All posts by n8rngtd.top

And have two Tests ever played out simultaneously in the same country?

Steven Lynch06-Aug-2024For a while last week there were two Test matches going on at the same time in the United Kingdom. Is there any previous instance of two men’s Tests in the same country at the same time? asked Russ King from England

You’re right that the one-off Test between Ireland and Zimbabwe in Belfast and England’s third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston were being played at the same time. Unlike Dublin, where Ireland played their inaugural Test in 2018, Belfast is in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, so two Tests were thus being played in the same country at the same time. This has never happened before, although there was a near-miss in India in 2019: India played Bangladesh in Kolkata from November 22-24, then Afghanistan took on West Indies at Lucknow on November 27.It’s not quite the same question, but there have been two occasions when England were playing Test matches at the same time in two different countries: in 1929-30, two of the four Tests of both England’s tours of New Zealand and the West Indies were played on some of the same dates. There was also a near-miss early in 1892, when an England side took on South Africa in Cape Town from March 19 to 22, and another team in Australia started the third and final Test against Australia in Adelaide on March 24.Zimbabwe’s new wicketkeeper Clive Madande conceded 42 byes in the first innings against Ireland recently. Was this the worst on debut? asked Blake Forrester from Australia

The unfortunate Clive Madande had a largely forgettable Test debut against Ireland in Belfast last month. First he bagged a golden duck when he batted on the first day, then conceded 42 byes in Ireland’s modest total of 250.That’s not just the most conceded by a wicketkeeper on debut, it’s the most by a keeper in any Test innings. The previous record was 37, conceded by England’s Frank Woolley in an Australian total of 327 at The Oval in 1934. Woolley did have an excuse: he was 47, and not a regular wicketkeeper – he’d been pressed into service after Les Ames injured his back.There are also two cases of a wicketkeeper allowing 35 byes in a Test innings: Dinesh Karthik for India in Pakistan’s 537 in Bengaluru in 2007-08, and England’s Matt Prior against West Indies (544) in Port-of-Spain in 2008-09.The previous highest on Test debut was 28, by Hanif Mohammad in Pakistan’s inaugural Test against India in Delhi in 1952-53. Perhaps taking the hint, Hanif soon gave up keeping and concentrated on his batting.I noticed that during Ireland’s Test win over Zimbabwe recently, all their players took a catch during the match. How often has this happened in a Test? asked Michael Bradbury from Ireland

You’re right that all 11 of Ireland’s players made a contribution in the field to their exciting win over Zimbabwe in Belfast last month. There’s only one other Test in which all 11 players on one side took a catch, by New Zealand in Wellington in 2022-23. Actually New Zealand went one better, as 12 men – including substitute Will Young – held on to a catch over both Sri Lanka’s innings. There are 19 instances of ten players taking a catch in a match, but no other 11s.Rashid Khan and Paul Stirling both took six-fors in the same ODI in Greater Noida in 2017•AP Photo/Tsering TopgyalAre there any one-day or T20Is in which two bowlers took six wickets? asked Graham McAllister from England

There’s a grand total of one white-ball international that fits the bill here. In an ODI in Greater Noida in India in March 2017, Rashid Khan took 6 for 43 as Afghanistan (who had earlier made 338) restricted Ireland to 304. You might expect Rashid to do this sort of thing, but the identity of the Irishman who did well with the ball earlier in the day might surprise you: it was Paul Stirling, whose offbreaks brought him 6 for 55. He’s taken 37 wickets in 160 other ODIs. There have been no such instances yet in T20Is, or in women’s white-ball matches.There also remains a solitary ODI in which two bowlers from the same side took five wickets apiece, and again the gentlemen concerned were hardly known as demon bowlers. For Australia against England at Edgbaston in June 1977, shortly before that summer’s Ashes series started, Greg Chappell took 5 for 20, and his fellow medium-pacer Gary Cosier 5 for 18. “We both, at our lower pace, made the ball bend in the air and seam off the pitch,” said Chappell, “and with the help of some undistinguished batting from the England batsmen, whose footwork often left a lot to be desired, we finished off the innings for 171.” Unfortunately for Australia’s captain, his own side’s batting was even more undistinguished, as they collapsed to 70 all out. “A humiliating scoreline – and I regretted bitterly that England’s bowlers had had this ego boost so early in the summer.”I noticed that Riyan Parag’s first three international wickets were all bowled. Was this a record? And what’s the longest such streak at any point in a bowler’s career? Bowled is after all a special form of dismissal! asked Rahul Vats from the United States

