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Glasgow Rangers gave their supporters a moment to remember last time out in the Scottish Premiership when they beat Dundee 4-3 away from home.

A last-gasp winner from Cyriel Dessers to complete a comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3 last weekend was a joyous moment for the travelling support, but it was still a game that illustrated the team’s flaws.

The club’s city rivals are inching closer to a fourth successive Premiership title, as they sit 13 points clear of the Light Blues as it stands, and the Gers have to do something to change the tide next season.

Sky Sports reported last month that a takeover including US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has been agreed in principle, which suggests that the dawn of a new era at Ibrox is a matter of months away.

This could mean that there is a longer-term replacement for Philippe Clement than Barry Ferguson, but it is not just the management side of the team that should be looked at.

If Rangers want to get back on top in Scottish football then they may need to kickstart their new era by moving on from some of their experienced players who have become used to finishing second, including Jack Butland and James Tavernier.

Why Rangers should move on from Jack Butland and James Tavernier

The Gers captain has been a terrific servant for the club over the years, scoring 130 goals in 504 appearances in all competitions, but he has only won one Premiership title in his career.

Tavernier has also lost a whopping 25 of his 40 appearances against Celtic, winning just ten of those games, and Rangers may need new leadership if they are to progress and move past the Hoops, as he has become used to being behind the club’s rivals on the pitch.

Therefore, it could be time to move on from the 33-year-old veteran, who has lost possession 20.8 times per match in the league this term, to make room for new leaders to step up and lead the team forward.

Butland, meanwhile, has been error-prone in the Premiership this season and it could be time for Rangers to find a new number one to provide more stability between the sticks, after two years of the Englishman at Ibrox.

Appearances

25

Save success rate

69%

Goals prevented

-0.37

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

2

Penalties committed

1

As you can see in the table above, the former Stoke City star has underperformed as a shot-stopper and made too many unforced errors to gift shots and goals to the opposition in the league, which is why Rangers should consider moving him on this summer.

The issue for the Light Blues, however, may be finding suitors to buy Tavernier and Butland, as the veteran stars are no longer among the most valuable talents at Ibrox.

The top ten most valuable Rangers players

As per Transfermarkt, both English players are worth £2.5m at this moment in time, and that does not earn either of them a place in the top ten most valuable stars at the club.

Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny is currently the most valuable player at the club, at a whopping £7.6m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to keep hold of him beyond the end of his current loan spell.

The Czechia international has provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch, racking up 17 goals and four assists, in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn his valuation.

Vaclav Cerny

£7.6m

Mohamed Diomande

£5.9m

Nicolas Raskin

£5.5m

John Souttar

£3.8m

Cyriel Dessers

£3.4m

Dujon Sterling

£3.4m

Danilo

£3.4m

Nedim Bajrami

£3.4m

Jefte

£3.4m

Hamza Igamane

£3.4m

As you can see in the table above, Rangers have many players on a market value of £3.4m, which is still £900k more than Tavernier and Butland are currently valued at.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Some of those players could play key roles moving forward, into the dawn of a new era at Ibrox, and one of those the club have hit the jackpot with in recent years is versatile defender Dujon Sterling.

Dujon Sterling's soaring market value

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the English talent in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after he had been released by Premier League side Chelsea.

It was an opportunistic signing by the Gers, as they took advantage of his contract situation, because he was valued at £2.4m by Transfermarkt at the time, which shows that the club landed a £2.4m-rated talent for £0.

His first season at Ibrox, in the 2023/24 campaign, was a struggle because Michael Beale and Clement utilised him in a multitude of positions, with his appearances stretched between right-back, left-back, right midfield, defensive midfield, left midfield, and right wing.

This meant that Sterling did not have a chance to build any consistency in his performances because he was constantly being moved around the pitch to fill different holes in the team.

The 25-year-old star has had slightly more clarity in his game this term, however, as the vast majority of his starts have come as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, which has allowed him to build a rhythm in the middle of the pitch.

Starts

7

Centre-back starts

7

Clearances

37

Blocks

5

Tackles

12

Duels won

31/44 (70% success rate)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling has started at centre-back in seven of his last eight league appearances and provided a dominant presence at the back for the Gers, winning 70% of his duels in those matches.

His overall form for the club and his success in finally nailing down a consistent position on the pitch has led to his market value soaring up to £3.5m, which shows that Rangers hit the jackpot when they signed the defensive ace.

The Light Blues snapped him up for £0 and he has turned out to be an incredibly valuable player, with his quality at centre-back and versatility to play in other roles, as well as being an asset that continues to grow in value.

Rangers must sell Ibrox star who was "one of the best talents in Europe"

As Rangers prepare for a massive squad overhaul in the summer, they should sell a star Gerrard once said was “one of the best talents in Europe”.

ByBen Gray Apr 3, 2025

He is now among the top ten most valuable players at the club, making him worth even more than the likes of Tavernier and Butland, and the defender could have a big future as a centre-back at Ibrox if he can continue his current, dominant, form.

