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West Ham United manager Graham Potter has sent a clear message to his players in a secret Rush Green meeting, as the threat of his potentially imminent sacking hangs over the Englishman.

Graham Potter given stay of execution as West Ham eye replacements

The Hammers, if anything, have regressed since Potter took over from Julen Lopetegui in January.

Already, the former Chelsea boss is drawing statistical comparisons with Avram Grant, who relegated West Ham in 2010/2011. Bar the Israeli, Potter has recorded the club’s worst ever win percentage in the Premier League (26.1 per cent), and this dismal number is only overshadowed by their leaky backline.

Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League

Win percentage

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

West Ham have conceded 13 goals in the top flight already this season, with seven of them coming from set plays. Their failure to deal with dead balls is a major theme of their reoccurring struggles under Potter, and if it wasn’t for a surprise 3-0 win away to Nottingham Forest, he’d perhaps be gone already.

Nevertheless, Potter is being given more time to turn things around at West Ham, but not much at all.

The Hammers take on David Moyes’ Everton this weekend, and their ex-managerial hero has a real chance to put one of the final nails in Potter’s coffin before West Ham travel to title-chasing Arsenal.

In the meantime, David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the rest of West Ham’s divisive board are making contingency plans to replace Potter.

Insiders claim Nuno Espirito Santo is considering an offer from West Ham after talks with both Brady and Sullivan, while ex-Irons defender and manager Slaven Bilic is already planning his backroom in the event he is chosen for the hot seat (ExWHUemployee).

Another ex-player in Gary O’Neil is also one of the favourites to potentially succeed Potter, but West Ham are not limited to just free agents.

Reports suggest Burnley boss Scott Parker has been discussed as an option by high-ranking West Ham officials (GiveMeSport), so it would appear the east Londoners are seriously assessing candidates right now.

What Graham Potter has said to West Ham players as sack looms

According to ExWHUemployee, despite all the uncertainty surrounding his position, Potter is presenting a united front to his squad.

The insider reports that Potter held a meeting with West Ham players and staff, where he delivered a motivational speech in an attempt to galvanise the team. Ex also says that the 50-year-old is “almost certain” to take charge of the Everton game, with a P45 far more likely after they take on Arsenal.

With the ex-Brighton boss on the verge of a contract termination, Nuno is West Ham’s obvious best bet.

West Ham need to appoint Nuno Espírito Santo if Potter leaves

The Portuguese coach is available, experienced and, crucially, understands the Premier League.

Nuno made his name at Wolves, guiding them from the Championship into Europe — including a Europa League quarter-final in 2020.

His side were disciplined, sharp and capable of taking points off the biggest teams. That blend of defensive organisation and counter-attacking is exactly what West Ham are crying out for right now, with Nuno also helping to fix Nottingham Forest’s set-piece weakness during his time at the City Ground.

At Forest last season, Nuno again proved his credentials. He steadied a club that looked in danger of sliding, galvanised the squad, got the very best out of his players and gave his former side a real identity.

All of this culminated in European qualification for the first time since 1995, and following Moyes’ era, a return to Europe is exactly what West Ham are aiming for too.

يتجه الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم نحو اتخاذ قرار حاسم بشأن مستقبل الإدارة الفنية لمنتخب الشباب مواليد 2005، وذلك في أعقاب النتائج التي حققها الفريق خلال مشاركته الأخيرة بكأس العالم.

وكان المدير الفني أسامة نبيه قد قاد منتخب مصر مواليد 2005 في بطولة كأس العالم للشباب التي أقيمت مؤخراً في تشيلي، والتي شهدت خروج الفريق من مرحلة دور المجموعات.

وفي هذا السياق، نفى مصدر مسؤول داخل الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، بشكل قاطع لـ بطولات، ما تردد من أنباء حول استمرار أسامة نبيه في منصبه كمدير فني لمنتخب الشباب مواليد 2005 خلال الفترة القادمة.

