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Before Yashasvi Jaiswal overtook him, the former Kings XI Punjab batter had the record for the highest IPL score by an uncapped Indian

Matt Roller05-May-2023″It’s such a fast-paced city. If you don’t live up to the pace, you’re gone, you’re out of the race. It can be brutal.”Paul Valthaty is talking about Mumbai, sitting on a terrace overlooking Brabourne Stadium. The night before, around 700 metres away, at the Wankhede Stadium, his long-standing IPL record for the highest score by an uncapped Indian batter was broken by another young man who cut his teeth on the city’s maidans, Yashasvi Jaiswal.”That word, ‘uncapped’, won’t last with him too long,” Valthaty says. “He’s someone who has grown up in the Mumbai stable and has got runs in all formats. The way he attacked bowlers, taking someone like Jofra [Archer] apart, it shows the kind of talent that the boy has. It was a terrific innings.Related

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“For him to break my uncapped-player record, it just gave me pleasure that it was a solid batsman and a top cricketer who did it – someone like Yashasvi, who has had a wonderful season. Not just this year, but for two or three years he’s been doing really well. It’s very heartening to see someone coming from such humble beginnings, and the level he has reached.”Valthaty knows better than most how fickle the sport can be. Twelve years ago he was the breakout star of IPL 2011, hitting an unbeaten 120 for Kings XI Punjab against Chennai Super Kings in a 463-run season. Yet he played only seven more games in the competition, losing form and favour after an injury that derailed his professional career.Having watched Valthaty emerge and then disappear from back home in the UK as a teenager, I decided to track him down in Mumbai to find out what happened. “My close friends, my family, they know that I speak about my career in two halves – and the IPL [doesn’t mark the end of] one of them,” Valthaty says. “It’s before 2002, when I got hit, and after.”At the start of that year, he was opening the batting for India at the Under-19 World Cup when a short ball snuck through the gap between the visor and grille of his helmet. “It popped up and hit my right eye,” he recalls. “And everything came to an abrupt standstill.”The ball shattered his retina and put his cricketing career on hold. He eventually came back after “four or five laser surgeries” but his vision remained imperfect. To this day, he suffers from diplopia or double vision. “When I started playing again, I couldn’t judge depth because of the mismatched vision,” he says. “I used to be in tears after net sessions.””I realised that suddenly the entire crowd that was cheering for Dhoni are now taking my name”•AFPAfter impressing at a trial, Valthaty played two games for defending champions Rajasthan Royals in the 2009 IPL in South Africa but it was not until 2011 that his big break arrived. Kings XI offered him a deal on the back of his form for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy; after batting at No. 3 in their opening game, he was promoted to open alongside captain Adam Gilchrist in a chase of 190 against CSK.”The stage got the better of me in 2009 – a huge occasion, live TV, all these top cricketers around me,” Valthaty says. “Coming into 2011, I was aware of what I had to overcome. My good friend Abhishek Nayar and I did a lot of training in the two-three months prior, and I felt really prepared; somehow I felt as though this was going to be the season for me.”I thought, ‘If they are getting 190, it’s a good pitch’, and I tried to erase the crowd and focus. I hit my first four, then I got a chance when Albie Morkel dropped me at mid-off. From there, I almost functioned like a machine, working out which bowlers I needed to target, which fielders I could take on.”As Valthaty slashed Morkel over short third for four to reach a 52-ball century, “I realised that suddenly the entire crowd – which were before that cheering against us because [MS] Dhoni was playing and India had just won the World Cup – suddenly they are taking my name.”DK [Dinesh Karthik] came down and hugged me tight, and told me to keep focused. He didn’t let me celebrate too much, because we still had to win the game.” They duly did, Karthik clinching the victory with Valthaty unbeaten on 120 at the far end.It was the night his life changed. Amit Yadav, an offspinner from Goa, turned to him on the bus on the way back to the hotel. “He said, ‘When we were going to the game, you were one of us, a normal cricketer. Right now, you have become a star.’ Suddenly I was the centre of attention.”Of all the adulation he received, one interaction sticks in his mind. “I was doing my sets in the gym before we played Mumbai Indians,” Valthaty says, “when suddenly, Sachin Tendullkar is in front of me. He spoke to me in Marathi and said, ‘I’ve seen your batting, you’re doing really well; keep pushing. All of us in Mumbai are proud of you.’From 463 runs in 14 innings in 2011 to 30 runs in six innings in 2012, Valthaty’s downturn was swift and brutal•AFP”That’s the one thing that will always remain close to my heart. He’s always been my role model: I used to idolise him and everything he did. Our coaches used to make us watch his batting and copy his style in everything. For him to come to me and congratulate me, that was special.”Everything went Valthaty’s way that season. In his next game he took four wickets then hit 75, and by the end of the season, he was being touted for further recognition across formats. But when selected for the 50-over Challenger Trophy in late 2011, he started to feel constrained at the crease by a wrist injury.He visited John Gloster, the former India physiotherapist, who diagnosed a ganglion in his left wrist – “the body part I used the most in my batting” – and suggested surgery. “I was so naïve,” Valthaty says. “I was so happy that I was getting opportunities, and didn’t want to miss them.” He delayed the operation, instead attempting to treat the injury with cortisone injections.When IPL 2012 arrived, Valthaty was out of form and struggling to hold the bat properly. “I had a horrible season,” he recalls. He made 30 runs in the six innings, including five successive single-figure scores, and found himself in and out of the side. He eventually had surgery in London later that year but managed a solitary appearance in IPL 2013 and drifted out of the professional game.”The bus had moved on,” he says. “I knew Mumbai wasn’t going to wait for me. Without trying to blame anyone, I feel like someone – whether it’s my franchise, my state – could have handled me better, but it wasn’t meant to be. The Almighty had other plans for me.”The IPL’s evolution over the last decade – better scouting, deeper support networks, more professionalism – means that Valthaty’s story is unlikely to be repeated. He bristles at the phrase “one-season wonder” and frames his experience not as a case of unfulfilled potential but as a triumph against the adversity of injury.”Nothing happens by fluke,” he says. “After the struggle, I feel like I had a successful career – not hugely successful, but I paid my dues. I’m pretty happy and satisfied in life: cricket has been very kind to me.”Now 39, Valthaty made forays into broadcasting last year and also runs two academies on the outskirts of Mumbai – one in Kandivali, the other in Thane. “Being from the suburban part of the city, we didn’t always have a lot of cricket grounds,” he explains. “Young players save a lot of time if they have some kind of facility in their suburb.”And who knows? Perhaps, in time, one of them will rival Jaiswal’s new record.