Already one of UAE’s mainstays with his explosive batting, Alishan Sharafu is trying to be the team’s man for all situations

Shashank Kishore14-Sep-2025Alishan Sharafu, 22, has lived almost all his life in the UAE. But the love of cricket began in Kerala, when he would visit family in the summers. As he grew older, he naturally gravitated towards the game without really knowing if he could make a career out of it.Nearly 15 years after he first started playing, Sharafu is one of UAE’s batting mainstays, and has grown into a valuable retain-worthy local talent in the ILT20, where he represents Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.In UAE’s Asia Cup opener against India, Sharafu was their top scorer in an otherwise forgettable batting performance. What he is unlikely to forget is the range of shots he displayed – backing away to smash Axar Patel inside-out over cover for six, or whipping Jasprit Bumrah off his hips. It’s the confidence from those shots that he is hoping to carry forward when UAE play gulf-rivals Oman on Monday.Related

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• Will UAE punch above their weight in Group A?

• Oman's Sufyan is living his dream after defying his family

“My first memory of cricket was the 2011 World Cup,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was supporting India, obviously, and they went on to win it. It was Sachin’s [Tendulkar] last World Cup, and that was the point where I wanted to play the game. That was when cricket became a passion.”Today, that passion has allowed him opportunities to face Sunil Narine in the nets, and train and learn from Andre Russell and Phil Salt, among others. And in the UAE, such exposure is gold.”Every game is a big opportunity,” Sharafu says. “Because there are only two local players in the XI [at ILT20], you never know how many chances you’ll get. Maybe just one in the whole season. So you have to do well. Fortunately, I played every game in my first season [2024], which was a privilege. You learn from the best – just watching how they go about their game.”For Sharafu, while cricket continues to be the priority, he has ticked off another box along the way on his parents’ insistence. He has completed a degree in cyber security, even though he is fairly certain he won’t have to use it anytime soon.”Initially, my mom was a little skeptical about cricket, because for every parent, education comes first,” he says. “But once I started playing international cricket, she understood. I think I did okay to manage both. I met her expectations, whatever she wanted. But yeah, it was difficult once I got to university. I had to do both. There was no option.”

“Everyone wants to be the best in the country. I’d like to be someone the team can depend on to win games. That’s what I want to be known for”Alishan Sharafu

But pulling off balancing acts isn’t new for Sharafu. When he was 15, he broke into the UAE Under-16s and Under-19s the same year, all while managing high school. He made his T20I debut at 17 and ODI debut at 18, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.Sharafu was first spotted by Knight Riders at a trial by former analyst AR Srikkanth, first came into the setup in the ILT20 under Ryan ten Doeschate, the franchise’s then coach who is currently assistant coach of India. Sharafu was shortlisted for his ability to take the bowlers on right from the outset.”I don’t know where it comes from,” he says of his fearlessness. “But I’ve always liked taking bowlers on. That’s how I’ve always wanted to bat. Even as a kid, I just loved hitting sixes.”For the past two seasons at the ILT20, Sharafu says he’s learnt “something school or university doesn’t teach you”.”Andre Russell is one I always watch. I asked him about how he hits sixes consistently, what his secret is,” Sharafu says. “With Narine, he’s probably one of the calmest and smartest cricketers I’ve seen. He just reads the game one step faster. Even batting with Phil Salt, he told me a few small things that could help my game. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, but just having those conversations is special.””Batting with Phil Salt, he told me a few small things that could help my game”•ILT20Asked of his biggest improvements since playing in the ILT20, he says, “I think my batting evolved after last season with Knight Riders. Even though you’re the same player, playing alongside guys like Russell and Narine just gives you confidence. Once you have that validation, you take that confidence into the UAE team too. It’s 80% about how you feel. And I think that experience has added another gear to my batting.”That improvement has been visible in his ability to alter between roles. “I’ve always been a top-order batter, but I’m also adjusting to batting in the middle. If we lose early wickets, I know I have to stabilise the innings and take it deep. If we’re going well, I just go in and bat with freedom. The clarity from the team management has been excellent.”Off the field, Sharafu likes to unwind watching football, playing FIFA on PlayStation, or just relaxing by a pool or a beach. His cricketing ambition is a lot more focused: “Everyone wants to be the best in the country. I’d like to be someone the team can depend on to win games. That’s what I want to be known for.”This drive, Sharafu says, comes from his dad for all the sacrifices he has had to make. “From when I was 10-15, every Friday and Saturday, he’d take me to training and games, sit at the ground, pick me up, drop me back. He’s a very passionate supporter, sometimes hard on me too, but I think that’s where I get it from.”At 22, Sharafu is still very much work-in-progress, but he carries the confidence and drive of someone who has clarity on what he wants to do.

The two powerhouses of 21st-century cricket were tipped to meet in this year’s World Cup final, and they made it there in contrasting styles

Sambit Bal18-Nov-2023Nothing is inevitable in sport, and in that lies its appeal. The tension, the knots in the tummy, the anticipation, the hope and the foreboding, and the final euphoria or heartbreak, all come from deep longing for an outcome but not knowing if it will come to pass. There can be no spoilers in sport; no match is over until it’s over.You might argue, with hindsight, that this World Cup final has bowed to the inevitable by bringing the two pre-tournament favourites together in the summit clash. In that, it is a departure from the norm. Starting from 1983, when India defied 66-1 odds to dethrone West Indies, World Cup finals have provided a joyous deviation from the script: Sri Lanka have made it to three finals and won once, New Zealand to two, and Australia and Pakistan were far from being the favourites when they won in 1987 and 1992. This year, apart from the truth that India and Australia were the soundest bets for the final when the tournament began, very little about their paths here has been predictable.It feels like a lifetime has passed since their first encounter in this tournament. Having called that game the final before the final before it was played, I was feeling sheepish within a week as Australia, after two resounding losses, appeared underprepared and undercooked and unsure about their best XI. By the second game, they had ditched their first-choice keeper-batter; their main spinner, on whom lay massive middle-over responsibilities, was looking lost; two of their pace-bowling allrounders, the ones who gave the team the appearance of mighty depth, had mostly looked unable to buy a run all year; their game-breaking opener was still recovering from injury; and their captain felt like the weakest link in their bowling attack.Related

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• India vs Australia – Win the powerplay, win the World Cup?