It’s true that the Indian legspinner Riyan Parag’s first three wickets in internationals – in his fourth T20 match, against Sri Lanka in Pallekele late last month – were all out bowled. But Parag has a fair way to go to break the record: the Pakistan seamer Khan Mohammad (in Tests in the 1950s) and Luxembourg’s Ankush Nanda (in T20s against Turkey and the Czech Republic in 2019) both started by bowling their first seven victims. The England left-arm seamer Frank Foster (in the 1911-12 Ashes) and Bhutan’s Tenzin Wangchuk (in T20s between 2022 and 2024) both began with six.The most consecutive bowled dismissals by a bowler at any stage of their international career is ten, by England’s George Lohmann, all in the same Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1895-96. Four men managed nine: Johnny Briggs of England (also in a Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, in 1888-89), South Africa’s Sandy Bell (in Tests against England in 1929 and 1930-31), Dinesh Nakrani of Uganda (T20s in October 2021) and Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus in T20s in July 2023, including all his victims against China in Kuala Lumpur. His 7 for 8 that day remain the best figures in T20Is.And there’s an Irish-themed update to one of last week’s questions, from Dave C from Ireland

“Just to point out, you missed one in your list of two-country players who also appeared against their former countries: one of Boyd Rankin’s Tests for Ireland was against England.” You’re right – Rankin won his only England cap in Sydney in 2013-14, then played in Ireland’s inaugural match against Pakistan in 2018, and against England at Lord’s the following year. That means ten of the 17 two-country players played Tests against their first team. Apologies to all for the slip – especially Boyd Rankin!Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

The 8-time Ballon d'Or winner had a hand in all three goals as Inter Miami saw off Vancouver Whitecaps to win its first MLS Cup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla – There it is. 

That is what the footballing world wanted, and what MLS perhaps needed. Messi has his first MLS Cup. If there was ever a shred of doubt about Messi’s MLS legacy – if the records, the MVP award (with another likely on the way), and the résumé weren’t convincing enough – then Saturday offered the definitive answer.

The biggest trophy this league can give now sits in his hands, and soon after, above his head. Florida has its first MLS champion. 

And it was deserved. The Argentine provided three decisive moments of magic in a 3-1 win over a resilient Vancouver Whitecaps side.

Give Vancouver some credit here. They are a good football team that plays the game in the right way. But this was Miami’s day. There are such things as narratives in soccer. They seldom pan out. But this was one that came together handsomely. Miami steadily improved over the course of the season. They lost, sometimes embarrassingly, and learned from those defeats. And when it came to it, an otherwise flawed and inexperienced manager in Javier Mascherano, made some gutsy and correct decisions. For that, he deserves immense credit. Still, in the final game at a strange skeletal stadium that they have called home for three years, Miami claimed the thing that they have coveted since the second Messi stepped his foot in the United States. 

This was also about Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who ended their careers, appropriately, with trophies. It might also be the end for Luis Suarez – at least in Miami, who proved in omission that he may not be needed here anymore. Yet the lasting image will be of Leo, lifting that trophy, a beaming smile across his face. Legacy secured.

GOAL breaks down the Winners & Losers from Chase Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Lionel Messi

  Sometimes the narrative just has to win. Messi had one of those late-career Messi games. 

  For long stretches, you barely noticed him, and he was rarely involved. He spent most of his time strolling around and shielding passing lanes as Vancouver controlled possession. However, there were two decisive moments in the game, and Messi set up both. He was instrumental in the first goal with his shuffle and through ball to Allende. He set up the second with a silly feed. And he provided the pass for the killer third, too. It was his 63rd goal contribution for Miami this season. This was major trophy number 48, and it wasn't the easiest. Vancouver made it tough. But it is the Argentine's prerogative to decide games. And he managed to make that happen yet again. 

