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Moeen Ali has called on England to “throw the first punch” and be “ruthless” in their remaining two Group B games as the defending champions aim to keep their T20 World Cup 2024 hopes alive.Saturday’s heavy defeat to Australia left England fourth in Group B, with all sides having played twice, and potentially in a battle to qualify for the Super 8s on net run rate. Having taken just a point from their washed-out opener against Scotland, victories by significant margins over Oman and Namibia may be required if Jos Buttler’s side are to avoid a second ignominious World Cup exit in eight months.Scotland play Oman on Sunday knowing that victory will put them on five points, which is the maximum England can achieve. They will then have the advantage of playing Australia after England complete their group fixtures, thereby knowing exactly what sort of result would be required to put them through.Speaking after a chastening afternoon at Kensington Oval, Moeen said England needed to avoid dwelling on results so far and get back on the front foot – albeit a similar mantra failed to produce a turnaround in India during last year’s failed ODI World Cup defence.”Net run rate is huge and there’s been quite a few tournaments when I’ve missed out on net run rate, so it’s huge,” Moeen said. “If we get the chance in those next two games we’re going to have to win by quite big margins.”We’ve got the team to do that. I know in this World Cup big teams are losing but we’ve got to go into these two games and almost throw the first punch and just keep going from there.Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali must try to turn England’s World Cup around•ICC via Getty Images

“When you lose a game, especially [against] Australia, the camp is never positive. But you can’t get too down and go into our shells and say ‘What if this happens?’ We’ve just to be really ruthless in those two games playing our best cricket otherwise we’re going home.”Buttler has been unwilling to talk about the ODI World Cup, where England lost six of their first seven games to crash out in the round-robin stage, during the build-up to the T20 version, but faces would could be a make-or-break week for his captaincy.Moeen, Buttler’s deputy, preferred to draw on the team’s experience at the previous T20 World Cup, in 2022, when England suffered a shock defeat to Ireland during the Super 12s, followed by an abandonment against the hosts, Australia, before winning four games in a row to lift the trophy.”India was different because it’s a different format, you have to play proper cricket, closer to Test matches and your technique is exposed and all that. I think this situation it’s more like when we lost to Ireland in Melbourne and we had to win every game and run rate was important as well then so we can take experience from that.”I think we’re better at T20s, I just think today Australia were better than us. Even in the last World Cup when we won it, we had to win every game so we’re kind of used to this with our backs against the wall. My own personal thing is I don’t care about the 50-over World Cup, that’s done but I think in this World Cup we ca do a lot better.”The first game being rained off is unfortunate and then losing today is not great so we’re going to have to win those next two games.”It’s about being calm and not letting the outside noise or whatever it is affect us. We need to be more aggressive without being reckless, not overthink things and take those two teams down.”

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a very intriguing first Premier League season under new manager Thomas Frank, but not everyone will be along for the ride.

Players who could leave Tottenham after Thomas Frank arrives

The Dane has officially taken over from Ange Postecoglou, with Frank agreeing terms on a move to Spurs earlier this week after the club triggered his £10 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Tottenham to open talks for "role model" forward signing after Frank request

The Dane is about to become Spurs’ new manager.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 11, 2025

Frank is seemingly braced for a completely different challenge away from the expectations of mid-table Brentford, as Spurs gear up for a 2025/2026 campaign back in the Champions League and fresh off winning their first major trophy in 17 years.

Son Heung-min

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James Maddison

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Pedro Porro

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Dominic Solanke

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Dejan Kulusevski

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via WhoScored

The 51-year-old has big shoes to fill as well, with Postecoglou earning popularity among the Spurs squad and many speaking out publicly in defence of the now-unemployed tactician.

Frank is likely to have a major influence on the club’s transfer activity as Tottenham’s latest head coach, with some reports suggesting he has already urged Daniel Levy to keep Mathys Tel (TEAMtalk).

His stance on certain other squad members is yet to be made clear, but we’ll find out in due course, as a fair few of them face uncertain futures.

Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil are surely likely to be sold this summer, after spending 2024/2025 on loan at Leeds United and Girona respectively, while uncertainty also surrounds the long-term future of Richarlison amid interest from Everton (Sky Sports).

A lot of noise is centered around star defender Cristian Romero right now too.

Romero is a top target for Atlético Madrid, and some reports suggest that the 27-year-old is equally keen on joining Diego Simeone’s side, despite Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League (Marca).

Alongside Romero, another big name in long-serving £190,000-per-week captain Son Heung-min could also make an emotional departure.