طالع أيضًا | أسامة حسني يُهاجم أسامة نبيه: برّر الفشل بدلًا من الاعتذار وسلّم لاعبيه للجماهير

وأكد المصدر ذاته أنه تم الاستقرار على تعيين جهاز فني جديد بالكامل لقيادة منتخب الشباب في المرحلة المقبلة من الاستحقاقات الرسمية خلفًا لـ أسامة نبيه وجهازه المعاون.

ويأتي هذا القرار الحاسم في إطار الترتيبات المبكرة للاستعداد لخوض التصفيات المؤهلة إلى دورة الألعاب الأولمبية (لوس أنجلوس 2028).

ويناقش اتحاد الكرة في الوقت الحالي قائمة بالأسماء المرشحة لخلافة أسامة نبيه، وتشير التوقعات بقوة إلى أن شوقي غريب، المدير الفني السابق صاحب الخبرة في منتخبات المراحل السنية، هو أبرز المرشحين لتولي المهمة الجديدة.

Jose Mourinho claims that five of his Benfica players were suffering a “self-esteem crisis” ahead of a crunch clash with Porto, leading to the ‘Special One’ adopting a pragmatic mindset against his former employers. Mourinho makes no apologies for setting his side up to frustrate table-topping opposition, with an important point being taken from an uneventful goalless draw.

• Man-management skills: Special One put to the test

  That stalemate could prove crucial in the long run, with Benfica ensuring that they did not lose any ground on Porto – who are currently perched four points above them at the Liga summit. Mourinho has returned to familiar surroundings in a bid to restore domestic dominance at Estadio da Luz.

  His glittering coaching career started in Lisbon, before going on to make his name as a Champions League winner with Porto. Mourinho has mastered the art of grinding out results and delivering tangible success, with major honours having been won in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. At 62 years of age, he still prides himself on being one of the best tactical brains in the business.

  Mourinho got what he was looking for from a trip to Estadio do Dragao, with all of his man-management skills required when it came to setting up a team that was ready to battle bravely against Porto. Benfica ultimately fared admirably in that task as they headed home with a clean sheet and share of the spoils.

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• Getty
  

  Mourinho tactics: Benfica set up to frustrate rivals

  Mourinho told reporters of his approach: “I think Benfica has its characteristics. FC Porto has players with a lot of horsepower, with the ability to attack space. We don't have that type of player. We had to create danger and not let the game go. Right now, the team is suffering from low confidence. I found three, four, five players with a self-esteem crisis. It's one thing to need tactical concentration, another to need inspiration for something more. I told the players that on the bench I felt what they felt on the field: we want to win, but we can't lose.

  “When you're in a game with this kind of pressure on you, it's not easy to manage, think, and make decisions. FC Porto didn't have that pressure, and yet they didn't take any risks. They changed player by player and could only go from four to seven positive points, while we could go from four to seven negative points compared to FC Porto. This is a huge handicap from an emotional standpoint.

  “As a coach, I fulfilled – if I'm not mistaken, I fulfilled the official 1,200th game, and even a coach with 1,200 games is analysing and thinking that if you lose, you're going home with a seven-point gap. It was a limitation. We couldn't leave here with seven points. It's not the result we wanted, but it's a good situation. It's just a shame I won't see the players for 15 days.”

• Friend to foe: Porto fans now want Mourinho to fail

  Mourinho took in 127 games as Porto boss between January 2002 and June 2004, becoming a club legend in the process. He is now a direct rival for fans that once adored him and accepts that he has morphed from friend to foe in the eyes of those that now want him to fail – and will happily make him aware of that fact.

  He added on not receiving the warmest of receptions when returning to familiar surroundings: “History doesn't change, my gratitude to FC Porto doesn't change. I had a completely relaxed game, focused on my work, on helping my team. I'd already played here against Chelsea, so I can't say I had any special feelings. What the President [André Villas-Boas] said before the game is normal. How should I be received? As a Benfica coach. After the game, I ran into him in the hallway as friends, a hug, and life goes on.”

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• Getty
  

  Another return to England: Next up for Mourinho

  With another international break being reached, as Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team turn their attention to 2026 World Cup qualifying duty, Benfica will not be in action again until facing Chaves in a cup clash on October 17. Mourinho, who has already returned to Chelsea this season, will then head back to England again for a Champions League meeting with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

If you could encapsulate Tottenham Hotspur in one week it would be the period of days that have just played out. It’s classic Spurs, it really is.