Even when they were stringing together a series of wins, their powerplay bowling remained remarkably flaccid, their mid-innings batting not particularly imposing, and but for an innings of outrageous freakishness, their qualification for the semi-final would have gone down to the wire.It was the marginal things against South Africa – half-chances, line calls – going their way that got them through the final. In its lack of swagger, pomp and certainty, it wasn’t the typical Australian march to yet another World Cup final, but it was very much one in its bloody-mindedness, in the way they seized vital moments, and in their winning knowhow.For India, however much in-the-groove and well-oiled they looked as a team at the start, not even the most devout optimist would have foreseen a waltz like this. Not since the Australians in 2007 has a team stridden across a tournament with such oomph and aura. Batting first, they have won by an average of 175 runs, the highest ever by a team in the history of the World Cup; their chasing margin has been an average of 6.4 wickets and 64.4 balls, the best by a team in this World Cup.With bat and ball, they have bossed the powerplays with such authority – they have been No. 1 by a distance on all parameters: batting strike rate, batting average, bowling economy and bowling average – that most opponents have played the rest of the innings in retrieval mode; India’s batting has been put under the cosh only twice, and only New Zealand made them dig deep while bowling. Their lower-order batting, their only weak link, has been exposed only once, and even a debilitating injury setback to their lead fast-bowling allrounder has only seemed to make them stronger: so good have each of their five bowlers been that the absence of the sixth option has felt like a blessing.No team has so far managed to dismiss both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply in the same match, and in the only match, the semi-final against New Zealand, in which Jasprit Bumrah’s radar faltered, Mohammed Shami made up in spectacular fashion. Most dauntingly for Australia, India have no player with two successive failures, a remarkable achievement in a tournament as long and arduous as this one has been, which points to a team at the peak of its collective prowess, one in sync and harmony within and in their response to the demands of every situation.6:59

Moody: Being safe and conservative won’t work against Rohit

In some ways, the contrasting routes these two teams have taken to the final have mirrored the circumstances of their leaders.Rohit has led with swagger with the bat, sacrificing personal runs in favour of setting a ferocious tempo for his team and easing a path for the batters who follow him. He has displayed tactical acumen gathered over many years of IPL leadership, during which he has combined meticulous planning with situational awareness. He has learnt to respect data, but not at the cost of intuition.Pat Cummins, on the other hand, has had to learn on the job, having had no real experience of white-ball captaincy, and like his team, he has got better the deeper into the tournament his team has gone. He has had in his favour the unequivocal support and respect of his team-mates. Australia under him are not the snarling battlemongers of yore, which disappoints a section of the Australian cricket community, but they are, by all accounts, more united than many of their formidable teams of the recent past. And while Rohit has laid the foundation for many Indian wins with some of the fastest innings of the tournament, Cummins has helped close out games with some of the slowest, played with composure and game awareness.What they have in common is the way they have fostered an environment of trust and transparency, built though communication and honesty. No Indian player in this team, including those on the bench – and perhaps particularly those – has been left wondering about his status and role. Cummins won his team over by publicly taking a position in their support after the rancorous departure of Justin Langer, whose ferocious intensity as coach wasn’t for everyone. The value of a happy dressing room is intangible to most of us but priceless to those inside it.2:34

Cummins: Have to be brave with variations in India

Neither played in the last World Cup fixture between their teams at the venue for their next game. Rohit narrowly missed out being in the 2011 World Cup squad, and Cummins would only make his Australia debut later that year. The Motera ground bore a much more modest air than its gigantic successor, but it was here that India ended Australia’s 12-year reign as ODI world champions by beating them for the first time in a knockout game.So here we are at last, a tournament that has tested endurance and resolve as much as it has skills and ability, and that has, barring the first few days, seen vibrant throngs at the grounds and record audiences, is now primed for a fitting denouement. At times it has felt too long and arduous, but for that very reason, for its scale and the physical and mental challenges it has posed, winning it will bring a massive sense of fulfilment for the players, and leave abiding memories for the fans.India and Australia, two vastly contrasting nations, two of cricket’s powerhouses, who have built the fiercest, most competitive, most absorbing rivalry of this century, which has produced some of the greatest matches in recent memory, and are, equally crucially, the most successful teams at the ODI World Cup over time, feel like the worthiest claimants for this edition’s prize. India have looked invincible so far, but winning titles is in Australia’s DNA. World Cup finals haven’t always produced the greatest contests, but given the teams involved in this one, we have the right to expect one for the ages.Sport wouldn’t be what it is if it were to follow predictable scripts. And we wouldn’t be lovers of sport if we were to stop dreaming. It would be a miracle if, in terms of drama and twists, the climax this year is a redux of 2019. But we’d happily settle for second place if tomorrow even comes close.

