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TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has revealed that he spoke to Daniel Levy in the summer and urged the former Tottenham chairman to hire an alternative to Thomas Frank.

Tottenham braced for Champions League reunion with Bodo/Glimt

Spurs take on last season’s Europa League semi-final opponents, Bodo/Glimt, in the Champions League group phase this evening as Frank looks to build upon their 1-0 win against Villarreal last time out.

At the end of 2024/2025, The Lilywhites ran out 5-1 winners on aggregate over Bodo/Glimt to reach their first European final since their Champions League loss to Liverpool in 2019 — beating tonight’s opponents 2-0 the last time they travelled to the Aspmyra Stadion in May.

Bodo/Glimt’s journey to the Champions League phase comes as historic for both the club and the country they hail from, as they’re the first team from Norway to reach this stage of the competition for two decades.

Frank is no stranger to Scandinavian football and will be aware of the threat they pose this evening, according to Bodo/Glimt chief executive Frode Thomassen, who hailed the 51-year-old in an interview with GiveMeSport.

Thus far, ex-chair Levy and the board’s decision to appoint Frank looks like the right one.

Matches

9

Wins

5

Draws

2

Losses

2

Points

14

Points per game

1.89

He’s overseen five victories from nine of his first games in charge, with Tottenham also displaying a real grit to come back from losing positions to snatch dramatic draws in their last two Premier League outings.

Joao Palhinha’s expertly taken side-footed half-volley ensured Spurs avoided a humbling defeat at home to Wolves on Saturday, yet again proving the case that Tottenham should activate the £27 million buy-option at the end of the midfielder’s loan deal.

Despite their bad luck at the Amex in recent seasons, Tottenham also came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 against Brighton a fortnight ago, with signs suggesting that Spurs are already a far more robust outfit than under Ange Postecoglou.

Simon Jordan urged Daniel Levy to hire Oliver Glasner instead of Thomas Frank

Tottenham had other options on their managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou.

According to reports, before the club announced Frank as their latest new manager, Tottenham did consider a move for Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian is working wonders at Selhurst Park right now, despite losing a succession of star players in the last two summer windows, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich in 2024 and Eberechi Eze signing for boyhood club Arsenal last summer.

They also face the looming threat of Marc Guehi’s departure as his contract winds down towards expiry, but for now, Glasner’s Palace are unbeaten in their last 18 games across all competitions.

Now, pundit and ex-Palace chairman Jordan has told talkSPORT that he urged Levy to go for Glasner before Tottenham eventually hired Frank, calling the tactician a “top, top manager”.

The 51-year-old’s contract currently expires next summer, so if things don’t work out with Frank, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be readily available in 2026 as things stand.

Of course, this is presuming another top side doesn’t come in for Glasner, which may be wishful thinking considering just how fine of a job he’s done in South London over the last 12 months.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on achieving "what every Brazilian dreams of: winning the World Cup after 24 years." The Italian manager spoke about next year's tournament and explained the reasons behind accepting such a high-profile international job. Ancelotti spent four years at Real Madrid before calling curtains on his chapter in Spain at the end of last season.

Ancelotti leading Brazil's next generation

Brazil have ushered into a new era with Ancelotti at the helm. The veteran manager delivered 11 titles during his second spell at Real Madrid, which lasted for four years between 2021 and 2025. However, after failing to lift major silverware in the 2024-25 season, he opted to join the Brazil national team on a one-year contract that expires after next year's World Cup. His first four months in charge have been promising, if not spectacular. Brazil have won three games, drawn once, and lost thrice under Ancelotti so far. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAncelotti wants to end Brazil's 24-year barren World Cup run

Speaking in an interview with , Ancelotti spoke about his ambition to guide Brazil to World Cup glory next year. "The same thing we always hope for!", said Ancelotti when asked what he is hoping for from the Brazilian faithful at the World Cup. "They’ll show us great support. I think it’s our responsibility, in the Selecao, to give Brazilians what they want: to win the World Cup for the first time in 24 years."

Ancelotti joined Brazil national team because it was 'exciting'

Asked why he accepted the offer to take over the South American side, he added: "Because I thought that managing the Brazilian national team – the most successful national team in history, with more World Cup trophies than any other nation – would be a great opportunity. 