On Wednesday, everything looked smooth sailing as far as a deal to sign Eberechi Eze was concerned. This was a spectcular signing, a Premier League proven talent capable of taking Thomas Frank’s side to the next level.

Alas, Arsenal swooped in and stole the boyhood Gooner away from their rivals. Eze is now a full-time Gunner, it’s time to forget about that saga.

And boy did Spurs forget about it on Saturday afternoon. The Etihad has been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years and they went to Manchester City this weekend and won again, swatting aside Pep Guardiola’s side 2-0.

It was a complete defensive performance and the inroads Frank has already made in making Spurs more secure at the back is mightily impressive. Yet, they still need new recruits in the market.

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Missing out on Eze is a colossal blow. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison out, the latter with an ACL injury, Spurs desperately need to find more creativity.

They have sourced that in the form of Mohammed Kudus who has enjoyed a spritely start to his time in white.

Transfer Focus

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

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Yet, more is required and it’s required quickly. The window is eight days away from closing and Daniel Levy needs to find that Eze alternative.

Well, a move for Manchester City star Savinho is still on the cards according to reports in Spain.

The Brazilian has been the subject of interest from the north Londoners for a few weeks now but it’s touch and go to know whether City will sanction a sale.

In a bid to do so, Spurs are now prepared to put a club-record £73m on the table to bring the Citizen to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Previously, they had only been willing to put a fraction below £50m forward, but amid the Eze blow, Levy and Co know they must act.

Savinho: Tottenham's answer to Lamine Yamal

Signing someone of Savinho’s quality in the remaining week of the window is a must for Spurs if they are to realise their lofty ambitions this term. They have started with consecutive wins and look good value, having not conceded yet.

Still, extra firepower is required and they’d surely find that in the form of the Man City star. While he’s not so prolific as far as goalscoring is concerned just yet, only bagging three times in 2024/25, he’s one of the best creators in English football, registering 13 assists in all competitions.

Amid those injuries to Kulusevski and Maddison, he could be just the creative hub that Frank is seeking.

Comparisons to Ballon d’Or contender, Lamine Yamal, will also raise excitement levels. Speaking after a dazzling display from the Brazilian last term, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: “His decision making is unbelievable. He remins me a bit like Yamal. They can dribble, they dribble at the right time, they pass at the right time. He’s going to be a superstar.”

While taking anything Merson says must be done so with a pinch of salt, there is logic here. Indeed, according to data-led website, FBref, Yamal was the most similar winger in European football to Savinho last term, based on statistics.

Of course, Yamal is a generational talent, but it’s of great intrigue to see where they are most comparable.

Savinho vs Yamal in 2024/25

Stat (per 90 mins)

Savinho

Yamal

Goals

0.05

0.28

Assists

0.41

0.41

Key passes

2.35

2.02

Progressive passes

3.42

5.05

Shot-creating actions

5.66

5.93

Progressive carries

6.99

5.71

Carries into final 3rd

2.30

3.03

Stats via FBref.

From a goalscoring perspective, plenty of wingers in European football are streets ahead of Savinho but we can see here that he’s one of the most creative around.

Over the league season, he registered the same number of assists per 90 minutes as the great Yamal while he also made more key passes.

The Spanish wonderkid was far ahead for progressive passes but in other aspects, notably progressive carrying and shot-creating actions, there isn’t a great deal to seperate the duo.

Based on a number of things, the 21-year-old is still incredibly raw but as Merson said, he looks as though he’s on his way to becoming a superstar. He’s not going to reach Yamal’s overall quality but having someone with those traits in your squad will help a great deal.

Spurs do need more goals but creativity is also on their shopping list. They’d get that and then some if they signed City’s Brazilian star.