The Telegraph first broke news that this year could be Son’s last at Spurs, with clubs in Saudi Arabia said to be expressing an interest.

Son Heung-min exit from Tottenham on the cards as agents hold Saudi talks

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, Saudi Pro League sides have held talks with the agents of Son, who may well leave Spurs 10 years after signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

Bailey goes on to say that Son may well have played his last game for Tottenham, even if his exit isn’t exactly nailed on just yet.

“Son could very well have played his last game for Tottenham, and well, if it was the Europa League final, it would be fitting,” said Bailey.

“I am told he still believes he is more than capable of recapturing his best form – but Spurs are ready to make moves this summer and Son leaving could materialise.”

The 32-year-old’s contract expires in 2026 after Levy took up the option to extend it by a further year, but it is now or never for them to make any money off Son’s sale.

That being said, a player of his experience and quality would be invaluable to have around for Frank’s first season at the club, so this comes as an extremely tough decision. Son’s also been called the most “underrated” player in England during his time in N17.

Leeds United and the 49ers Enterprises have now made a transfer decision over the future of a £90,000-a-week Everton player, according to a new report.

Leeds' plans for the Premier League are underway

The Whites secured the Championship title on Saturday in the final game of the league season, and now the focus will be turning towards next season, as they are once again back in the Premier League.

Leeds can seal stunning Solomon repeat by signing £30m Premier League star

Leeds United could look to replicate the success of their Manor Solomon deal by signing this attacking star.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 6, 2025

Signing a new striker appears to be high on the list of targets for Daniel Farke this summer, as Leeds have already held internal talks over signing Troy Parrott from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Parrott has been in fine form this season, and given his experience in the Premier League with Tottenham, Leeds are interested in a potential deal, which could cost them more than £20 million.

As well as looking at Parrott, the Championship title winners are keeping their options open, as they also hold an interest in two other strikers. TEAMtalk have reported that the Whites are pursuing a deal to sign Jamie Vardy, as he is set to become a free agent once he leaves Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Leeds are also seriously interested in signing Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town. The forward is said to have a relegation clause in his contract at Portman Road, but the Tractor Boys are hoping to get around £26-£30 million for his services, given they are heading back to the second tier.

Leeds make decision over Jack Harrison's Elland Road future

These potential arrivals may mean the Whites and the 49ers have to balance the books and move some players on, and according to a new update from Football Insider, Leeds have decided that Jack Harrison is unlikely to return to Elland Road should his stay at Everton not be extended.

The winger is currently coming to the end of his two-year loan deal at Everton, and David Moyes has yet to decide whether to keep Harrison on a permanent basis or not.

The 28-year-old, who earns a weekly wage of £90,000, has still got three years left on his contract at Elland Road, but that hasn’t changed the minds of the club chiefs, as if a permanent move to Everton doesn’t work out, he will have to look for a move elsewhere.

One reason for that is because the Whites are already stocked in the wide positions, and they are planning to add to those options with the addition of two new wingers.

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Harrison has played 31 times for the Toffees this season in the Premier League, 22 of which have come as a starter. However, he has struggled to make an impact in front of goal, netting just once and grabbing just one assist, which could be another reason why Everton may not be interested in a permanent deal and Leeds don’t want the player to come back to Elland Road.

And if that doesn’t work either, you’re better off building a death ray and hoping it will somehow fly with ICC regulations

Alan Gardner28-Oct-20251:51

Mithali: Australia ‘less invincible’ than they used to be

There are some problems that have left humanity stumped for the longest of time. To the list that includes cold fusion, Fermat’s Last Theorem and why toast always lands buttered-side down, we can add another: how to beat Australia Women in an ODI?There is a working hypothesis that it can be done, but the results are almost impossible to reproduce in laboratory conditions. Over the last five-and-a-bit years, Australia have played 58 times in the format, and won 52 of them. Go back further, to the start of the 2017 World Cup, and the figure is P87 W78, which includes their world-record winning streak of 26 ODIs in a row.Such is their level of dominance that it even puts the Australia Men’s team of the 2000s in the shade. To take a random sample, between the start of the 2003 World Cup (which they won) and the end of the 2007 World Cup (which they won), Ricky Ponting’s side played 136 ODIs, winning 102 and losing 28.Related

• Shafali tunes up for Australia, a day after destiny's call

• Dodgy hotels, bomb threats, golden memories: Lisa Keightley recalls Australia's '97 World Cup triumph

• Powerplay Podcast: Can anyone stop Australia?