"The thought of coaching the Brazil team was exciting. The opportunity came up and I went for it. I also have to thank Real Madrid, of course, for allowing me the chance to enjoy this new experience.

I already knew about the passion here, but it is on another level, especially when it comes to the national team. The people have a deep love for that Brazil shirt. When Brazil play, the country comes to a standstill. Everyone is focused on the match. It will come as no surprise, but Brazilian players are generally very talented. It seems to be in their DNA."

He added: "Everything has gone well so far. We’ve already qualified, so we have the time we need to prepare well for the FIFA World Cup. I’ve been really enjoying this spell. Living in Rio is, as they say in Portuguese, ‘muito bonito’."

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AFPCould Ancelotti stay with Brazil until the 2030 World Cup?

In an interview with last month, the five-time Champions League-winning coach kept doors open to a renewal with Brazil, stating that it would be "nice" to remain in charge until the 2030 World Cup. 

"Yes, I wanted to coach the Brazilian national team (since 2023)," he claimed. "Preparing for the World Cup for Brazil is something special. I signed a one-year contract. After the World Cup, everything is open. I think it was right at that time to sign a one-year contract. I have no problem if the Brazilian Football Federation wants to continue. There's no problem. As I said, I'm very happy here, my family is happy too. We can think about it. We have time to talk about it, I have no problem continuing. It would be nice [to stay until 2030]."

He says he is wary of the challenge of switching to Test cricket from T20s

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20252:24

Sai Sudharsan: The ultimate goal is to play Test cricket

B Sai Sudharsan has said that it feels “surreal” to receive his maiden Test call-up for India’s upcoming five-match series in England.”It obviously feels great. Feels very special to be honest, and surreal also. Any cricketer, any young cricketer who starts playing cricket, wants to play Test cricket, wants to play for the country,” he said on the eve of Gujarat Titans’ match against Chennai Super Kings, a few hours after the India Test squad was announced. “The ultimate goal is always to play Test cricket. So really happy for that.”Following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Sai Sudharsan is set to be a part of India’s new-look top four. Sai Sudharsan usually opens the batting for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, India’s domestic first-class tournament, but he is ready to bat at any position for India.He has batted in the middle order for Surrey in county cricket and overall has scored 1957 runs in 29 first-class games at an average of just under 40, including seven hundreds and five fifties. The most recent hundred came at No.3 for India A against Australia A in Mackay in November last year.Related

Gimme more: how Sai Sudharsan's insatiable appetite for cricket paid off

Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep and Karun Nair in India's Test squad for England tour

Confident and assertive, Gill must now chart his own path

Agarkar: 'Don't think Bumrah will be available for all five Tests'

Agarkar: 'Virat reached out early April and said he wants to finish'

“Sir, I think playing for the country itself is a very big privilege for a cricketer. So I don’t think I am in a position to choose where I want to play,” Sai Sudharsan said when asked about his preference in the batting line-up. “Wherever the coaches tell me to play, I think I will be mentally and obviously skillfully, you know, try and be ready for the opportunity.”I have a lot of likings. I think I will have to be ready for whichever [position] the team gives me. I will be ready for that.”His first Test call-up coincides with Shubman Gill, his skipper at GT, being named India’s new red-ball captain.”I mean, Shubhi is, over the years, I have been a part of his growth as well,” Sai Sudharsan said. “I have seen him for the last four years. Such a talented batsman, such a skillful batsman, anybody can see.”So I feel he will definitely do laurels and great things for the country and I am grateful and I am very happy to play under him in my first Test series.”4:48

Agarkar explains the all-important selection calls for India’s tour to England

The five-match series against England starts on June 20, and before that both Sai Sudharsan and Gill will join the India A side for the second four-dayer against England Lions, which starts on on June 6 in Northampton. Sudharsan, however, said that his immediate focus is on the IPL, where GT have qualified for the knockouts.”I always feel finish the first story, then go to the next one because now the IPL is also most important when we are in IPL,” he said. “So I think it is also most important of finishing this and then obviously we will have time to prepare. So I will use that bracket of days so that we will be ready for the Test series.”Sudharsan is also mindful of the challenge of switching from T20s to Test cricket.”Transitioning from white ball to red ball takes a bit of time,” he said. “I think I focus a lot more on my basics. I focus a lot more on my patience even outside the field.”The more patient you are, the more it reflects inside the field. So Test cricket is all about patience and longevity. So I feel the more I focus on that, the more I be aware of it, I think it will be a great experience.”