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Related Forget Eze: Spurs preparing move for "unstoppable" star who's like Rodrygo

Tottenham Hotspur have moved on to other targets after missing out on Eberechi Eze’s signature.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 23, 2025

South-Africa born batter will head back to England after she was hurt during training

Valkerie Baynes20-Nov-20241:46

Paige Scholfield is out to prove age is just a number

Paige Scholfield will leave England’s tour of South Africa before it’s begun after she was injured in training.Scholfield hurt her ankle during training on Tuesday and, following further assessment on Wednesday morning, withdrew from the T20I squad to return to the UK and begin her rehabilitation.”We’re obviously really gutted for Paige,” Her team-mate, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, said. “She’s a good mate of mine as well, so I was really sad to see her down on the floor yesterday. But she’s a tough cookie. She’s been really unlucky with her injuries over the last few years. But she’s putting a smile on her face, and staying positive, and actually said to me that she can’t wait to get stuck in on the rehab and get back fit again.”Scholfield was one of two changes made to England’s T20I squad which exited last month’s World Cup in the group stages, brought in to add firepower to England’s middle order with batter Alice Capsey overlooked amid a form slump and allrounder Dani Gibson ruled out after undergoing knee surgery. Fast bowler Lauren Filer was also included after missing the World Cup.Related

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Capsey had already been a late call-up to the South Africa touring party as cover for what England described as some minor niggles within the T20 squad, leaving her WBBL stint with Melbourne Renegades, before Scholfield was injured.Shortly before she left the UK for South Africa, Scholfield spoke of her joy at being selected for the trip to her birthplace, having made her England debut at the age of 28 during the tour of Ireland in September.”I thought it was my England A coach calling me, so I’ve got the wrong coach,” Scholfield told ESPNcricinfo of her call-up for the Ireland trip.”It was so out of blue and I was so excited and I just couldn’t believe it was happening. If I’m honest, I am still now trying to regulate my feelings around it.”Speaking to my mum and dad when I told them about this tour to South Africa, they were over the moon, being diehard South Africans, they just couldn’t believe it. My mum started crying. It’s just so exciting and I just hope it continues to happen.”Paige Scholfield made her England debut on the tour of Ireland in September•ECB via Getty ImagesScholfield was the fifth-highest run-scorer in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition this year with 259 runs at an average of 43.16 and strike rate of 140.00 with a top score of 73 not out. She also scored 190 runs in the Women’s Hundred, striking at 137.68 with a highest score of 71 off 40 balls playing for Oval Invincibles.”She really deserved a chance to be in the squad for this series,” Wyatt-Hodge added. “She’s done outstanding over the last couple of years for South East Stars and in the Hundred as well for Invincibles. So, obviously we’re gutted for her, but I’m sure there’ll be a lot more chances for her to show off what she can do in England colours.”Scholfield credited the ongoing professionalisation of the domestic women’s structure in England and Wales, which started in 2020, with helping her reach her goal of representing the country she has called home since the age of 12.”I’m 28, I had very little hope that I’d be representing my country with these youngsters coming through who are just unbelievably talented,” Scholfield said. “But this county setup now allows players like myself to still be able to have that ambition to represent their country and to show the rest of the world what we can do, and that age is just the number and I can still throw myself about and hit a couple of balls.”It’s an exciting time and I’m really enjoying where the game’s going and I hope it continues to grow to the point where we can get to where the men are at and make a career and travel the world doing it.”The multi-format series between South Africa and England starts on Sunday with the first of three T20Is in East London, followed by three ODIs and a Test.

Sri Lanka’s spinners claimed six wickets between them to skittle New Zealand for 135

