because he wants to bowl long spells, that can sometimes be to his detriment… Everybody in the world knows what he’s like.”

استنكر تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد، تقنية الفار خلال المباراة أمام جيرونا، بسبب ركلة جزاء محتملة لم تحتسب لصالح فريقه، وشدد على ضرورة الفوز في المباراة القادمة أمام أتلتيك بلباو.

وتعادل ريال مدريد بهدف لمثله أمام جيرونا في الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإسباني، خارج أرضه، ويتواجد في المركز الثاني بفارق نقطة خلف برشلونة المتصدر.

وقال تشابي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “هناك مراحل مختلفة في الموسم، في البداية، كنا ثابتين في مستوانا خارج أرضنا، كانت المباريات القليلة الماضية مختلفة، كان الشوط الثاني أفضل بكثير من الأول، تمكنا من العودة”.

وأضاف: “كان الفريق متحمسًا لتجاوز تأخره بهدف نظيف، أتيحت لنا ثلاث أو أربع فرص سانحة لتسجيل الهدف الثاني والفوز، علينا الحفاظ على المستوى العالي الذي يتميز به اللعب مع ريال مدريد، وهذا موسم طويل”.

وواصل تشابي: “ليس لدي أي شكوى بشأن اللاعبين، فقد كان رد فعلهم جيدًا، بدون توجيه لوم، علينا الحفاظ على هذه الوحدة، مع نقد ذاتي كافٍ وضروري، والرغبة في الفوز خارج أرضنا”.

وتابع: “مع هذا الجدول الذي منحنا هذا العدد الكبير من المباريات، لدينا الفرصة لتحقيق ذلك يوم الأربعاء في بلباو، والعودة لتحقيق الانتصار خارج الديار، الترتيب سيشهد الكثير من التقلبات، وسيصبح متقاربًا جدًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | رجل مباراة ريال مدريد وجيرونا في الدوري الإسباني

وأردف: “افتقرنا إلى القدرة على الهيمنة لفترات أطول، هذا ما نريده، علينا أن نحلل سبب عدم قدرتنا على تحقيق ذلك، لماذا لم نتمكن من ذلك منذ البداية؟”.

وشدد: “إنها فرصة للفوز خارج أرضنا في سان ماميس، لا تزال هناك تقلبات كثيرة في ترتيب الدوري، إنه وقت مناسب للفوز في بلباو، نحن بحاجة إليه وسنسعى إليه”.

وعن وجود ركلة جزاء محتملة لصالح رودريجو، أتم: “من المدهش أن تقنية الفيديو المساعد لم تُراجعها، كانت لعبة يجب مراجعتها، هذه ألعاب حاسمة قد تُغير مجرى المباراة، لم أشاهدها، ولكن قيل لي إنه كان هناك تلامس”.

Tottenham Hotspur are adjusting to a more pragmatic tactical style under Thomas Frank. This has caused several contentious talking points to spring up over the past several months.

Yes, Spurs are imperfect, and improvements are needed. But they are also fifth in the Premier League after 11 matches, and have lost only three times.

Goals are being scored, albeit with underlying attacking metrics emphasising the work is needed in creative departments. But then, even this comes with the caveat that Tottenham have been without Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, arguably the two most creative outlets at the club, since before the start of the season.

1. Chelsea

3rd

20.4

2. Crystal Palace

2nd

19.4

3. Man City

10th

19.0

4. Arsenal

1st

18.8

5. Man United

7th

18.2

15. Tottenham

5th

11.0

Yes, more is needed. And Frank will consider across the next two international-break-filled weeks his options across the park, and how he can water the roots of his philosophy while growing his Tottenham garden into something viewed as new and growing, rather than negative and Nuno-esque.

The changes Frank needs to make at Spurs

Tottenham showed spirit and resolve against Manchester United last weekend, and though Richarlison’s late strike was cancelled out at the death by Matthijs de Ligt’s header, the hosts did not crumble but responded after a wretched first half.

That’s a glass-half-full way of looking at it, sure, but Tottenham must take the positives – as Frank did.

However, the Danish tactician needs to iron out the many creases in this squad, and one sure-fire way to start that process is by forgoing the decision to field Djed Spence and Richarlison as a left-sided partnership. Width and dynamism are needed down the flanks, and the out-of-position Spence and technically limited Richarlison don’t work well together.

When Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert connected in the second half, things changed.

Likewise, there must be a wider shift in regard to mentality and confidence. Over the past year, Tottenham have played 20 home games and they have won only three. Much-improved away results and a tougher framework from head to toe have scrubbed away the bitter lower-table position of last year, but there remains a need for more positivity, more fluency and enterprise on the ball.

The forwards need to much do more, yes, but the midfielders have flattered to deceive from this perspective this season, and it’s time for Frank to consider parting with one player who lacks the nuance in his role to thrive and make the system tick.

Frank must drop struggling Spurs star

When Tottenham signed Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in January 2022, initially on loan and then for a fee just shy of £22m, they knew they had landed a talented and multi-faceted midfielder.

And yet he’s falling by the wayside in Frank’s system. The 28-year-old hasn’t fallen, not yet, but his performances are becoming a concern, with analyst Raj Chohan even describing him as a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.

The conundrum here is two-fold: Bentancur has just signed a new contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, raising his salary considerably to around £120k per week.

But the other angle here is that the Uruguayan just doesn’t work alongside Joao Palhinha, a player who has been regarded by many as one of the best Lilywhites players so far this season, having arrived on a loan deal from Bayern Munich in the summer.

So, if Palhinha has to play, his tough-tackling, protective presence in the middle, Frank must start playing a deep-lying midfielder beside him who can drive play forward with surgical passes. Instead, two pragmatic midfielders have been yoked together in a midfield lacking creativity under a manager who is facing criticisms for a pragmatic style of play.

It is not that difficult to identify the potential problem here, especially when bringing Xavi Simons into the equation, the playmaker yet to adapt to the rigours of the English game, and then addressing again the duel absence of Kulusevski and Maddison.

25/26

10

659′

24/25

26

1,653′

23/24

23

1,007′

22/23

18

1,506′

21/22

17

1,365′

As per data-led platform FBref, Bentancur actually ranks among the bottom 39% of Premier League midfielders this term for progressive passes per 90, underscoring the issues presented in the build-up. Palhinha, unsurprisingly, does not rank highly himself (bottom 11%).

The decision to start Bentancur from the bench against Man United – ending the South American’s run of six successive Premier League starts – tells of Frank’s awareness about all this, but then Pape Matar Sarr wasn’t at his best on that day in any case, albeit growing into the game after a shaky start, his energy and optimism a nice counterpoint to Palhinha’s ruggedness.

Much to chew on. Lucas Bergvall has the progressiveness to forge a protean partnership with Palhinha in the centre, but the teenager has not yet nailed down a prominent role under Frank.

Bentancur might have signed a new contract recently, but that does not mean he is unsellable. Conversely, this could provide an insight into a longer-term plan; this summer, Atletico Madrid were among those interested in an experienced midfielder whose stock has now risen from a financial vantage.

If Tottenham are to persist with the anchoring presence that is Palhinha, it might not be a bad thing to ship Bentancur and his limitations out. When the injured parties return, the picture will become a whole lot clearer, and Bentancur may well be absent from the view.

Spurs flop who's been "swallowed in the PL" must be dropped for Odobert

Thomas Frank can unleash Wilson Odobert by ruthlessly dropping this Spurs flop.

2 ByDan Emery Nov 10, 2025