• There are legspinners, and there is Alana King

Very impressive, but a win/loss ratio of 9.750 it isn’t.For this Australia Women’s team, defeat is a once-a-year event – and they’ve already had their one scheduled blip for 2025.The losses are cosmic outliers, little more than confirmation of the randomness of the universe. They either come via Spandex-tight margins – three runs, two wickets, two wickets – or require inspirational performances from the opposition’s talisman: Harmanpreet Kaur in Derby; Nat Sciver-Brunt in Taunton; Marizanne Kapp in North Sydney; Smriti Mandhana in New Chandigarh.In World Cups, the permutations become even more head-scratchingly confounding. Since their defeat in the semi-final of the 2017 edition, Australia have won 15 ODI World Cup games on the bounce. They waltzed through the tournament unbeaten in 2022, and are on track to do so again after six wins from seven in the group stage.The one side to escape during that run was Sri Lanka, who abandoned science and invoked the unquenchable thirst of the Colombo rain gods. That or they capitalised on some truly abysmal scheduling during the monsoon, but it amounts to the same thing.Is there any stopping the Australian juggernaut at this World Cup?•ICC/Getty Images

Stopping the irresistible force

Back in the dark ages, learned folk spent much of their time trying to discover a substance that could turn base metal into gold. You would too, right? If it were in any way real. For the alchemists of antiquity, read the analysts of today anxiously flicking through their data points whenever Australia occupy the opposition dressing room.Signs of weakness are few and far between. When they slipped to 76 for 7 in their group game against Pakistan, one of the great World Cup upsets was in the offing. Instead, Beth Mooney – who looks, and plays, like she could be one of Bradman’s Invincibles – made a granite-hewn hundred as part of a century stand for the ninth wicket. Australia ended up winning by 107 runs.

“Time and again, teams have scrapped and sweated over the magic formula that will help them get one over on the canary-yellow juggernaut. Almost without exception, every time they hold their discovery up to the light it turns out to be fool’s gold”

India might have felt pretty pleased with themselves after posting 330 (at the time their highest-ever World Cup total) in Visakhapatnam; Alyssa Healy responded with a searing 142 off 107 balls to set up a three-wicket win. England must have thought they were in with a sniff when reducing Australia to 68 for 4 chasing 245; Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner disabused them of this notion with an unbroken 180-run stand.The England game finished with Gardner blocking balls in order to try and get Sutherland to her hundred, which is a pretty brutal summation of where it had got to as a contest.Time and again, teams have scrapped and sweated over the magic formula that will help them get one over on the canary-yellow juggernaut. Almost without exception, every time they hold their discovery up to the light, it turns out to be fool’s gold.Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth walk off after Australia sealed the highest chase in women’s ODI history•Getty Images

Can a new champion emerge?

We at ESPNcricinfo decided to take up the challenge, too. After crunching the numbers, consulting the experts and triangulating every possible weakness, we came up with this devastating statistic: since the start of 2024, between overs ten and 20, Australia have lost the third-most wickets among all teams (33). At this World Cup, the tally reads nine, behind only South Africa and Pakistan.Read it again and weep, sisters.Okay, you’re saying you need more? Well, Ellyse Perry is averaging 24.50 for the tournament. Not so flashy, eh. Similarly, new-ball stalwart Kim Garth has only taken four wickets in five matches – three of which came during Pakistan’s capitulation. And in the field, they produced a distinctly un-Aussie performance when shelling six chances against Bangladesh (although, yes, they still went on to win by ten wickets).In case it wasn’t already clear, for the three other teams still in with a theoretical chance of winning this World Cup, the omens are not good. But for those of you who made it this far, here’s our three-point plan to stopping Australia from winning this World Cup:Be India. Handy news for Australia’s semi-final opponents. India’s record of four ODI wins over Australia in the last ten years is as good as anyone’s – and, crucially, that includes being the last side to actually beat them at a World Cup. They are the host nation, they are captained by the hero of Derby, and they ran Australia the closest in the group stage.Make sure someone scores a hundred. Preferably a big one, like Harmanpreet’s Derby piece de resistance. Since the start of the 2017 World Cup, 13 individual centuries have been scored against Australia; three times in a winning cause. That’s nearly a 25% chance, people! Although Sciver-Brunt (four hundreds, including 148 not out in the 2022 World Cup final, only one of which came in a victory) can tell you first-hand, it’s no guarantee.Beware the legspinner. Alana King is very good, as figures of 7 for 18 – the first seven-wicket haul at Women’s World Cups – in her last outing attest. Top tip: go back and look at the footage of how South Africa played her. Then do the opposite.If none of the above works, then you’re best off building a death ray and hoping that will somehow fly with the ICC playing regulations. Good luck!