The visitors were pinned down on Friday at the SCG, scoreless for more than 10 overs. Relive the drama

Andrew McGlashan07-Jan-2022When are England going to score their next run?That might sound a like a flippant response to their batting woes on this tour, but for a passage of play either side of lunch on the third day at the SCG, it was a genuine question.The last ball of the 13th over, Dawid Malan clips Pat Cummins to fine leg. It’s a pretty innocuous moment. England are 36 for 1.

****

The first bowling change of the day comes in the 14th over and Scott Boland, the hero of the MCG, is warmly applauded into the attack. He immediately hits his groove and starts with a maiden.It becomes a double change as Cameron Green replaces Mitchell Starc who has bowled a superb opening spell, curving one back through Haseeb Hameed’s wild drive having seen him dropped by Alex Carey a few moments beforeGreen’s second delivery bounces from a good length and beats Malan’s cut shot. He, too, starts with a maiden. It’s three in a row.Boland beats the edge of Zak Crawley with one that nips away. The next delivery nips back, the one after nibbles away. It’s doing plenty off a pitch playing a few tricks.Then the last ball of Boland’s second over jags back again, this time it’s right on target and goes between Crawley’s bat and pad. Boland has added to his wicket tally without conceding a run. It’s also four maidens in a rowEngland are 36 for 2. When will they score their next run?

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Three balls into Green’s next over, Malan almost miscues a pull to mid-on. It would have been a horrid way to get out, but quite in keeping with England’s tour. Malan sees out the over. Maiden number five.Boland challenges Joe Root’s technique as he hammers away in that off-stump corridor. Root angles one into the gully area where Green uses his go-go gadget arms to intercept. No run there.Malan is relatively secure in seeing out an over from Green. Seven maidens in a row.Scott Boland gets a standing ovation from the SCG crowd•Getty ImagesThe first ball of the 21st over and Root, who towered above all other batters in 2021, slashes at one outside off and the top edge travels very quickly. Steven Smith leaps at second slip and grabs it above his head. Root has collected England’s first duck of 2022. He’s a captain with the weight of the world on his shoulders.Boland has another Test wicket. His average is now 6.11. His overall figures are 9 for 55.Ben Stokes, nursing a side strain, makes his way to the middle. Four balls into his innings he is beaten by a delivery from Boland that nips away sharply. A fast off-break. The last ball does the same, but moves even more. Eight maidens in a rowEngland are 36 for 3. When will they score their next run?

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The first ball of Green’s next over leaps at Malan and hammers him on the glove. Three balls later it happens again. Has the pitch gone?Having shaken off the pain, Malan faces up again. Green is around the wicket, angles the delivery into the body and Malan clips it low to Usman Khawaja who is stationed at leg slip. An hour at the crease, 39 balls and Malan is gone for 3.It brings lunch. England are 36 for 4. When will they score their next run?

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Forty minutes later Stokes walks back down the steps of the visitors’ dressing room with Jonny Bairstow for company.There is one ball left in Green’s over. It’s actually off target, pushed down the leg side. But it’s another maiden. Nine in a row.Ben Stokes laughs after successfully reviewing a decision against him•Getty ImagesBoland gets the ball again. The first five balls are relatively mundane. Then the final delivery moves devilishly off a length to beat the edge. Ten maidens in a row.Cummins brings himself back on to replace Green. The second ball is a beauty which skims past Bairstow’s outside edge. He would have done well to edge it. The last ball of the over is short and Bairstow goes for the pull. It is miscued and rebounds towards gully where Green can’t quite reach it with a sprawling dive. Replays show it came off the arm. Eleven maidens in a row.

****

The question is asked about the record for a scoreless period in Test cricket. It’s 154 deliveries between Peter Nevill and Steve O’Keefe against Sri Lanka in 2016.Boland strings together four more dot balls against Stokes. And then it happens.Stokes plays forward to a good-length delivery and it squeezes off a thick outside into the point area, wide enough that the fielder can’t cut it off.After 70 balls, England have scored a run. The crowd cheers. Not quite as loudly as for Khawaja’s century or Boland’s wickets and there’s no doubt a healthy dose of sarcasm from many.

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Twenty-five overs later Stokes and Bairstow walk off together for tea. They have batted out the session, with the help of a sizeable dose of luck when a delivery from Green clips Stokes’ off stump but the bail doesn’t fall. It’s one of England’s best passages of the series, albeit the bar has been set pretty low. In the first over of the resumption they raise the century, only England’s third of the tour, and those 70 balls of struggle are not the only memory of the day.

Laxman playing the last-action hero in Mohali, or a stunning New Zealand fightback in Abu Dhabi? Pick between two thrillers as we begin to identify The Greatest Test of the 21st century

Alagappan Muthu02-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-AUS 2010 Mohali Test moves into the round of 16.

India’s one-wicket epic vs Australia – Mohali, 2010

Test cricket moves men. Even stoic ones like VVS Laxman, who once withstood the world’s best team for a full day’s play, but here lost his cool with just about seconds on the clock. A victory that had seemed so unlikely – India were eight down with 92 runs still to get – one that required him to strain so hard he hurt his back and needed a runner – was within their grasp. Laxman had added 81 with the No. 10 Ishant Sharma before Ben Hilfenhaus struck, leaving Australia one wicket from a 1-0 lead in the series. Then the No. 11 Pragyan Ojha randomly wandered out of his crease, opening himself up to being run out. Laxman was driven to a curse word. For the entire fourth innings, he had denied Australia. Strong, firm, unmoved, and yet scoring at an extremely brisk pace. Here he broke. India could have lost this game by five runs and it still would have been a classic. In the end, they won it by one wicket and Australia’s nemesis was unbeaten on 73 off 79 balls.