Is there anything more exciting than the long ball in baseball? 

I may have something – betting on a player to hit a home run, and it actually comes through!

That’s what our team attempts to do every day by picking the best home run prop bets in Major League Baseball, and there are two players that I’m eyeing for Sunday, June 9. 

Can these two American League sluggers close out the weekend strong?

Best MLB Home Run Picks Today, Sunday June 9Jose Ramirez to Hit a Home Run (+450)Gunnar Henderson to Hit a Home Run (+265)

Jose Ramirez to Hit a Home Run (+450)

Jose Ramirez has a great matchup on Sunday against struggling Miami Marlins lefty Trevor Rogers, who has allowed seven homers on the season, including at least one in six of his last eight starts.

The Cleveland Guardians All-Star is having a great series, homering on Saturday – his second long ball in three games. Can he do it again today?

I love taking Ramirez against any left-handed pitcher, as he’s destroyed them in 2024. The switch hitter is posting an impressive .320/.381/.587 slash line against lefties with five homers in just 75 at bats. 

With 18 home runs already in 2024, I love taking Ramirez in this favorable spot on Sunday. 

Gunnar Henderson to Hit a Home Run (+265)

This home run prop isn’t going to bring the greatest return, but I can’t pass it up in this matchup. 

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has Tampa Bay Rays starter Zack Littell in his MLB career, going 4-for-7 with two homers against him. 

Littell allowed 11 hits the last time he played the O’s and Henderson (20 homers on the season) has been red hot as of late, picking up a hit in 10 of his last 11 games.

Henderson – like Ramirez – also homered on Saturday, but I expect him to stay hot against Littell. The Rays starter has allowed at least one long ball in four straight starts.

Lucas Paqueta has been sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) for "two proven breaches" following their investigation into alleged spot-fixing. The West Ham United and Brazil midfielder was cleared of four spot-fixing charges by an independent commission in July – almost two years after English football's governing body launched their investigation.

Paqueta was cleared of four spot-fixing charges in July

The FA began their investigation in August 2023 and Paqueta was charged in May 2024 for allegedly getting booked deliberately "for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market".

The four charges against the 28-year-old related to a Premier League game against Leicester City on 12 November 2022, alongside 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.

Former Lyon midfielder Paqueta was faced with the prospect of a lifetime ban if found guilty. However, the regulatory commission found the four charges to be "not proven" following the hearing.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBrazil midfielder thanked West Ham after he was cleared

After the verdict in July, Paqueta said: ”Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.

"I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

"To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me – thank you for everything.”

Paqueta has now been sanctioned by FA for 'two breaches'

But Paqueta has now been sanctioned for "failing to comply with a requirement to answer questions and provide information to The FA’s investigation into breaches of the Rules". 

Paqueta had denied the two charges, however both breaches of FA Rule F3 were found proven following a hearing. The regulatory commission has imposed a reprimand and a warning over Paqueta’s future conduct.

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West Ham say they are pleased the case 'is finally closed'

Following the news, West Ham said they were pleased the investigation "is now finally closed".

A statement on the club's official website reads: "West Ham United acknowledges the statement published by the Football Association today, confirming that Lucas Paqueta has received a warning as to his future conduct, following two proven breaches of FA rule F3, after he was cleared of misconduct charges made against him for alleged breaches of FA rule E5.

"West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta are pleased that this matter is now finally closed. The Club will be making no further comment."

Newcastle United have endured a challenging start to the 2025/26 season, particularly in attack.

While their defence has been a relative bright spot – with six clean sheets already and one of the lowest expected goals conceded (4.9) in the Premier League – the Magpies’ forward line has struggled to consistently convert opportunities.

Through the early fixtures, Newcastle rank near the bottom of the league for expected goals, highlighting difficulties in creating high-quality chances despite controlling possession in several matches.

Injuries have compounded the challenge.

Both Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, the team’s starting full-backs, are set for extended layoffs, forcing manager Eddie Howe to rotate personnel and disrupt the attacking rhythm.

Dan Burn has deputised at left-back, a position in which he is frequently exposed, impacting the team’s build-up play from wide areas.