Former captain pledges to be available for England tour after prioritising home T20 World Cup

Matt Roller20-Dec-2023Jason Holder says that his decision to make himself unavailable for West Indies’ Test series in Australia next month was prompted by his desire to focus on T20 cricket ahead of a World Cup on home soil in June 2024.Holder, who captained in 37 Tests between 2015 and 2020, does not feature in the 15-man squad named by Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Wednesday, which includes seven uncapped players, and for which Alzarri Joseph has been named as Kraigg Brathwaite’s deputy.Instead, Holder will be playing in the ILT20 in the UAE during January’s Test series, but has spoken extensively with the board in recent months and has made clear his desire to play Test cricket again after the World Cup.”By no means is this me turning my back on Test cricket,” Holder told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s not curtains for me in Test cricket by any means. It’s my first time going through something like this and I felt that it was necessary to be as honest and as open with CWI as I possibly can. It was a very difficult decision: I just feel as though this is the right cricketing decision for me at this time.”It was a difficult one. But as much as I love Test cricket, I want to give myself the best chance of playing in that World Cup. I felt it was probably best to prioritise and focus on playing as much T20 cricket leading up to that as possible. I will probably sleep a little bit better knowing that I’ve given myself the best opportunity to do that.”CWI told players that, in order to be considered for World Cup selection, they needed to make themselves available for both the ongoing series against England and February’s T20Is in Australia. In doing so, Holder compromised his availability for the Big Bash League and will miss the end of the ILT20; playing the Test series in Australia on top of that would have ruled him out of the entire competition.Holder was an 18-year-old fan the last time that the Caribbean hosted a men’s ICC event, the 2010 World T20: “To see it unfold, particularly in Barbados, was a major spectacle for me,” he said. It is the prospect of featuring in the same tournament 14 years later which he identifies as the reason underpinning his decision to turn down January’s Test series.Holder has been in action for West Indies during the ongoing T20I series•Getty Images”I’ve never played a World Cup at home: I really, really want to be a part of it because I love playing in front of the fans in the Caribbean,” he added. “I think we’ve really got a good chance of lifting the trophy… the cricket that we’ve been playing in the last couple of months gives us real encouragement that we can go there and do something special. Why wouldn’t I want to give myself the best chance to be a part of it?”I’ve been an all-format player for probably the last eight or nine years. If you look at the current scope of the sport in general, it’s now a more common trend based on the dynamics of world cricket: everything is constantly evolving. There are leagues popping up here, there and everywhere and there are quite a number of options for players.”It all depends on what a player wants in terms of his career. It’s a profession, and there’s a massive window in terms of franchise cricket early in the year. The main part of my decision is to prioritise playing as much T20 cricket as I can leading up to the T20 World Cup – and of course, in doing so, there is also the opportunity to maximise your earnings.”The launch of the ILT20 and South Africa’s SA20 – which Holder featured in earlier this year – has contributed to January becoming saturated with T20 leagues, along with the BBL and the Bangladesh Premier League. Johnny Grave, CWI’s chief executive, believes that it represents a fundamental shift in the global game.Related

• Meet West Indies' new names: the seven uncapped players in Australia

• West Indies include seven uncapped players for Australia Tests

• Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph to return home early from ODI World Cup qualifier

• Holder: 'T10 is here to stay, so if you can't adapt, you'll always struggle'

• Andre Russell recalled to West Indies T20I squad after two-year absence

“That month has gone from being a southern hemisphere international window to now a very key month, with leagues fighting to get the best players,” Grave told ESPNcricinfo. “When you look at what’s on offer for five weeks’ work, it’s become a really compelling option for players at a certain stage of their careers.”CWI and Holder have been in open discussions about his availability in recent months, and the board announced last week that, along with Kyle Mayers and Nicholas Pooran, he had turned down a central contract for 2023-24. “I was disappointed that we couldn’t reach a common ground in me signing a central contract, but I understood why that wasn’t an option in the end,” he said.Holder’s decision gives other players the chance to perform in the Test series in Australia. Grave cited the example of West Indies’ tour to Bangladesh in early 2021, when a number of players opted out: Mayers – who, like Holder, will miss the Australia Tests – made his international breakthrough as a result. “Nobody is guaranteed a spot, and we want that competition for places,” Grave said.”We accept that players have to make choices and we hope that players understand that we also have to make choices. We’re not going to change the philosophy that we can’t guarantee any players selection for any international series. We’re certainly not moving on from Jason Holder, but him not being in Australia will create an opportunity for someone else to perform.”But Holder still hopes to be part of their three-Test tour of England in July and the two-match home series against South Africa that follows: “I will do everything possible to make myself eligible for those Test series and have spoken to the coach and selectors to reiterate that,” he said. That will include playing first-class cricket in the West Indies Championship – and, after going unsold in Tuesday’s IPL auction, potentially in England’s County Championship.Both Holder and Grave stressed that their conversations had been transparent, and CWI’s administration are conscious of the sport’s evolution “We’re not going to deny NOCs [No Objection Certificates] or get into public spats with players,” Grave said. “If they choose not to play for West Indies, we’re not going to try and punish them. We’ve moved on from those days.”West Indies squad for Australia Tests: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Alzarri Joseph, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie