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Nov-2024

Dunith Wellalage starred with three wickets•AFP/Getty Images

On a turning Dambulla track, Sri Lanka’s spinners claimed six wickets between them, kept a leash on the scoring rate, and restricted New Zealand to 135 all out. It should have been a straightforward chase, even despite the conditions. But it needed a cool head, which is what captain Charith Asalanka provided with his 35 not out off 28.Sri Lanka got home with six balls to spare, and four wickets in hand, although the result was never super tense. New Zealand, remember, are trying out some young players at the very tail end of their long South-Asian spring.New Zealand slide in the powerplayThe first six overs kind of set the tone for the whole thing. The ball was almost immediately turning square, as even Maheesh Theekshana – a modest turner of the ball usually – ripped it big in the first over of the innings.Theekshana would only strike off the last ball of the innings, getting Will Young lbw for a run-a-ball 19. But before that, Dunith Wellalage nailed Tim Robinson in front with an arm ball, and Nuwan Thushara had Mark Chapman flick a slower ball to deep square leg.All up, it was outstanding slow-pitch bowling from Sri Lanka. New Zealand were down at 31 for 3 when the fielding restrictions eased. They’d go on to control the middle overs too – New Zealand only made 66 off the next ten overs, and lost five further wickets.Kamindu and Kusal Perera set the chase upKusal Perera helped propel Sri Lanka through the powerplay, hitting 22 off 15 while the fielding restrictions were on, though his team lost Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis through this period.And because this is is a Sri Lanka victory of this age, Kamindu Mendis has to have a hand in it too. He made 23 off 16, mostly after the powerplay ended.Charith Asalanka’s knock helped Sri Lanka chase down 136•AFP/Getty Images

Asalanka guides the chase homeAfter seeing what New Zealand did in the Tests in India, you can never be too sure they don’t have something special up their sleeves. Asalanka made sure that although Sri Lanka kept losing wickets, he was on hand to see the victory through, hitting two sixes off his first 11 balls to start, before toning it down and knocking it around as Sri Lanka knocked off the remaining runs.Foulkes rocks Sri LankaIn only his third international, bowling allrounder Zakary Foulkes brought all his skills to bear. First he cracked 27 not out off 16 to raise New Zealand from an embarrassing total to merely a modest one. With the ball, he bowled Nissanka with a fullish delivery, bounced Bhanuka Rajapaksa, then, had Wanindu Hasaranga holing out to collect figures of 3 for 20.

It’s a rivalry that has dominated football for almost two decades now, with the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo story looking likely to come to a close at next year’s World Cup.

Now well into veteran, yet not necessarily diminished, status, the two men defined a generation during their pomp at Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, with the beautiful game arguably having never seen – and might never again – the two best players in the world going head to head on a weekly basis.

While Messi’s contract situation at Inter Miami had sparked speculation regarding a potential switch to Saudi Arabian side, Al Ahli – throwing up the prospect of a renewed battle with Al Nassr’s number seven – it looks unlikely that their paths will cross again on the club scene.

With previous reports of Ronaldo moving to Miami to partner the Argentine having also been shut down by his recent bumper extension in the Middle East, the greatest ‘what if’ question of the modern era is likely to go unanswered.

Just what would have happened if the two men had ever played together in the same side?

Well, with the help of AI tool ChatGPT, we may well have the answers, having taken a deep dive into what Messi’s career, in particular, would have looked like had he ended up partnering the Portuguese sensation:

Messi & Ronaldo together – Hypothetical stats (2009-2018)
Season	Messi (G/A)	Ronaldo (G/A
2017/18	33 G, 22 A	44 G, 8 A
2016/17	37 G, 25 A	42 G, 10 A
2015/16	32 G, 27 A	49 G, 11 A
2014/15	35 G, 30 A	52 G, 9 A
2013/14	34 G, 21 A	51 G, 12 A
2012/13	42 G, 24 A	47 G, 11 A
2011/12	50 G, 29 A	48 G, 9 A
2010/11	40 G, 25 A	45 G, 10 A
2009/10	38 G, 21 A	42 G, 10 A
Total	341 Goals, 224 Assists	420 Goals, 90 Assists

1

A change in role

The sight of the 38-year-old strolling round the park has become a familiar one for both club and country these days, with Messi, as to be expected considering his age, no longer the balletic, lightning forward who tore defences to shreds in his pomp.

Who can forget the left-footer’s majestic 2012, in which he scored 91 goals in total during a simply staggering calendar year, having made a sublime transition from life on the flanks to a false nine berth. In all for Barcelona, the 5 foot 7 star registered 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games, as per Transfermarkt.

In the view of ChatGPT, a link up with Ronaldo at the Bernabeu might well have led to a different positional path, with it predicted that Messi would have dropped into a deeper role sooner, described as “more orchestrator than finisher”.