NZ’s four-run heist vs Pakistan – Abu Dhabi, 2018

No one knew when they were eating lunch on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi that the first domino had fallen. Pakistan went in 130 for 4 chasing 176 to win. They wouldn’t get there. They wouldn’t get there because a debutant left-arm spinner from New Zealand would bring them down like a house of cards.Ajaz Patel has spent his career doing unimaginable things – he’s picked up 10 wickets in an innings, he’s helped New Zealand beat India in India 3-0 – but this was where it all started. At 171 for 9, and with Azhar Ali still out there, Pakistan had hope. Then Kane Williamson remembered that he had a left-arm spinner in his ranks and that left-arm spinners have always troubled Azhar. It was a gamble – the kind that will get better with each retelling – because it worked. New Zealand began this Test in a way that made sense. Getting all out for 153 on a spinning pitch and giving up a first-innings lead of 74. Everything they did from that point on, however, made people wonder if what happened could even be real.

Mic'd Up: The Apple TV analyst breaks down Inter Miami’s MLS Cup win, explains why Messi still decides everything, backs MLS’s move to a fall-spring calendar, and tips LA Galaxy to rebound in 2026.

Bradley Wright-Phillips got it wrong. He will be the first to admit it. The New York Red Bulls legend tried to get clever with the MLS Cup. He saw the Vancouver Whitecaps throughout the season and said they would beat Inter Miami in the final. 

"Vancouver are probably, on their day, the best team in the league. I'm talking about every position. They're so flipping good, man. I actually had them as favorites to win, like an idiot," the former New York Red Bulls star says to GOAL, before pausing.

"But it doesn't matter against Miami."

That turned out to be a pretty succinct summary of the final, which Miami won 3-1. Vancouver played better. But Lionel Messi is Lionel Messi, and he makes a difference pretty much every time. 

"Watching him play the last two games of the season, that's the quietest I've seen him still. He still had a very big impact. That is the difference between him and the rest of us mere mortals. He can quickly go by two players, get his head up, and play the perfect ball in for an assist," he says

But for Wright Phillips, who works for Apple TV as an analyst and has been a stalwart of the American soccer scene for nearly 15 years, there's more to think about. Most of it is in the future. MLS announced a switch to a fall-spring calendar. He loves it. 

"It just makes sense. I think we're going to hear what the rest of the world is saying in terms of the transfer window. It gives us here in America the chance to get those big players, to compete with the rest of Europe and the rest of the world," he adds.

And then there's next season to think about – already. Every year, MLS shifts. Sure, Miami and Vancouver will be around. But LA Galaxy, he thinks, will be back to their best after a rotten campaign. 

Wright-Phillips looked back at the MLS Cup final and made some far-too-early predictions for the 2026 season in another edition of Mic'd Up, GOAL’s recurring feature that brings the perspective of analysts, announcers, and other voices on the state of soccer in the U.S. and beyond. 

AFPON MLS CUP

GOAL: What'd you think of the MLS Cup final?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: The final was a spectacle. It was brilliant, the setup, the occasion, the two teams. The potential of it was unbelievable, to be the biggest game in MLS Cup history. Yeah, just what was surrounding. I thought both teams deserved to get to the final. Normally, when you get an MLS Cup, it's one team that's kind of stumbled through the playoffs, played really defensively. They could have finished ninth in the East and got to the final [through their defense]. Both teams, for me, were good and strong and deserved to be there. 

And it's obviously Alba and Busquets' last game. You get Messi versus Muller. So that part was amazing. I thought the actual match itself wasn't great. You're in the final. You don't want to lose. MLS Cup is on the line. So I thought that showed on the pitch, and it just turned into a fight, almost. But I enjoyed it. It was good to see Messi and Co. roll their sleeves up and really see the nasty side of them. I think it became a game of whoever could take their chances. I always say when you play against Inter Miami, it doesn't matter what they're playing like, if you don't score two or more goals, you're probably not winning that game. Vancouver had some chances and didn't take them. When you're playing against Messi and these superstars, they're gonna punish you.

GOAL: Is it fair to say that Vancouver might have been better on the day?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: Vancouver were a better team. They were a better football team than [Inter Miami]. I said this on the shows before the final. They're a better football team. Vancouver are probably, on their day, the best team in the league. I'm talking about every position. They're so flipping good, man. I actually had them as favorites to win, like an idiot. For an hour, in the middle of that game. But it doesn't matter against Miami. 

GOAL: Javier Mascherano talked about the "efficiency" of Leo Messi to win it. What did you make of his performance?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: I think that's quite a nice way of summing it up. The perfect word is efficiency. Messi, for the last two games, wasn't that good. But he has an impact on the game. He needs to get the ball in a certain area. He'll do a bit of magic, play a ball in, and end up leaving the game with two assists. Watching him play the last two games of the season, that's the quietest I've seen him still. He still had a very big impact. That is the difference between him and the rest of us mere mortals. He can quickly go by two players, get his head up, and play the perfect ball in for an assist. I don't think he was good in terms of, like, a whole 90-minute game.

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GOAL:  Looking ahead, though. Fall-Spring calendar: what do you make of that? Is that the kind of thing you wish you'd had? Or did you not think about it?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: No, I wish we did have that. Coming from England and playing in England last part of my career, I always enjoyed, like, a summer break. When I would go home through MLS seasons, I would have to go at Christmas. It was cold. Family members are still working or quite busy, you know? But for summer, it's a better time, especially for my kids as well. They're off school. They can hang out for a bit longer. 