Based on their showing against Pakistan, it’ll take a brave man to predict a better fate for the top four in New Zealand

Mohammad Isam08-Dec-2021Shaheen Afridi toyed with Shadman Islam. He got him to jump around the crease and then sent him out with a full delivery that rammed into his pads.Hasan Ali got one to scissor between debutant Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s defence. Then, he had Bangladesh’s captain Mominul Haque, with a full and fast delivery he couldn’t get bat to.Having roughed Bangladesh up with full deliveries, Afridi then adopted the short-ball trick to great effect as Najmul Hossain Shanto lobbed a simple catch to one of the two gullies stationed for just that.Related

• Bangladesh's crumbling home advantage

• Stats – Pakistan and Sajid Khan set new benchmarks in Dhaka

On the fifth morning of the second Test, Bangladesh’s top four were dismissed in no time after they had been asked to follow-on. And it’s Pakistan’s takedown of their brittle line-up in each of the four innings this series that was crucial to the 2-0 sweep.The 7.62 Bangladesh’s top-four batters averaged is the worst when they have batted in at least 16 innings in a Test series. Yet, all considered, they were about 20 minutes away from securing a draw, mainly due to Shakib Al Hasan and the lower-order resistance – and all the time lost to the weather earlier. But when the top four cave in as easily as they have, it doesn’t help.What contributed most to the top four’s meltdown was Mominul having his worst Test series to date. He made only 14 runs, the least he has scored in any series in which he batted at least four innings. His previous lowest across four innings was the 94 he made against England in 2016.

Shadman, Mahmudul, the uncapped Mohammed Naim and Fazle Mahmud are the opening options in New Zealand. Can they cope with the green in New Zealand? Against Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner? It will be tough, that’s for sure.

While the top four have been poor, it’s also important to factor in their inexperience. Shadman and Shanto are playing their tenth and 11th Tests respectively, while Saif Hassan, who missed the Dhaka Test because of a fever, is just working his way up having made his debut last year. Mahmudul, meanwhile, is an absolute rookie.They are all considered to be in the list of the country’s next-in-line batters, who have all made at least one century in the season’s first-class tournament. But how much is that really worth?In Chattogram, Russell Domingo had said that the domestic structure doesn’t prepare young players to make the transition to the highest level. It was a bold statement from a coach, who himself has often found himself at odds with the board bigwigs. “There’s some exciting young players coming through but they are a long way off from where they need to be as international batsmen and bowlers,” Domingo had said. “The more cricket they play at the domestic level or ‘A’ team tours, the better will be for the national side.It’s clear that Bangladesh aren’t the same side without Tamim Iqbal, but he is still some way from match fitness•AFP/Getty Images”Right now, the step up from domestic to international cricket is a massive step. It is something BCB needs to look at to make sure they impact the game and not take a long time to find their feet.”What would be most worrying for Domingo – and other stakeholders of the game in Bangladesh – going into the New Zealand series is the number of balls that the top four have faced in this series. It is the lowest for Bangladesh when they have batted at least 16 innings in a Test series, roughly one-third of the 854 balls that they face on average in a home series.It’s clear they aren’t the same side without Tamim Iqbal, who scored four Test half-centuries in a row this year. His attacking salvo derailed Sri Lanka a couple of times in the Test series in April. Since his debut in 2008, Tamim is the fourth-highest scorer among Test openers. It’s an understatement when we say Saif, Shadman and the new lot of batters coming in have big boots to fill.Tamim is still a while away from returning to competitive cricket – he has multiple fractures in his thumb – which means Shadman, Mahmudul, the uncapped Mohammed Naim and Fazle Mahmud are the opening options in New Zealand. Can they cope with the green in New Zealand? Against Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner? It will be tough, that’s for sure.