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  LOSER: Edier Ocampo

  Football can be so, so cruel. Ocampo has been the model of consistency for the Whitecaps this season, playing almost every game and being just about as solid a full back as MLS can offer. He keeps it tidy, seldom makes mistakes, and offers stability for a well-balanced side. But finals are decided in moments, and Ocampo was on the wrong end of two of them. The obvious slip-up was his ill-timed dart across the box to cover Allende's pass. Instead of cutting it off, he deflected the ball into his own net. He was also slightly culpable on the Miami third, failing to hold the defensive line and allowing Allende to run in behind and seal the game for good. One to forget, on the biggest of stages. 

• Getty
  

  WINNER: Rodrigo De Paul

  He's always been far more than just "Messi's bodyguard." De Paul has far more attacking quality and soccer smarts than he gets credit for. That is partially, of course, because his role is so distilled to the idea of simply protecting Miami's main man. Yet De Paul showed off all sides of his game here. This was a scrappy one, full of hard tackles that didn't get called, and cheeky shoves that did. De Paul was up for both. He kept his composure on the ball, sprayed it around when needed, and, crucially, scored the winning goal.

  But more valuable than all of that, perhaps, were the seconds squeezed out of the game in between. He stayed down for a few extra moments after every heavy challenge. He took his time on throw-ins. He picked up – and then miraculously recovered from – a series of injuries over the course of the 90 minutes. De Paul is always the unsung hero. Today felt more like main character energy. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Vancouver

  How things can change in a year. This time in 2024, the Whitecaps had fired a popular coach in Vanni Sartini and were in the process of selling the team. This was a broken side dealing with rumors of a potential relocation. Yet the Whitecaps rallied, generated a real energy behind a city that seemed to have forgotten, at times, that it has a soccer team. They made it to multiple finals and the fanbase was reinvigorated once again. Then the club was buoyed by the arrival of a global star in Thomas Muller. 

  This is, in fact, a bit cruel. The Whitecaps gave pretty much everything for their city. Canadian soccer still deserves its third MLS club. Yet the team is for sale; their lease at BC Place is up. Vancouver certainly has enough passion to embrace a team. This one just might not be around for much longer. 

A draw with ten men aside, this has been a phenomenal little period for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

Following an intense week in which they faced Spurs, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, they didn’t lose any of those fixtures. Subsequently, they top the Premier League and Champions League heading into the early stages of December.

They’ve managed to do so all with injuries plaguing the squad again. Ben White and Bukayo Saka were asked after the 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday if they have the best squad depth in the league.

White, ever the joker, simply replied, “I dunno.” Well, Ben, we’ll answer it for you. Arsenal’s depth is elite and it could well win them the league.

Andrea Berta worked hard to bolster the squad over the summer and it’s just as well considering the fitness issues that have ravaged Arteta’s team again throughout 2025/26.

At the moment they are missing their senior leaders at the back in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

Before last week they were also missing all three strikers. Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres are now back in the matchday squad but it means that emergency centre-forward, Mikel Merino, has had to lead the line again. He’s done it superbly well.

Mikel Merino: Arsenal's elite number 9

Nearly a year ago, all of the chatter as the January transfer window opened was about Arsenal’s need for a new striker.

While Kai Havertz’s importance was being elevated and Jesus had enjoyed a fabulous festive period, scoring that hat-trick against Crystal Palace, there was a sense that for the Gunners to win the league, they needed an elite goalscorer.

Chalkboard

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

Jesus then suffered an ACL injury and Arsenal’s need for a new forward was exacerbated. They did not sign one. What happened next? Havertz suffered a hamstring injury. Of course, he did.

As a result, Arteta sought a solution that was outside of the box. Could Merino become the emergency number 9 that Arsenal craved?

Remarkably, he could. It all started with that brace against Leicester City. The Londoners were struggling to find a goal but the Spaniard appeared from the bench to rescue his side.