That tweak to operate more as a number ten – in a similar vein to Mesut Ozil’s role behind ‘CR7’ for Los Blancos – would perhaps have seen Messi emerge as more of a provider than a clinical goalscorer.

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Charlie Smith

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Indeed, ChatGPT thinks that he would have more likely chipped in with 35-45 goals per season, in contrast to his 50+ average at his pomp, albeit with that counterbalanced by an increase in assists. As the AI tool states, a “season with 30+ assists wouldn’t be impossible.”

2

Increased success at club level

As was seen during Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain, alongside both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, putting the world’s best together doesn’t always prove particularly fruitful, with the Ligue 1 side unable to even get close to securing Champions League glory with that trio onboard.

Would the same have happened with a forward line containing Messi and Ronaldo? Well, ChatGPT doesn’t think so, having predicted that Madrid – with that duo in tow – could have won “seven or eight La Liga titles in a decade”.

In the real world, Messi already boasts ten LaLiga titles, although he could have eclipsed his record on the European stage, having won four Champions League titles during his time in Catalonia.

According to ChatGPT, that return could be enhanced with a haul of six to eight Champions League triumphs, alongside Ronaldo, mirroring the club’s success during the golden period in the 1950s.

Such glittering success both in Spain and on the continent would, in the view of ChatGPT, have led that Madrid side to become recognised as “the greatest in club football history”.

3

The GOAT debate

Everyone has their favoured pick, although it is hard to argue against Messi being the greatest of his generation – if not of all-time – having claimed eight Ballon d’Or awards to date, eclipsing Ronaldo’s return of five.

Would that domination over his long-time foe have continued with the two playing together? Well, ChatGPT thinks not, suggesting that the pair might have claimed six apiece.

They add that their “votes would cannibalise each other’s dominance”, thus potentially opening the door for a player like Neymar or Robert Lewandowski to claim the award themselves.

Equally, a seemingly prosperous joint Ballon d’Or is even floated for the great duo, with the debate predicted to shift away from Messi vs Ronaldo, and instead focus on the pair “versus everyone else”.

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There is the claim that there would be far less of a debate over who is the better of the two, with there a more wider acceptance of just how great they are together.

That said, even in a parallel universe, tribalism exists, with ChatGPT noting that contention would remain over who is the one “carrying the team”.

4

A different legacy?

As a man who has won everything in the game – including the World Cup – the diminutive wizard could hardly have built a greater legacy, with even his recent mixed adventures in Paris and Miami unable to tarnish a truly staggering individual career.

Sharing the limelight with Ronaldo may well have impacted his standing somewhat, however, with ChatGPT suggesting that Messi would have been more widely admired as the “ultimate team player”, rather than simply an individual genius.

With his role as a supplier or a provider, ChatGPT claims that the Argentine would be “seen as the creative force behind an unbeatable duo”, leading to him being “even more respected by coaches and purists” but “less by stat-driven fans”.

Is that a world we would have liked to see? Two figures working in tandem to terrorise the rest of Europe, rather than going head to head with each other?

Much of what has made the 21st Century great in a footballing context has centred on that Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, but were we denied something even more intriguing by not seeing them play together?

Alas, it was not to be. But if ChatGPT is anything to go by, both men would have achieved greatness either way.

AI predicts when every Premier League manager could be sacked

AI tool ChatGPT has predicted when every 2025/26 top-flight manager is at risk of being sacked

By
Robbie Walls

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أبدى رافا بينيتيز مدرب ليفربول الأسبق، رأيه في النجم المصري محمد صلاح حين تم وضعه في مقارنة مع عدة لاعبين آخرين وأبرزهم النجمين كريستيانو رونالدو وليونيل ميسي.

وأجرى بينيتيز مقابلة مع “Shoot for love” عبر منصة “يوتيوب”، وتم توجيه عدة أسئلة له حول هيئة المهاجم الأفضل بالنسبة له.