NEW YORK — Shane Bieber looked around the other day and realized something shocking: Eight years into his career, with nearly 900 innings pitched and a Cy Young award on his mantle, he is a rookie compared to his fellow Blue Jays starting pitchers.

“He’s 30!” says his 41-year-old rotationmate Max Scherzer with a laugh. “He’s a young buck! We should make him wear a pink backpack.”

Indeed, in an era of flamethrowers who are too young to turn on the stove, Toronto’s rotation looks closer to retirement than to retiring hitters. Scherzer; Bieber; Chris Bassitt, 36; Kevin Gausman, 34; and José Berríos, 31, make up the only contingent in the majors with no one in his 20s. Their average age, 34.4, would outlast nearly five generations of blue jays.

Entering Thursday, the Blue Jays have received 103 starts from pitchers 31 or older, the most in the majors this season and on pace for the most by a division winner since at least 2019. The only current team with a similar number of gray hairs is the Rangers, who employ 37-year-old Jacob deGrom, 36-year-old Patrick Corbin and 36-year-old Merrill Kelly, with 35-year-old Nathan Eovaldi on the shelf with a strained rotator cuff—but 29-year-old Jacob Latz and 25-year-old Jack Leiter help keep them youthful. And yet the Jays’ 31-plus starters have a 4.18 ERA, right in line with league average.

Scherzer famously pitched for the 2019 Nationals, who got 65 starts from 31-plus-year-olds and called themselves . He says he does not look back at that nickname and chuckle at his naivete. “I was old in ’19!” he says. “When you're 36 in the game, that’s when you’re old. That’s when all the GMs start looking at you funny.” (Perhaps that was a senior moment: Scherzer was 34 in 2019.) That club won the World Series on the back of its horses. But most teams these days value young studs who can spin the ball for five and a third innings, then turn it over to a bullpen full of even younger studs who can spin it even harder.

Have the Blue Jays noticed that many of them are more suited for an old-folks’ home than home plate?

“Man, you’re so blunt,” says Gausman with a laugh. “I’ve definitely noticed we’re not young.”

General manager Ross Atkins puts it more delicately. “I’m aware of our experience,” he says.

Most of them use that word. “The majority of young guys now, they have the stuff,” says Gausman. “They can make a ball move 22 inches horizontally, vertically, in whatever direction. But where they lack is the experience on the field. They’ve thrown all the bullpens imaginable. They know the metrics. They know the axis on pitches. They can throw a pitch in-game, and you’ll see guys in game literally throw a pitch and look at the metric [on the scoreboard]. ‘All right. I need to turn my wrist a little bit more.’ It’s crazy. But where they lack is: All right, I threw this pitch for a strike. Now I need to throw this for a ball. Now how does this pitch play off this next pitch? How does my miss set up this next pitch?”

Those are the discussions they say they are having in the dugout. “It’s not trying to dummy down a conversation, so you don't overwhelm somebody,” says Bassitt. “It’s a lot more intricate than a normal conversation.”

And a lot less kind. “We don’t gotta be gentle,” he adds with a grin.

“[Scherzer] will say, straight up, ‘Why did you throw that pitch? That was stupid,’” says Gausman. “‘You shouldn’t have thrown that pitch.’ And things are just so easy for him. So you talk to him after an outing and you’re like, ‘Well, I was trying to throw this pitch down and away. I missed my spot by two feet.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, why didn’t you just throw it down and away?’”

They also value the same things. In early September, Bieber gave up five runs in a 35-pitch second inning to the Reds. He then allowed one baserunner over the following four frames as the Blue Jays came back to win. A week later, they’re all still raving about the job he did.

“Almost every single pitcher in the big leagues either loses that game or doesn’t go six—or both—and now we’re really in trouble,” says Bassitt. “That was one of the most impressive outings of the year for us.”

He adds, “We’re talking pitching. We’re not talking movement. We’re not talking how hard you’re throwing. We don’t care if Bieber’s throwing 95 [mph] or 91. It’s more so when to throw a chase pitch 1–0, knowing what pitch to do that, and understanding sometimes going 2–0 is better than trying to go 1–1, things like that. Small things that the young group has never been brought up like that. This is stuff that was getting screamed at us. You weren’t allowed to advance past High A if you weren’t throwing six innings. We came up in a very different environment, and it’s five guys that have the exact same mindset.”

They also enjoy not having to worry about monitoring anyone else’s workload or shutting down a major contributor during the stretch run. They know how to take care of their bodies—even if that gets harder every year. 