Since then, he’s not looked back. He ended 2024/25 with nine goals, scoring against Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool along the way. While we jest, he genuinely looks like an elite striker now.

The arrival of Gyokeres should have ensured Merino was never needed as a striker again but when the Swede hobbled off against Burnley last month, the former Real Sociedad was back in the limelight.

Well, is he now the number one option to lead the line? Quite possibly. Some of Arsenal’s best displays of the season, chiefly those wins over Spurs and Bayern, have come with Merino up top.

While he didn’t net in those contests, he’s knitted the play together beautifully, linking up with teammates and improving Arsenal’s all-around attacking play.

He has still been around the goals, scoring twice in Europe against Slavia Prague, while finding the net in back-to-back Premier League games, the wins over Chelsea and Brentford. Both of those goals were excellent headers.

So, with Gyokeres and Jesus back on the bench, who deserves the role as Arsenal’s leading man?

What Merino's form means for Gyokeres and Jesus

Arsenal’s big-money summer signing has been electric over the last two campaigns. During 2024/25, Gyokeres bagged 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting but hasn’t hit similar heights after his move back to England.

The Swede has been improving all the time and it was typical that he suffered an injury blow against Burnley, a game he actually scored in.

Gyokeres was beginning to find his feet in the top-flight but it would be a lie if we said Arsenal weren’t a better team at the moment with Merino in it.

So, for the time being, it’s likely the former Coventry City man will have to be patient as he searches for a way back into the side.

The same could be said for £45m man, Jesus, although his time in red and white sadly looks pretty bleak.

The Brazilian has been missing since picking up that ACL injury in the FA Cup 11 months ago and it’s a delight to see him back. Prior to that injury, he was arguably in the form of his Arsenal career, scoring six goals in six games across the festive period.

That injury meant that Arsenal simply had to strengthen in the summer. Gyokeres was a necessity. Jesus has been bumped down the picking order already because of that.

However, the emergence of Merino as a striker and the fact he’s now a genuine option in that position means that Jesus’ Arsenal career looks done.

Havertz is not miles away from returning to the fold and with Merino, Gyokeres and the German all set to battle it out for a place as the central forward, Jesus is unlikely to start another game for the club.

There are plenty of games to comes over the forthcoming weeks but such is the strength of Arsenal’s depth that the former Manchester City striker looks set to pay the ultimate price of leaving the Emirates Stadium.

It’s not the way he or the supporters will have wanted his career in England to end. He’s a cult hero, a joyful player to watch when he’s at his peak. However, Arsenal simply have better options now and options who are in form.

Merino’s impact has only rubbed further salt into the wounds. At the moment, he looks like Arsenal’s best centre-forward. How remarkable is that?

£50m Arsenal star who was becoming the new Zinchenko now looks undroppable

Arsenal’s £50m man has revived his career at the Emirates Stadium this week.

1

By
Matt Dawson

Dec 4, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to receive only a one-match ban for his red card against the Republic of Ireland in Portugal's penultimate World Cup qualifier. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was sent off after elbowing Dara O'Shea off the ball and was set for a three-match ban for 'violent conduct'. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee has decided to let the 40-year-old off easy.

• Ronaldo only gets a one-match ban for O'Shea elbow

  Ronaldo was expected to miss one or two of Portugal's opening clashes in the 2026 World Cup in North America after being shown a red card for violent conduct on O'Shea. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee have ruled that the Portugal captain's actions were only worth a one-game ban, which he has already served after he missed Roberto Martinez's squad for the 9-1 win over Armenia. His punishment, however, also holds a two-game suspended ban, which will be triggered if he is found guilty of a similar offence yet again in the next 365 days.

  Ronaldo was sent off just before the hour mark, after Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg consulted with VAR, having shown the five-time Ballon d'Or winner a yellow card initially. In the review, it seemed clear to the referee that, in a tussle with O'Shea, Ronaldo clearly elbowed O'Shea in the back without any ball involvement around him.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  CR7's first international red card

  The red card against the Republic of Ireland was Ronaldo's first of his international career as the Portugal captain has never been sent off in his 226 appearances with the national team. It has been reported that this disciplinary record may have played a massive part in the FIFA disciplinary committee's decision.