Even so, there have been flashes of attacking promise.

Newcastle produced a 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, generating 3.45 xG, and followed it up with a 2-0 league victory against Nottingham Forest.

While these results have boosted confidence, the Magpies still need greater consistency to complement their defensive solidity.

Amid this challenging start, fans are increasingly turning their attention to the team’s new attacking options.

Assessing Nick Woltemade's fine start at Newcastle

One player who has immediately impacted Newcastle’s attack is 23-year-old Nick Woltemade, the 1.98m forward signed from the Bundesliga.

Woltemade impressed in his previous campaign, scoring 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances and earning six caps for Germany.

His combination of size, technical ability, and goal-scoring instinct makes him a potent addition to Newcastle’s frontline.

Since joining, Woltemade has quickly shown he can handle the pressure of Premier League and European football.

He scored on his home debut against Wolves, then followed up with goals against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest.

His penalty against Forest, placed with clinical precision into the top corner, earned him a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Across these games, Woltemade has displayed strong all-around attacking metrics: high work rate, intelligent positioning, and a pass completion rate hovering around 78%, as per Sofascore, demonstrating his ability to link up with teammates effectively.

Even beyond scoring, Woltemade’s presence transforms Newcastle’s attack.

His 1.98m frame allows him to dominate aerial duels, while his movement stretches defences and opens space for wide players like Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy.

With a goal whilst away on international duty Germany duty, Woltemade continues to develop chemistry with teammates and is becoming an essential piece of Howe’s squad.

For a club competing in the Champions League, he provides a reliable attacking outlet and a reference point for younger forwards to learn from.

Why Sean Neave can be the next Newcastle sensation

While Woltemade provides an immediate solution, Newcastle also have a homegrown talent in waiting: 18-year-old Sean Neave.

Born in Newcastle, Neave began at the famous Wallsend Boys Club before joining the Magpies’ academy, a pathway that has produced several Premier League players.

A 6ft 1in centre-forward, Neave has already impressed at youth level, scoring 17 goals in his first 30 U18 appearances, demonstrating natural finishing, positioning intelligence, and an eye for goal.

He has also been gradually introduced to first-team action, featuring in pre-season against Atlético Madrid, replacing Anthony Gordon in the 84th minute, and being included in the FA Cup fourth-round squad at Birmingham City.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Neave – lauded as a “top talent” by Magpie Media – was an unused substitute as Newcastle lifted the 2025 Carabao Cup, their first major trophy in seventy years.

An England U18 international, Neave made his debut against Poland in 2024.

Premier League 2

5 (2 goals)

EFL Trophy

2 (1 goal, 1 assist)

UEFA Youth League

2

Coaches praise his high work rate, intelligent movement, and composure in tight spaces.

His physical presence allows him to compete effectively in the box, while his goal-scoring instinct ensures he is always a threat to opposition defences.

Howe now faces the task of integrating Neave into a first-team setup that can compete on multiple fronts.

With Woltemade offering immediate attacking firepower, Neave represents Newcastle’s long-term vision: a local player who could become a regular first-team contributor, bringing energy, composure, and finishing ability.

Should he adapt to Premier League intensity, Neave could provide competition for Woltemade, cover during injury crises, and ultimately become the next academy success story to shine on Tyneside.

Newcastle are brewing a bigger talent than Gordon who's "similar to Mbappe"

One youngster could surpass Anthony Gordon as Newcastle’s next star under Eddie Howe

ByWill Miller Oct 16, 2025

KL Rahul says he has learned the lesson of not linking preparation with results

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-20253:12

Rahul: ‘I’ve forgotten what my batting position actually is’

Not many will know better than KL Rahul that outcomes in cricket – Test batting in particular – are not always proportional to your skill, preparation, fitness and application.Rahul has had an anomalous Test career to back it up. He came into this Test having scored hundreds in some of the most difficult conditions during his career – seven out of eight away from home – but never having become the dominant Test batter his game suggests he should be. He averaged 33.57 before Headingley, which is quite underwhelming for a player of so many great innings.”The sooner you learn that there is no connection [of your game, preparation, etc] with the outcome and the results that you get, the calmer you can be,” Rahul said after scoring 137 in an India third innings that threatened to go off the rails in the morning session of the final day. “And I feel like that’s the only thing that gives you the best chance to play at this level for a long period of time. And that’s something that I’ve consciously done as well.Related