“I think we definitely kind of push each other,” Gausman says. “Like, And honestly, it makes it fun. You know, it’s constant bitching and moaning, not really feeling too good.”

And Atkins dismisses the idea that calling up a young starter can sometimes provide the rest of the team with energy. “I think the thing that’s the most real is outs,” he says. In fact, Gausman says he derives energy just from watching Scherzer’s bullpens. “His competitiveness is like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Gausman says. “To have that at 41 when you’ve kind of checked every box—that’s impressive to me that he still pitches like some of these young guys, with that fire. I don’t think I’ll be like that at 41. I definitely won’t be pitching at 41.”

Scherzer shrugs. Really the only downside of aging, as far as he's concerned, is his bald spot. So he'll keep going—if only for the chance to work at a job that requires him to wear a hat.

MatériaMais Notícias

A procuradoria do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva irá denunciar o dono da SAF do Botafogo, John Textor, por não ter entregue supostas provas de corrupção no futebol brasileiro ao tribunal. Na última sexta-feira (8), a instituição determinou que o empresário deveria apresentar o material que diz possuir e comprovaria casos de propina envolvendo árbitros do país.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Em um primeiro momento, Textor chegou a ter sua suspensão automática decretada pelo relator do inquérito que investiga o caso, Mauro Marcelo. No entanto, o auditor recuou após a decisão não ser referendada por seus colegas e levará a denúncia ao pleno do STJD. A informação foi primeiramente publicada pelo Jornal O Globo e confirmada em apuração do Lance!.

John Textor ignorou o prazo de três dias dado pelo tribunal e não apresentou as provas que afirmou ter no dia 6 de março. A defesa do empresário norte-americano respondeu ao STJD argumentando que o órgão não tem competência para atuar no caso, e que as provassó serão apresentadas ao Ministério Público do Rio de Janeiro e de Brasília.

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Desta forma, o dono da SAF do Botafogo pode ser denunciado no artigo 223 do Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva (CBJD), que estabelece pena para quem deixar de cumprir ou retardar o cumprimento de decisão. Assim, Textor pode ser suspenso entre 90 a 360 dias, além ter de pagar multa de R$ 100 mil, caso seja julgado culpado.

Tudo sobre

BotafogoJohn Textor

Glasgow Rangers are all but out of the Europa League for the 2025/26 campaign after they lost for the sixth time in seven games against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

The Gers, who took the lead through a brilliant Bojan Miovski goal, are six points adrift of the play-off places with two games left to play, which means that it would take a remarkable run of results throughout the league phase for them to remain in the tournament.

Too many of the club’s summer signings have failed to deliver on the European stage for any of their managers this season, including Djeidi Gassama.

Why Djeidi Gassama must be dropped

The summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday looked visibly upset at being taken off in the 59th minute by Danny Rohl against Ferencvaros, but it was a decision that was completely justified.

Gassama, who started on the left flank, had zero shots on goal and did not create a single chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in almost an hour on the park before being substituted by the German boss.

Findlay Curtis came on seven minutes later and produced one shot on target and one ‘big chance’ created, per Sofascore, which suggests that he may have more to offer the team at the top end of the pitch at this moment in time.

That is why Gassama should be dropped from the starting line-up, after his poor display, to provide Curtis with an opportunity to start on the left wing.

The Frenchman is not the only Rangers flop who should be dropped from the team, though, as Emmanuel Fernandez should drop out after his dismal showing.

Why Rangers must drop Emmanuel Fernandez

The summer signing from Peterborough United has been given a run of games due to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius’ injuries, starting the last six games in all competitions.

However, Dujon Sterling made his long-awaited comeback off the bench against Ferencvaros, which means that Rohl now has a senior centre-back option to replace him with.

With Sterling available to come in, Fernandez should be dropped from the team after his poor performance against Ferencvaros, which left pundit Ally McCoist speechless.

As you can hear in the clip above, McCoist did not know what to say after the English-born defender was caught facing the wrong way for the home side’s winning goal.

Remarkably, Fernandez did not seem to react at all to Varga making the run straight at him until it was far too late, which is why he was even worse than Gassama on Thursday, as his error ultimately cost Rangers the game, whilst the winger merely had a quiet night.

Vs Ferencvaros

Fernandez

Minutes

90

Tackles won

0/3

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Fouls

2

Ground duels won

5/10

Aerial duels won

4/9

Stats via Sofascore

The Rangers flop, as shown in the statistics above, lost half of his ground duels and the majority of his aerial duels on the night, which shows that his error for the second goal was not the only thing not to like about his performance.