  However, this wasn't the first time Ronaldo and O'Shea clashed as the Portugal captain and the Irishman had previously clashed, with the Al-Nassr star appearing to slap him all the way back in 2021. While O'Shea had hit the deck at that point as well, the referee and VAR had missed the incident, and Ronaldo had gotten away with his assault on the Ireland star; however, the same was not the case this time around.

• Ronaldo's absence raises questions about Portugal squad

  Ronaldo's absence for Portugal's 9-1 win over Armenia raised serious questions from fans over the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's spot in Martinez's World Cup squad as Portugal's attacking play seemed a lot smoother. The same was the case during the 2022 World Cup when Fernando Santos played Ronaldo as more of a substitute through the tournament in Qatar with stars like Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and Diogo Jota starting instead.

  However, the quarter-final failure against Morocco eventually saw Santos receive the sacking and Martinez being onboarded as the head coach of the Portuguese national team. The former Belgium coach quickly reintegrated the former Real Madrid man into the squad as he led Portugal to their Nations League triumph last year.

  Nonetheless, questions are still being raised as to whether having Ronaldo as the main man in the Portugal squad is the best way forward for the 2026 World Cup as the country look to raise their first-ever trophy on the international stage.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Portugal's World Cup opener to feature Ronaldo

  Despite all the questions regarding Ronaldo's form at the highest level, it is highly unlikely that Martinez will be altering his squad this close to the World Cup. As such, it is almost guaranteed that Ronaldo will be the first name on the teamsheet when Portugal kickoff their 2026 World Cup campaign in North America.

  However, the ill-tempered Ronaldo will have to keep his emotions in check through the tournament, as another sending off or even a violation of FIFA's regulations could see him miss the latter stages of the World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur have not been good enough this season, and it’s clear that Thomas Frank needs to find a solution both in regard to results and the excitement factor that has been lacking.

Having lost each of their past three matches in all competitions, including the miserable home loss against Fulham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, a response is sorely needed, but Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has hardly been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years.

Frank’s tactics have yet to click together, but the players also need to take responsibility for their shoddy showings, with Pedro Porro among the guilty members to have flattered to deceive all term.

Pedro Porro's Spurs form this season

Porro, 26, is one of the most talented right-backs in Europe. He has played 126 matches for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and supplying 23 assists.

The Spaniard’s gloomy, incensed demeanour at full-time on Saturday was indicative of the wider malaise at the club, but he surely must hold his hands up and acknowledge that he wasn’t good enough, with Sofascore recording that he found the mark with only three of 16 attempted crosses, losing eight of 11 duels and being caught out numerous times.

It was, frankly, a pitiful first-half performance, with Porro utterly toothless in his creative role and more than susceptible against the rampant Samuel Chukwueze and beaten far too easily in the build-up to Kenny Tete’s opening goal after just a few minutes.

He was hardly the only one to hang his head in shame, though, with his counterpart on the left serving up an equally frustrating performance.

Spurs defender is now becoming a liability

At his best, Destiny Udogie is a machine. Ferociously athletic, fleet-footed on the ball and attuned in crucial defence phases, he took the Lilywhites faithful’s breath away when he charged the left side of Postecoglou’s system during the halycon days of 2023/24, before things went wrong.

Indeed, when he burst onto the scene as a teenager under Postecoglou’s wing, journalist Hunter Godson remarked that he was “sickeningly good” and would get into “nearly every team in the world already”.

Such was his power and pace and balance down the left lane that he was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country during that first foray into English football.

But it might be fair to say that Udogie has yet to raise his game in the Premier League. Sure, he’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this is now his third season in English football and he is no longer an up-and-coming prospect but a talented member of the first team who is expected to provide an outlet while protecting his box.

It may take a moment to look at the various elements of Udogie’s game, but it’s worth a closer inspection, with Udogie yet to raise his creative levels and indeed provide greater security at the back.

In fact, as per Sofascore, he has only completed 30% of his dribbles and won half of his duels in the Premier League this year.