And for the league, it just makes sense. I think we're going to hear what the rest of the world is saying in terms of the transfer window. It gives us here in America the chance to get those big players to compete with the rest of Europe and the rest of the world. It makes sense. And also international breaks. We're losing players due to FIFA windows. It doesn't make sense. In big games in the season, you need your best players. There are a lot of advantages to it, and I definitely welcome it.

GOAL: What other changes would you like to see?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: I think when I first came over, the salary cap. But I'm so used to all of this stuff. The league is improving all the time, and I don't think there needs to be a rush in anything. I think it's going at a great pace. I've said before, the league is 30 years old. How quick has this thing moved? It's probably a top 10 league in the world. Some people would argue higher. So I think it's going in the right direction. I just think you have to keep developing the players in the academies. But just as important are the coaches. Yeah, this year, we saw some first-time MLS coaches in the MLS Cup. 

I think we've got to get away from just reverting to legends all the time. And respect, there are still some legends that will do a great coaching job. But I think MLS has gone away from just saying, "Okay, let's just go and get him. Let's just go and get him." I don't want to name names, because still, some of them are very good, but I think we know where I'm going. You need to see Jesper Sorensens get into a final, even Javier Mascherano. He's got a super team, but it's not easy to coach those players. 

I remember Inter Miami just looking like the Harlem Globetrotters during the first quarter of the season. They were fun to watch, but they were terrible defensively. They had no structure, just heavily reliant on Leo Messi and Luis Suarez. But when you watch them towards the end of the season, they almost sacrifice some football, drop Suarez, and they were a team that looked structured, difficult to beat. The final was a perfect example of that. It wasn't pretty, but they're hard to beat. They're going to fight, and then they have those game changers when they need them. The coaching for me is levels above where it's ever been.

Getty ImagesON WHO WILL TAKE A STEP FORWARD NEXT SEASON

GOAL: Who's the team that's going to take the biggest step forward next year?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: I'm leaving out all the teams that I think are good. So the teams that you saw end the season well: the San Diegos, Inter Miamis, LAFC, I'm leaving those out. But I'll say LA Galaxy. I think LA Galaxy was terrible last year, under the level that we're used to seeing them at. But I think they'll have a good transfer window. They got Riqui Puig coming back. I think we see them competing again.

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Getty Images SportON WHO WILL TAKE A STEP BACK

GOAL: So who goes the opposite way? Or who overperformed a little?

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: I always worry about, and they never live up to expectations, is Austin. They came into the league with a bang, and because of that, there's always a big expectation. But I still don't think they figured out a true identity over there. I don't think they figured out what they really want to be yet. I don't think they've got the right DPs in to me. They just don't convince me. And I thought last year they just a bit, they kind of just about figured it out towards the end of the season, but it wasn't good enough. 

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Luís Zubeldía desembarcou em São Paulo no dia 21 de abril para iniciar seu trabalho no comando do São Paulo, mas talvez não imaginasse que em pouco tempo cairia nas graças da torcida por atingir ótimos resultados dentro de campo. Mas será “só isso”?

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

Intenso dentro de campo e cumprindo o bom trabalho que prometeu, o argentino está invicto no comando do Tricolor. Em dez jogos, foram oito vitórias e dois empates, e uma esperança de dias melhores no São Paulo.

O treinador de personalidade forte já demonstrou à beira do gramado que é “emocionado”. Até aqui, foram três cartões amarelos e, apesar de nenhuma expulsão, alguns momentos do treinador chamaram atenção, como o chute que deu em uma garrafa d’água em duelo contra o Barcelona de Guayaquil, pela Libertadores.

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+ Três motivos que fizeram Zubeldia ter o melhor início de um técnico do São Paulo no século

O técnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, bastante criticado no futebol brasileiro por situações parecidas, chegou a ironizar a situação ao dizer que perguntou ao Núcleo de Inteligência do Verdão se o chute dele teria sido mais rápido: “disseram que eu estava em segundo, o outro foi muito mais rápido”.

Zubeldía, em pouco mais de um mês, também já quebrou tabus, como vencer o Talleres pela primeira vez na história e derrubar uma invencibilidade de 17 jogos do time argentino.

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O bom relacionamento com o torcedor é cada vez mais claro, e o treinador chegou a usar transporte público no último final de semana, onde encontrou são-paulinos e posou para fotos durante o passeio.

A carreira do jovem treinador de 43 anos começou dentro dos gramados, mas em razão de uma grave lesão no joelho, encerrou sua rápida carreira de jogador profissional aos 23 anos. Do lado de fora das quatro linhas, Zubeldía se tornou, aos 27 anos, o técnico mais jovem da história do futebol argentino ao dirigir o Lanús, clube que ficou por dois anos antes de ir para o Barcelona de Guayaquil.

E não para por aí. O argentino ainda passou por Racing-ARG, Santos Laguna-MEX, Independiente Medellín-COL, Alavés-ESP e Cerro Porteño-PAR, e agora quer fazer história no Tricolor.