Unfortunately, the former League One star’s struggles against Ferencvaros on Thursday night were not an isolated incident, as he also struggled against Dundee United earlier this month.

In the 2-2 draw with Dundee United, per Sofascore, the centre-back lost five of his 11 aerial duels and three of his eight ground duels, whilst he also got caught out for the opening goal in that game.

Fernandez got sucked in on the half-way line and was never able to recover to prevent Zac Sapsford from putting Dundee United 1-0 up in the match, as his lack of mobility cost him.

Among other things, it was also a lack of mobility that cost the defender against Ferencvaros as he was far too slow to turn and react to the danger of Varga’s run, which meant that he did not even compete for the header that eventually won the game for the hosts.

With his recent errors in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Fernandez from the starting line-up against Hibernian at Ibrox on Monday night, and bring Sterling in for his first start of the campaign.

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Chelsea are beginning to reap the rewards of their ambitious spending since Todd Boehly and his private equity firm Clearlake Capital replaced Roman Abramovich in 2022.

It’s been a twisting road for the Blues over the past several years, but Enzo Maresca has advanced after a promising, trophy-winning 2024/25 campaign to establish his side as budding Premier League title contenders.

Maresca leads a young squad. A hungry group of talented players yet to reach the top of the game.

Chelsea

2nd

24.0

Brentford

13th

24.7

Man City

3rd

25.0

Bournemouth

8th

25.0

Sunderland

7th

25.2

There are ostensible drawbacks to employing such a strategy, but it’s bearing dividends, and the success will only grow over the coming years, with more set to follow in Estevao Willian’s footsteps.

Estevao's start to life at Chelsea

In May 2024, Chelsea finalised a deal for Brazilian youngster Estevao, an initial £29m deal which could eventually rise to £52m with performance-related add-ons.

18 years old, Estevao has enjoyed a dream start to his Chelsea career, having notched five goals from his first 17 senior outings for the Londoners.

With three goals in his past three Champions League outings, the hype is growing around his skilful and dynamic youngster, who outshone Lamine Yamal in the Blues’ romping 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.

So intense is the hype around Estevao’s potential that Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson has labelled the Brazil international a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, and that’s definitely not out of the equation.

Estevao has what it takes to become London’s most talented wide forward, for sure, perhaps taking that crown from Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.

But the fact that Chelsea have landed themselves another Estevao-esque talent who could rival these cream-of-crop players is a perfect illustration of Chelsea’s burgeoning strategy.

Chelsea have a talent "just like Estevao"

Arsenal have the lead in the Premier League title race, and there’s no question that Mikel Arteta is deeper into his project than Maresca at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea are building something special, and they would welcome another poster boy to further strengthen Maresca’s system. Well, that player could have already been signed in Geovany Quenda, with a £40m deal in principle agreed at the end of last season to welcome the Portugal U21 international in 2026.

Hailed as “one of the most exciting teenage prospects in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quenda has “been on fire” for Sporting Lisbon this season, coming into his own on the right wing.

The 18-year-old’s energy, pace and skill on the ball have seen him hailed as having a mentality “just like Estevao” – as per Alex Goldberg – that will see him succeed in the Premier League, endowed with an athletic underbelly to complement his blistering pace and skill on the ball.

Goals scored

0.09

0.43

Assists

0.35

0.16

Shots taken

1.72

2.92

Shot-creating actions

4.62

4.69

Touches (att pen)

3.39

6.74

Pass completion (%)

72.9

73.8

Progressive passes

5.11

2.45

Progressive carries

3.30

4.34

Successful take-ons

1.58

1.85

Ball recoveries

4.75

3.90

Tackles + interceptions

1.54

2.05

His sharp-minded approach and combativeness on the ball could indeed see him emulate Saka. Sofascore record that Bissau Guinean-born Quenda has won 52% of his ground duels in Liga Portugal this term, and for one so young, this bodes well for a future in the harsh climate of the Premier League.

Furthermore, he is developing a ball-playing game that suggests he has the natural talent on the ball to emulate someone like Saka, having also followed in the Englishman’s footsteps by shining at both full-back and wing-back, prior to cementing an attacking role on the flanks.

Whether the Portuguese talent would hit the ground running in the same way that Estevao has is uncertain, of course, but there’s no denying he has the potential to rival his soon-to-be teammate.

A big factor in a winger like Saka’s success (and Estevao’s) is that he is able to merge the many elements together, forming something complete.

Quenda is already proving that he has similar qualities in the locker, and it is for this reason that there is such excitement brewing around his signature.

Chelsea, truly, are rebuilding themselves toward superstar status.

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