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“Having learned this from the seniors that I looked up to, it’s something that I’ve understood and try and do, not just in Test cricket, but in cricket overall. Just all you can do is your best in terms of preparation and giving yourself the best chance to succeed. But again, there’s no guarantees. When you have a good day, you are happy. When you have a bad day, you’re still happy that you had the opportunity. That’s how I look at the game.”The latest in Rahul’s career was the Australia tour where he was called upon to open in Rohit Sharma’s absence and scored 26 and 77 in Perth followed by 84 in Brisbane. At the end of the series, though, his average read 30.66. It left him bitterly disappointed.”It’s always disappointing for a batter when you get starts and don’t convert it and get a big score for the team,” Rahul said. “I was happy with the way I was batting in Australia, but very disappointed at the end of the series that I couldn’t convert. I think I had opportunities in every game, I got starts in every game, and in an ideal world, I would’ve wanted to convert all of those innings into big knocks.”But, unfortunately, I couldn’t do that. And that’s how the game goes sometimes. Sometimes you get a good ball, sometimes you play a bad shot. It’s part of the game, so you learn from the mistakes, and that’s something that I learned from that series, just to make sure that once I get a start, try and make it count and transfer as many runs as I can.”1:32

Draw off the table? – Tongue and Rahul on day five possibilties

This has been a trend in Rahul’s career. He has never had a series in which he has scored 400 runs. That is part of the reason why he has never nailed a position in the batting order.On his last tour of England, he got to play only because of an injury in the nets to his good friend Mayank Agarwal. Then he got the opportunity to open in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy because Rohit was on paternity leave for the first Test.Rahul has taken batting in different positions in his stride. “The last couple of years I’ve forgotten what my position is and what I’m comfortable doing,” Rahul said. “I’m happy to be given different responsibilities and different roles. Makes the game exciting and makes me want to challenge myself and train that much harder and work on my game a little bit more. So I’ve quite enjoyed doing that.”And the last couple of series, my role has been to open the batting, and I’ve enjoyed doing that as well. Yeah, I mean that’s something that I did growing up and all my early years as a cricketer was me opening the batting. So yeah, I’m happy that I’m back doing that, and I’m happy that I’m doing the job for the team.”

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, GOAL looks at how the U.S. squad might look in the upcoming November camp

To close the 2025 calendar year, the U.S. men's national team booked heavy-hitting opponents, both of whom have already qualified for next summer's World Cup. Up first is Paraguay, a team clearly on the upswing ahead of their first World Cup since 2010. Then comes Uruguay, one of the world's best teams – and the squad that knocked the USMNT out of the 2024 Copa America on home soil.

The plan, then, always seemed to be to really attack these games, to use them as a measuring stick against World Cup quality opposition. Unfortunately, due to injuries, it's unlikely Maurcio Pochettino will be able to field the best version of the USMNT.

Heading towards the November international break, the U.S. is dealing with something of an injury crisis. Multiple key players are dealing with issues of varying concern. Some could just do with a rest. Others need to be assessed as Pochettino and his staff partner with clubs to assess players' short- and long-term future.

There will be some missing pieces this month. The big question is how many?

So who's in and who's out? What are the tough calls Pochettino will have to make? GOAL takes a look.

GettyFirst, the injured list

We'll start at the top with Christian Pulisic, whose status for this camp has been a talking point. He hasn't featured for AC Milan since going down with an injury after a rash tackle in the USMNT's 2-1 win over Australia on Oct. 14, reports out of Italy suggest the club Milan were none too pleased about Pulisic's workload.

Milan have reportedly asked the USMNT to leave Pulisic with the club during this international break as he continues his recovery and – considering the fact that he hasn't played since injury – that's almost certainly the best course of action for all involved.

Antonee Robinson, too, was in last month's camp but, due to his injury situation, didn't play in either game. In fact, he hasn't played since a 10-minute cameo against Aston Villa in late September, and will almost certainly be left out of this camp.

Two key midfielders, Malik Tillman and Johnny Cardoso, are nearing their returns from injury, and both could use USMNT minutes to solidify their places. Again, though, calling in either could be a risk due to their lack of minutes.