This remains a talented full-back with the capacity to perform as one of the best in the division, but Udogie is not pulling his weight right now, and it’s clear to see that Frank’s system is being hindered by the lackadaisical performances of Udogie and Porro, two wide players who are considered among the most talented in the country, if not the continent.

Spurs flop has become their biggest "embarrassment" since Aurier

It’s gone from bad to worse for Spurs, and this Conte signing’s time at the club could be coming to an end.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 1, 2025

Palmeiras academy director Joao Paulo Sampaio has made a major remark about Brazilian defender Vitor Reis, who is currently playing in La Liga for Girona on loan from their sister club, Manchester City, who are monitoring his progress. According to Sampaio, Reis has the ability to shine in the coming years and establish himself as a vital player in the Brazilian national team.

• Reis enjoying a perfect season at Girona

  In January 2025, Manchester City landed one of Palmeiras' top young talents in the form of Reis. Just 19-years-old, the Brazilian did not enjoy much playing time under head coach Pep Guardiola, who mostly used him in the FA Cup. Accumulating four appearances since his switch from Brazil, Reis was loaned out to Girona at the start of this season. Girona fall under the same ownership as City, the City Football Group, and currently sit 18th in La Liga. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  What did Sampaio say about Reis?

  Among the U-20 players in La Liga, which includes Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid next-gen talent Franco Mastantuono, Reis is the one with the most playing time. Sampaio, who has worked with him at Palmeiras, knows the youngster well and has predicted that he will become a mainstay in the Selecao XI. "He will be Brazil’s centre-back for the next three or four World Cups. This kid is very different. Technically, physically, mentally, as a leader… he is one of the best in the Spanish league in terms of numbers," the director told ESPN Brazil (via Sport Witness).

  Brazil currently have an experienced defensive third comprising Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos or even Eder Militao. However, among the upcoming talents, Reis is one to keep an eye on.

• Reis' youth coach speaks on his leadership abilities

  Reis was part of City's rebuild, and the Etihad-based club are minutely tracking his development in La Liga and might reintegrate him into the squad once his two-year loan stint comes to an end. However, when they signed him back in January, his youth coach at the R10 Academy, Roberto Custodia, heaped praise on the teenager. 

  He said (via ESPN): "After I saw him play at centre-back for the under-9 side, he came to train with me. And there I saw that he could command, that he would organise those around him. You could see that he had a strong personality. Then he went to Palmeiras and won everything there at youth level. He's a very humble, down-to-earth guy."

  Abel Ferreira, who is the head coach of Brazilian side Palmeiras, also spoke highly of the youngster. "He's been a pleasant surprise. Everyone should have the strength of will that this lad has. I congratulate him, because despite his age, he's a man of character," he said to ESPN. He further stated (via Manchester Evening News), "We sold Vitor because I spoke too much to the wrong people and that’s it. When you talk to directors of other clubs about your squad, people believe a lot of what you say. But he deserves it, he’s a kid with the whole package. That’s what makes players valued. It was with Vitor Reis, Danilo, Estevao, (Luis) Guilherme, Endrick."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reis to face Real Madrid soon

  Girona will return to action on November 23, when they meet Real Betis on the road. Currently placed 18th in the standings, they will aim to secure a second consecutive victory of the season and boost their motivation before taking on Real Madrid a week later. Reis, who has so far been an integral part of Michel's system, is expected to start both games.

Southampton have been urged to appoint a 52-year-old manager instead of giving interim boss Tonda Eckert the job on a full-time basis.

Southampton on course to appoint Eckert on a permanent basis

The Saints are preparing for a return to Championship action this weekend and look set to be under the leadership of caretaker manager Eckert once again.

The 32-year-old has won both of his matches as interim boss so far, defeating QPR and Sheffield Wednesday to take Southampton away from any relegation trouble.

A trip to Charlton Athletic is next on the agenda for Eckert, and recent reports have suggested that he is set to be given the Southampton job on a permanent basis.

Following the sacking of Will Still at the beginning of the month, a plethora of available and in work managers have been linked with the job. However, Sport Republic are yet to appoint a permanent successor.