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoFutebol NacionalLuis ZubeldíaSão Paulo

The USA Cricket crisis and image-rights tensions between the ICC and the WCA will also be on the agenda

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Nov-2025The fallout from the Asia Cup 2025 fracas between India and Pakistan, the governance crisis at USA Cricket (USAC), and tensions between the ICC and the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) over player-image rights are set to dominate discussions across various forums at this week’s ICC quarterly meetings in Dubai. Cricket’s chief executives will meet on November 5, before the Board meeting – of all board heads – takes place on November 7.Asia Cup falloutThough the issue is not officially on the agenda, it is likely to come up at the Board meeting on November 7, and is likely to be the subject of informal discussions on the sidelines. Tensions between the BCCI and PCB have mirrored those between the governments of India and Pakistan this year, and matters came to a head during the Asia Cup, where the teams met three times. The games were marred by a no-handshakes stance instigated by the BCCI and four players – Haris Rauf, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Sahibzada Farhan – were censured by the ICC for gestures or comments deemed to be political in nature.Related

Rauf gets two-match ban; Suryakumar, Bumrah sanctioned after Asia Cup drama

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India can come and collect Asia Cup trophy if they want it, says ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi

ICC suspends USA Cricket board

ICC and WCA could clash over player image rights for mobile game

Arguably the thorniest issue will be of the Asia Cup trophy itself. India won it, beating Pakistan in the final, but refused to come out and accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head. The trophy has not been seen since, with reports suggesting it is in an ACC office in the UAE. Naqvi has insisted he, and only he, will hand over the trophy as ACC head.Owing to Naqvi’s political commitments (he is Pakistan’s interior minister), it isn’t clear whether he will be present in person at the meeting or if he joins it remotely.Board members are aware of the need for healthier ties between India and Pakistan because of the rivalry’s commercial impact on the global game. Some members expect a resolution to be chalked out this week.ICC-WCA NIL rights tussleAmong the ICC’s more important strategic initiatives is its mobile game offering, for which it is looking for a partner. Plans to launch the game, compatible on mobile, PC, and games consoles, have been in the works as the ICC taps into what it believes will be a fast-growing revenue stream.While it remains optimistic about the project, the ICC has run into a potential dispute around the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights for the game with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). The WCA recently wrote to the 600 players registered with it globally – Indian and Pakistani players are notably not its members – saying the ICC was developing the mobile game “built on your name, image, likeness (NIL), without agreeing to terms with players collectively.”At the ICC’s annual conference in July, some members suggested that the boards should deal directly with their players over image rights, a move the WCA said was a breach of an agreement it had signed with the ICC. The WCA has accused the global governing body and some member boards of wanting to own the players’ name, image and likeness (NIL) rights beyond terms already agreed. The CEC (chief executives’ committee) will hear an update from members on their progress in terms of securing those rights on Wednesday.Cricket will be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles•Getty ImagesMedium-term strategic resetThe ICC management is aiming for a medium-term strategy refresh, including looking at ways to exploit new funding mechanisms. This includes looking at ways of leveraging the sport’s presence in an increasing number of multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth and Asian Games and the Olympics. The governing body will also be looking at ways to adopt best practices from other sports like tennis, baseball and football in terms of exploiting the properties they own.Olympics qualification pathwayThe CEC is expected to get an update on the detailed qualification model for Los Angeles 2028, where cricket will feature at the Olympics for the first time since 1900. While the ICC Board had given its nod to a continental qualification system, the CEC is likely to get a broader idea on how the qualifying teams – six each in the men’s and women’s categories – will be shortlisted. The CEC will also get operational updates on cricket’s inclusion at the 2026 Asian Games and the African Games, Pan Am Games and European Games of 2027.The CEC will likely review and approve proposed qualification pathways for four forthcoming ICC events: the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup (to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia), the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup (to be held in Australia and New Zealand), the 2027 Women’s Champions Trophy and the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup. It will also consider a recommendation to retain the 50-overs format for the Under-19 World Cup, which would allow Associate Members to strengthen their domestic structure in the longer white-ball format.USAC is in a tight spot in its bid to secure National Governing Body status, which will allow USA to participate in the LA Olympics•ICC/Getty ImagesUSAC and its futureOn September 23, the ICC Board took the unanimous decision to suspend USAC with immediate effect for serious “breaches” including bringing cricket and the ICC into “disrepute” as well as failing to fulfil ICC membership criteria. In the suspension letter, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC charged USAC with “reneging on the commitments it made” to the ICC Board at the annual conference in July.USAC escaped suspension in July having committed to fulfil the conditions set by the ICC Board by October 20 including holding fresh board elections. But USAC first terminated its contract with long-term commercial partner American Cricket Enterprise (ACE), and then initiated bankruptcy proceedings, which it said was part of the financial restructuring of the organisation. The ICC did not take kindly to this, especially since it had been working closely with the US Olympics and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to secure National Governing Body status for USAC (which is necessary for the USA to participate in the LA Olympics). The USOPC had already warned the ICC that it would not allot NGB status to USAC in its current form unless its governance structure was overhauled and the current board replaced with a new one.In October the ICC sent another email to USAC spelling out the steps needed for the suspension to be lifted. Among the various conditions it set, the ICC told USAC that filing for bankruptcy was a violation of membership criteria, but recommended it “exit” the proceedings in a “satisfactory” manner. It is understood that under bankruptcy law, USAC has to provide the court with a financial plan for the next six months. With the ICC suspension halting its funding, the USAC management has been talking to the ICC about a way out. The ICC has told USAC that it will only fund cricketing operations for now, and nothing else.USAC is expected to write to the ICC Board, which is expected to discuss the issue on Friday, to understand the next steps.