Then there's Tim Weah. He's dealing with a thigh injury and all indications are that he won't be available for these two USMNT friendlies. Same for Cameron Carter-Vickers, who will be out for months after getting injured with Celtic.

Depending on which combination of those are available, if any, there could be some monstrous gaps in the roster.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGoalkeepers

GOAL's picks: Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner, Chris Brady

This group, more than most, might be at the mercy of MLS playoff scheduling. Last camp, Pochettino said that call-ups were made with the MLS postseason in mind, so don't be surprised if someone such as Freese or Schulte is left at home should their teams advance.

Because we're talking goalkeepers here, though, there's less concern about wear and tear, so Pochettino could opt to barrel ahead with his full-strength group. If Freese does stay with NYCFC, it would open the door for Turner to make a long awaited return as a starter. We haven't seen him play for the USMNT since the pre-Gold Cup friendlies, with Freese serving as the USMNT's No. 1 since.

With or without the NYCFC goalkeeper, could Turner get a look this camp after getting back into form playing for the New England Revolution? This position is still very much in flux.

Getty Images SportDefenders

GOAL's picks: Max Arfsten, Noahkai Banks, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards,  Miles Robinson

Starting with the centerbacks, Richards is a talking point after Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner took aim at the USMNT over the defender's workload. He then proceeded to play him for 90 minutes immediately after, making that more posturing than any serious concern. The USMNT can surely call in Richards if they want to and, given his importance to the team, why wouldn't they?

Next to him, Ream could be left at home for Charlotte FC's playoff run. But even if they don't advance, a bit of a break probably wouldn't be too bad for him. He is a proven commodity, after all, so there isn't much harm in leaving him off. That, then, could open the door for someone such as Banks or perhaps even Campbell to get some valuable minutes at centerback after having some good moments to start the European season.

At wingback, Dest is back playing for PSV and could certainly use more time with Pochettino and his staff. Freeman, meanwhile, is fresh off an MLS Young Player of the Year award and continues to grow with the national team, so that's the right side taken care of. On the left, Arfsten has largely stepped up in Antonee Robinson's absence, while Dest can provide depth, too.

The wildcard? Scally. He has been performing in the Bundesliga but has been crowded out of the U.S. fullback position in recent months. Could this be the camp he leaps back into the picture?

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Getty ImagesMidfielders

GOAL's picks: Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan, James Sands, Tanner Tessmann

With some notable absences such as Pulisic and Tillman, there is a lack of attacking firepower in the midfield. McKennie is seen in that spot, so the good news is he's available. Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, is in good form at Leeds and could use this opportunity to lock down a World Cup spot.

Then there's the big one: Reyna. He's played sparingly for Borussia Monchengladbach, but is there a need for his creativity this camp?

In terms of deeper midfielders, no worries. Adams should be back, although a knock suffered this past weekend against Manchester City might impact things. Tessmann, Sands, Morris and Roldan, meanwhile, are all fighting for a spot next to him, while McKennie, too, could drop back if needed.

Despite the occasion being Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of West Ham United at the London Stadium, the Monday night affair between the Hammers and Brentford had a subdued feeling from the get-go.

Planned protests against Hammers chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karen Brady meant sections of West Ham’s ground were sparsely filled throughout, with the feeling around their home stadium only worsening by the full-time whistle, as a 2-0 defeat kept the East Londoners deep in the Premier League relegation mix.

Nuno is clearly still getting used to all the new players at his disposal, as some surprising alterations were on show for the clash with the Bees. Most notably, Malick Diouf sat on the bench alongside the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Guido Rodriguez.

Unfortunately, none of those changes worked, with Mathias Jensen’s late strike condemning Nuno’s side to a miserable sixth league defeat of the season already, which also leaves the ex-Nottingham Forest boss still searching for a first win in the Hammers dug-out.

West Ham's biggest underperformers vs Brentford

Truthfully, although it took until the 94th minute for Jensen to seal the win for Keith Andrew’s visitors, Brentford should have had the game tied up long before this last-gasp stunner.

Indeed, the Bees would tally up a mammoth 15 shots just in the first half, as the ropey centre-back duo of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo were continually caught out by the physical approach of Igor Thiago, with a long ball over the top late into the first half catching Kilman out, before Thiago eventually bundled home the opener.