Eckert appears to be in pole position after his start to life at St Mary’s with the first team, and he has impressed Finn Azaz, who said:

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

However, Southampton and Sport Republic have been urged to consider another rumoured target.

Southampton urged to move for Brendan Rodgers

Talking to Football League World, Southampton pundit Martin Sanders urged the Saints to appoint Brendan Rodgers.

Now out of work after leaving Celtic, Rodgers was linked with the St Mary’s vacancy at the beginning of November, although it doesn’t seem as if Sport Republic have made a move for the Northern Irishman who they admire.

Sanders said that Rodgers “ticks every box” and a move would “show real ambition”.

Rodgers has previous Championship experience with Swansea City, winning the playoffs with the south Wales side in 2011, and almost 15 years later, a return to the second tier could be what a number of Southampton fans would welcome.

Southampton can end Eckert experiment by hiring "insanely talented" manager

The New York Yankees are moving on from the Juan Soto era in the Bronx after the superstar outfielder opted to swap allegiances and join the organization's crosstown rivals, the New York Mets.

Manager Aaron Boone addressed Soto's departure on Tuesday, sharing his thoughts on the team's unsuccessful pursuit of the 26-year-old in free agency, discussing what comes next for the Yankees.

"Obviously, we wanted the player back. Ownership and the front office did everything we could to make it happen, but it just didn't. That's sports, and ultimately Juan earned the right to be in the position that he's in and he made the decision that he felt was best," said Boone.

Boone said that there were no regrets about the team's decision to trade for Soto last offseason in a deal with the San Diego Padres, despite the acquisition of Soto ending up being merely a one-year rental.

"We went into this eyes wide open… I remember making the deal at the winter meetings. We knew there was no guarantees of anything moving forward. I think, as much as it hurt to make the deal with some of the players that we lost, looking back, I feel like it was the right thing to do and served us well. He had an amazing season with us," Boone added.

Boone made clear that he's expecting the Yankees to build a roster capable of competing for a championship in 2025 even in the wake of Soto's departure. That of course, would require the team to make some significant splashes in free agency as well as potentially completing some offseason trades.

Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney reportedly wants to join Tottenham as the England outcast is keen to reunite with Thomas Frank following their successful spell together at Brentford. The forward's transfer to the Saudi Pro League last year was one of the most talked-about deadline day moves of the 2024 summer window. His £40 million ($53m) switch from the Bees was heralded as a new beginning, but just over a year later, whispers of homecoming are beginning to circulate.

• Toney's Premier League comeback dream

  With Dominic Solanke still nursing a persistent ankle injury and Randal Kolo Muani now sidelined with a fractured jaw, Spurs are in desperate need of a reliable finisher. Meanwhile, Frank, who turned Toney into a prolific top-level striker at Brentford, is said to remain a huge admirer of his former No.9. The Dane’s faith in Toney transformed the forward from a Championship star into an England international.

  However, Tottenham’s hopes of landing Toney in January could face a major hurdle, according to . Al-Ahli’s hierarchy are determined to keep hold of their star, especially after his electric start to the Saudi Pro League campaign. He has hit 11 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this season, which highlights his growing influence in the dressing room. The financial challenge is also significant as Saudi tax laws will force Toney to sacrifice a sizeable chunk of his wages to move back to England.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Why would Toney want Tottenham move?

  David Bentley, who is remembered fondly by Tottenham fans for an incredible goal against Arsenal in 2008, believes a transfer to Spurs could be on the cards. 

  "He’ll want to go in at Tottenham," Bentley said on . "For him, to go [and] play at the stadium with Thomas Frank, that’s the perfect destination for him. If he wants to get into the England team, it’s not about money, it’s about playing to get into that World Cup squad. The perfect environment is Tottenham. Tottenham could do with him and England as well – if anything happens with [Harry] Kane, we’re struggling a little bit for centre forwards."

  Bentley believes Toney would walk straight into the squad as he knows what it takes to succeed in the English top flight. 