Just a few weeks ago, the mood around West Ham United was as dour as it had been in years, and yet now there is a genuine sense of optimism surrounding the club.

This quite dramatic change in sentiment is, of course, down to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side finally putting in performances worthy of the badge, beating Newcastle United and Burnley 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.

On top of the wins, the fans have also seen Freddie Potts given a genuine chance in the first team, and so far, he’s looking every bit the future star so many thought he’d be.

So, supporters should be seriously excited about another player in the academy who could be the next Potts.

Why West Ham fans should be excited about Potts

Now, the headline from the last couple of gameweeks is, and should be, the fact that West Ham have picked up six points from six.

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

However, it’s impossible to ignore the side story of Potts finally getting his full first-team debut and then earning a second start in as many games.

The Englishman was utterly impeccable against the Toon. He delivered quintessential all-action central midfield performances and was more than deserving of his Man of the Match award.

He was once again bossing the midfield against the Clarets on Saturday afternoon before going off with what looked like a leg injury, although thankfully it has since been revealed to have only been a dead leg.

Despite being on the pitch for just 62 minutes, the 22-year-old played three key passes, took 56 touches, won 66% of his tackles, made six clearances, won six of nine ground duels and made four recoveries.

It was another showing that demonstrated just why fans are right to be excited about the academy gem.

The Barking-born monster, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with a “supreme confidence and ability to create time and space on the ball”, looks like he could develop into the perfect central midfielder for a Premier League side looking to climb the table.

So it’s good news that the academy may have already produced another prospect who could be Nuno’s next Potts.

West Ham's next Potts

While the first team has been largely disappointing over the last couple of years, the academy has continued to produce exciting prospects for West Ham. One of those talents, and someone who could be the next Potts, is George Earthy.

Now, while the youngster can and has played in several positions across the pitch, he is primarily an attacking midfielder. However, where he plays on the pitch has very little to do with the comparisons to and why he could be another Potts.

Instead, one of the main points of comparison is that, while he hasn’t had many first-team chances, the 21-year-old is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at the club and has a youth record to prove it.

Earthy’s Junior Record
Team	U18s	U21s
Appearances	60	53
Minutes	4804′	3573 ‘
Goals	25	17
Assists	18	13
Goal Involvements per Match	0.71	0.56
Minutes per Goal Involvement	111.72′	119.1′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, in 53 appearances for the u21s, totalling 3573 minutes, he scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 119.1 minutes, and was enough for him to be named Young Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With it clear that the “priceless” gem, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, was too good for academy football, the club sent him on loan to Bristol City last season, where he once again won another young player of the year award.

Now, in addition to being very highly rated from a young age, something else the Havering-born gem shares with the Hammers’ current man of the moment is a love for the club.

Yes, on top of being one of their own, having graduated from the academy, the 21-year-old is a West Ham supporter and even travelled to Prague to watch the side lift the Conference League as a fan.

Ultimately, while they play different roles, Earthy shares a lot in common with Potts, and his impressive record in the academy and with Bristol should see him earn his first competitive start for West Ham sooner rather than later.

AC Milan join Fullkrug race as agent makes damning West Ham admission

The forward has struggled at the London Stadium.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 10, 2025

Wolves manager target Erik ten Hag is open to Molineux talks following an approach, however, there is one ‘snag’ halting a potential move.

Latest Wolves manager rumours

The Old Gold are yet to find Vitor Pereira’s long-term replacement after his sacking at the weekend after the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Fulham.

It was Wolves’ eighth loss in their opening 10 top flight fixtures, with the club still without a league victory and eight points adrift of safety.

It looked as if Gary O’Neil would be the man to return to the Midlands tasked with the job of leading Wolves to safety, however, despite being in advanced talks, he pulled out of the race.

That has left Jeff Shi and Matt Jackson to look elsewhere, with Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas sharing the latest on Wolves’ manager search on Tuesday.

Rob Edwards and Ten Hag have both been heavily linked in the past few days, with contact even made for the latter, who is currently out of work after being sacked by Bayer Leverkusen.

Now, a new update has emerged over Ten Hag’s potential move to Wolves.

One 'snag' that could stop Wolves' move for Ten Hag

According to reports from ESPN, relayed by Sport Witness, Ten Hag is ‘eager to return’ to English football and is ‘open to discussing’ a move to Wolves after an approach.

It is stated that Ten Hag is aware that his time at Man Utd affected his reputation and understands that opportunities in England ‘don’t arise every week’.

However, something that could impact a move and is labelled a ‘snag’ is his age. At 55, Ten Hag is older than the likes of Michael Carrick (44) and Edwards (42), with Wolves looking to hire a younger coach.

Ten Hag, who shares the same SEG agency as Man City boss Pep Guardiola, did win the FA Cup and League Cup at Old Trafford, so his time in Manchester wasn’t a complete disaster considering how others have fared at the Red Devils.

Wins

44

Draws

14

Losses

27

Points per game

1.72

Points

146

The Dutchman’s league form is what he would be judged on at Molineux if he made the move, and should he his match his average of 1.72 points per game in the Premier League, Wolves would end on 50 points.

This is, of course, not guaranteed and the individual quality of player at Molineux compared to Old Trafford is arguably different, but by the looks of things, a move for Ten Hag is still one to watch.

Robbie Keane in talks with Wolves as Steven Gerrard gives clarity on future