19-year-old Oliver Scales also noticeably struggled on a surprise start, with just one of his aerial duels being won before being hauled off on the 46th minute mark.

Another intriguing selection decision by Nuno in handing Andy Irving a first Premier League start of the season also fell flat, as the Scotsman gave up possession ten times as an unassured body in central midfield.

Even Jarrod Bowen was quiet to further add to the misery on display, with the usually dependable Hammers captain only managing to tally up a lacklustre xG of 0.08 come the full-time whistle, firing a few chances off target.

He wasn’t the only first team regular who decided to put in a no-show against Brentford, however.

West Ham star has regressed under Nuno

While Graham Potter was deservedly sacked after collecting a dire four defeats from five Premier League games at the start of the season, at least Lucas Paqueta stood out as a bright spark during those tough times.

The Brazilian certainly lived up to his previous “explosive” billing – as he was once labelled by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp – when collecting two goals across this choppy patch of matches, with a kiss of the badge after confidently tucking a penalty away at Forest cementing his reputation as a fan favourite.

However, he hasn’t looked quite so razor-sharp in front of goal since Nuno entered the building, with only a meagre four efforts attempted by the enigmatic Brazilian across his new manager’s first three league games at the helm. That must be particularly worrying considering that he operated as a false 9 in the absence of the injured Niclas Fullkrug on Monday.

In particular, Paqueta’s ongoing regression under his new manager was clear for all to see against Andrew’s away side, as the hot-and-cold number ten failed to be a feared forward presence in the same manner the hard-to-contain Thiago managed to be for the Bees.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Shots

1

Accurate passes

26/42 (63%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/2

Possession lost

23x

Successful dribbles

0/1

Total duels won

7/20

Instead, Paqueta was often seen giving up the ball time after time, with possession squandered a costly 23 times. Having amassed three key passes against Arsenal in their last away outing, this was a notable drop-off.

Only winning 35% of his duels, too, on top of only testing the Bees goalkeeper with one shot, Nuno might well be prepared to boldly drop the 28-year-old in games to come, as the already under pressure Hammers boss tries to get a tune out of his demoralised side no matter what.

Branded as a “shocking” mess of a situation post-match by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, Nuno will have his work cut out for him to get the sinking ship back on course, with the 51-year-old desperately needing Paqueta to get back to his best, and sharp.

Nuno suggests West Ham could be about to rely on "very aggressive" young star

The Hammers boss clearly loves what he can offer.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 19, 2025

Radha Yadav to lead India A in T20s, one-dayers and a four-day match in Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Allrounder Shreyanka Patil has been included in the India A T20 squad for the upcoming three-match series in Australia following a long injury layoff.Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav was named captain of all three squads for the tour in August; India A also play three 50-over matches and one four-day match against Australia A. Radha took over the captaincy from Minnu Mani, who had led India A on their previous assignment, also a tour of Australia, last August. Mani is the vice-captain of the squads.Patil’s inclusion is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. She had suffered a finger injury during the Women’s Asia Cup in July 2024 but returned to play the T20 World Cup in UAE in October. She then suffered another injury that ruled her out of the 2025 WPL. Patil had been included in the BCCI’s central contracts list in March and was also one of three Indians picked in the draft for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League in September.Apart from Patil, legspinner Priya Mishra’s inclusion in the one-day and the four-day squad also depends on fitness clearance. Mishra has played nine ODIs for India, the last of which was against Ireland in January.Other notable inclusions for the A tour of Australia are batter Shafali Verma and fast bowler Titas Sadhu , who have been picked for all three formats.The tour starts with the T20s in Mackay from August 7 followed by the one-day games in Norths from August 13. The only four-day fixture will be played at Allan Border Field in Brisbane from August 21.India A T20 squadRadha Yadav (capt), Minnu Mani (vc), Shafali Verma, D Vrinda, S Sajana, Uma Chetry (wk), Raghvi Bist, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Nandini Kashyap (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Joshita VJ, Shabnam Shakeel, Saima Thakor and Titas SadhuIndia A one-day and multi-day squadRadha Yadav (capt), Minnu Mani (vc), Shafali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Raghvi Bist, Tanushree Sarkar, Uma Chetry (wk), Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer, Nandini Kashyap (wk), Dhara Gujjar, Joshita VJ, Shabnam Shakeel, Saima Thakor and Titas Sadhu