  "He’s a great player," Bentley continued. "Scoring goals in the Premier League is not easy and the way he plays the game, scores goals… he’s got to go to Tottenham, hasn’t he? Under Thomas Frank, he had a great time with him at Brentford and I’m sure they’re talking. I’m sure that’ll be the No.1 destination for him to go in at. Tottenham are struggling with centre forwards at the minute, Solanke is out injured and Richarlison is not at the level he needs to be. He could be Tottenham’s new signing on loan in January."

• England ambitions on the line

  Toney’s motivation for a Premier League return goes beyond club football as the striker is desperate to earn his place in Thoas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He made his debut in 2023, scored his first goal against Belgium in 2024, and was part of England’s Euro 2024 squad. During that tournament, he assisted Harry Kane’s extra-time winner against Slovakia in the last 16 and also calmly converted his penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. But since moving to Saudi Arabia, Toney has slipped down the pecking order. 

  Despite his form abroad, England boss Thomas Tuchel has left him out of the last three national team camps. His limited playing time during earlier call-ups, including an 88th-minute cameo in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal, hasn’t helped his case. That remains the only time he has put on a Three Lions shirt in 2025. Moreover, Toney's entourage believes that even if he returns to the Premier League, he will find it difficult to force his way into Tuchel's setup, given the competition for places, as revealed by

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Spurs not the only suitors

  Tottenham aren’t the only club circling. Everton are reportedly monitoring the situation, while Manchester United have also been loosely linked with Toney. 

  Speaking on , reporter Ben Jacobs said: "As far as Premier League interest, I think we've heard links with Tottenham due to the Thomas Frank connection. I'm not aware of any Spurs approach at this stage, some have even said Manchester United, and again, I think Manchester United are banking on Benjamin Sesko and they've also got Matheus Cunha, who can play at No 9. But if Joshua Zirkzee left, you never know, another striker could come in at Old Trafford."

Tottenham Hotspur will look to kick on once the January transfer window opens and could be willing to put their money where their mouth is to sign Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, but circumstances will need to align.

The Lilywhites have become a thorn in the side of many Premier League outfits this campaign due to their physicality and new-found ability to convert from set-pieces, making them a dangerous opposition to come up against on any given day.

Mohammed Kudus has shone in the forward areas and Spurs have earned a new lease of life after their domestic form last term, with Thomas Frank deserving of credit for managing to solidify the Lilywhites in all areas.

Despite his mixed start to life in North London, the Dane made clear before his side took on Chelsea that Xavi Simons is another figure he expects to come to life in the heart of his side.

He said: “Yes. No doubt about that. I’m not in doubt that Xavi will perform very well for us. That is down to him, to me, to the team, to everyone to get it done. The one thing you don’t have in football is time, but it will take time.

“It’s completely natural. Sometimes we can’t talk about processes and time and all that, but the reality is you need it, everyone needs it. I’m confident. I’m sure it will happen.”

Frank’s outfit appear to be solid from middle to front, that much is true, but there is always room for improvement when you are eyeing a slot in the Champions League places.

With that in mind, Spurs are now plotting a January bid for a star who they may be set to put their large transfer kitty towards.

Tottenham line up Scott McTominay amid huge Napoli demands

According to Football Insider, Tottenham will look to put their sizeable transfer kitty towards signing Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who could be at the centre of an intriguing saga involving both parties.

Fabio Paratici has set his sights on the Scotland international and the money on offer could be a lure for the former Manchester United man to return to the Premier League. However, Pete O’Rourke believes it would take a ‘huge’ statement of intent from Spurs to push a deal over the line.

He said: “Napoli won’t want to weaken their squad by losing such an important player like Scott McTominay. He’s under contract until 2028, so, to even consider selling him would be a huge fee as well.”

Intriguingly, the same report has floated the idea of Kobbie Mainoo joining Napoli, which could pave the way for movement to take place elsewhere, albeit that remains unlikely for now.

Tottenham are also eyeing another Serie A goalscorer

Still, McTominay has been a titan since joining the reigning Serie A champions in 2024 and has continued that form into this term, placing seven of his 16 shots taken on target, per Fotmob, hence why Frank is keen to do a deal.