وسُئل في البداية عن محمد صلاح وسون هيونج مين، ووقع اختياره على نجم ليفربول، كما فضله على روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم برشلونة، وأيضًا على ستيفن جيرارد، وأشار: “تتحدث عن المهاجمين، محمد صلاح يتميز بثبات مستواه لسنوات طويلة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | الحاسوب العملاق يتنبأ بالفائز بـ لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025-2026.. موقف ليفربول

وحين سُئل عن محمد صلاح وكريستيانو رونالدو، علّق: “هذا صعب جدًا، رونالدو ربما يكون الأفضل في إنهاء الهجمات، لكن صلاح أكثر تكاملاً، في النهاية، سأفضل أن أدرب محمد صلاح”، وفي الختام سُئل بينتيز عن محمد صلاح وليونيل ميسي، واختار النجم الأرجنتيني.

محمد صلاح رسّخ نفسه كأحد أبرز نجوم كرة القدم على مستوى العالم، على مدار السنوات الثماني الماضية مع ليفربول، حيث سجل صلاح 323 هدفًا وصنع 162 هدفًا في 657 مباراة خلال مسيرته مع الأندية في مختلف البطولات، وهو ثالث الهدافين التاريخيين لليفربول برصيد 246 هدفًا.

Hosts West Indies will be looking to continue their winning run at the first ever T20 World Cup game in Trinidad

Hemant Brar12-Jun-2024Match detailsWest Indies vs New Zealand
Tarouba, 8.30pm localBig picture – WI eye Super Eight spotSince 2015, New Zealand have been the most consistent side in World Cups, making it to the semi-final in all six editions – in 2015, 2019 and 2023 in the ODI World Cup, and in 2016, 2021 and 2022 in the T20 versions. They reached the final on three of those occasions even though they never lifted the trophy.But at the 2024 T20 World Cup, they are in danger of elimination after just one match. An 84-run thrashing at the hands of Afghanistan means the game against West Indies is almost a virtual knockout for them.The loss against Afghanistan, during which they looked rusty with bat as well as in the field, also put under scrutiny their refusal to play any warm-up games.West Indies, too, started their campaign in a stuttering manner, taking 19 overs to chase down 137 against Papua New Guinea. But they roared back to bundle out Uganda for 39 to register a 134-run win. If they beat New Zealand, they will become the first team from Group C to qualify for the Super Eight.West Indies know this is their toughest challenge yet but, as their captain Rovman Powell said, “if there is a good time to play New Zealand, it is now”.This is the first men’s T20 World Cup game in Trinidad; they did not get any in 2010. That could be one reason the ICC is expecting a strong crowd, probably a sell-out.Form guideWest Indies WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
New Zealand LLWWLIn the spotlight – Roston Chase and Kane WilliamsonWith just 15 T20I caps, Roston Chase is one of the least experienced players in the West Indies squad. But given the low-scoring pitches in the World Cup so far, he has emerged as one of their most important players, thanks to his ability to play the anchor’s role and bowl economical offspin. In five T20Is this year, Chase has scored 178 runs at a strike rate of 154.78 and picked up four wickets at an economy of 5.92.In the Afghanistan game, nothing symbolised New Zealand’s rustiness more than Kane Williamson’s dismissal: steering the ball into the hands of first slip off Rashid Khan. Between the last T20 World Cup and this one, Williamson played just eight T20s. Even though he was with Gujarat Titans for IPL 2024, he featured in only two games. The reason being Williamson is not your modern, power-hitting T20 batter, but he could hold the key to his team’s chances on these pitches.James Neesham is in contention to be back in the XI against West Indies•ICC/Getty ImagesTeam news – Sodhi in for a seamer?West Indies are likely to field the same XI for the third successive game.West Indies (probable XI): 1 Brandon King, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Gudakesh MotieNew Zealand could make a couple of changes. James Neesham might come in for Mark Chapman and Ish Sodhi for Matt Henry.New Zealand (probable XI): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 James Neesham, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Trent BoultStats and trivia – Pooran set to overtake Gayle Among those who have scored at least 500 runs across all T20s since the start of 2024, Andre Russell (205.15) is the only one to have a strike rate in excess of 200. Mitchell Santner’s T20 economy rate in the West Indies is 5.55. Nicholas Pooran needs three runs to take over Chris Gayle’s tally of 1899 to become the leading run-getter for West Indies in T20Is. Pooran has hit the most sixes (82) in T20s this year. Pitch and conditions – Another low-scoring game?There was lots of rain on Wednesday due to which West Indies had to cancel their training. New Zealand cut short theirs because of “unacceptable” practice pitches. There is no forecast for rain on the match day, though. Since the start of 2021, the average first-innings total in Tarouba has been 167 and it could once again be a low-scoring game.Quotes”Not just playing at RR, cricket is a global sport now with a lot of technology around. So everything you do in every single game is available to everyone around the world. Thankfully for us, we have a very good analyst who has figured out some of the strengths and weaknesses of Trent Boult. So hopefully tomorrow we can mitigate his strengths and try to capitalise.”
“From talking with a few of the West Indies boys and getting some understanding of what it plays like, they said sometimes it could be a sort of scrappy wicket around that 140-150 [mark]. And then there have been some games where it has been high-scoring. I look forward to the challenge tomorrow and try to adapt as quickly as possible.”

Sporting CP star and top Arsenal transfer target, Viktor Gyokeres, has made an intriguing admission to teammates, amid reports that the clubs are advancing in talks over his move to north London.

Portuguese media claim Arsenal have agreed fee to sign Viktor Gyokeres

Over the last seven days, reports in the Portuguese media have boldly claimed that Arsenal are making serious progress in their bid to tempt the 26-year-old back to England.

Saliba, Saka and Gabriel deals "agreed" but Arsenal risk losing £200k-p/w star

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2 ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

Following his quite ridiculous haul of 53 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this season, Gyokeres has emerged as a prime striker target for Arsenal, with sporting director Andrea Berta said to be personally pushing for him.

“Andrea Berta is pushing to sign Viktor Gyökeres for Arsenal,” said Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg a fortnight ago.

Sporting CP

101

96

28

Coventry City

116

43

17

Brommapojkarna

67

25

9

FC St. Pauli

28

7

4

Swansea City

12

1

0

Brighton

8

1

1

via Transfermarkt

“Several talks have already taken place. Alexander Isak remains high on the Gunners’ list, as previously revealed — but he’s very expensive. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are all in the race. No commitments yet. Everything is still open. Bayern are currently out — too expensive. As exclusively revealed in October, Gyökeres can leave Sporting this summer for €60–70 million, due to a verbal agreement between the player and the club.”

Since then, the likes of newspaper O Jogo, sharing information in the last few days, have reported that Gyokeres is “on his way to Arsenal”, with the Gunners and Sporting shaking hands on a £59 million fee.

Last week, fellow Portuguese source A Bola made claims of an Arsenal offer to Gyokeres over personal terms worth £135,000-per-week as well, though reports closer to home have since stated that Berta is actually prepared to hand out a £10 million-per-year salary package (CaughtOffside).

£59 million would be considered one of the bargains of the summer for one of Europe’s most lethal goalscorers in his prime, so it will be intriguing to see if this does in fact come to fruition.

Viktor Gyokeres makes admission amid Arsenal agreement claims

However, according to Sporting midfielder and teammate Pedro Goncalves, the Swede is remaining coy over his future.

Confirming what the striker has told him, Goncalves states that Gyokeres said he’s ‘not a fortune-teller’ when asked if he could stay at Sporting – appearing to commit his future.

“I asked [Gyokeres], and we all asked him. He says he’s not a fortune-teller,” said Goncalves.

“We still have the Portuguese Cup against Benfica to play. I have a very good relationship with him, but I don’t talk about it with him. What I know is because of Fabrizio Romano… I’m sticking with him. I don’t know if he’s going to leave.

“I feel like he’s evolved a lot since he arrived. There are training sessions where it seems like he’s holding back.”

The Scandinavian superstar is making waves abroad, and it appears inevitable that he’s set to leave Sporting. The only question is, who can win the race for him?

Judging by recent reports, Arsenal appear to be firmly in pole position as things stand.