Retired batter opens up on his decision to call time and the “mental burnout” he suffered after 2013

George Dobell26-May-20212:02

Quickfire questions with Ian Bell

There’s just a moment, when you see Ian Bell with a bat in his hand, when you wonder if he might have retired too soon.It’s true the bowling (supplied by the golfer, Andrew “Beef” Johnston) is not the most threatening you’ve ever seen. And it’s true there isn’t much match intensity, either. This is a video shoot for Bet365. Bell is relaxed and having fun.But he looks so good. So damn good. He’s slim, he’s fit, he still loves the game. Put simply, he looks full of runs. And it’s not as if England have adequately replaced him. James Anderson is less than a year younger. Darren Stevens is six years older.Bell, it could be forgotten, was actually contracted to Warwickshire for the 2021 season. He could easily have accepted a salary commensurate with his position as the club’s greatest homegrown player and fulfilled the role of senior pro. Yes, injuries had hampered him, and yes, the torrent of runs had dwindled a little. But he made 140 runs (split across innings of 50 and 90) in his final first-class match. There was nobody pushing him into retirement.But he knew. He knew his body could no longer accede to the commands his eyes gave it. Or not as quickly as it once did, anyway. And, having excelled for so long, he wasn’t content to be “okay”, as he puts it. He might, he says, pull on the whites once more when his son reaches club third XI standard – just so they can play a game together – but, in essence, he is fulfilled.”I didn’t want to just sit on a contract; I didn’t just want to be okay” – Bell walked away from a deal to play in 2021•Getty Images”It didn’t feel like a hard decision to retire,” he says. “I didn’t really feel sad. There’s definitely things I miss. I miss that feeling of winning. I miss the hard work that goes into helping Warwickshire win a Championship game. And I’ve loved having a bat today. But I don’t miss the fielding and the soreness in the morning, especially as you get older.”I feel like I gave everything I had. As a kid, my dream was to play 100 Test matches and I achieved that. I had 22 years as a professional cricketer. When I look in the mirror, I know I tried everything I had.”I know I was blessed with some talent. But there’s stuff that people don’t see behind the scenes. I gave it everything I had in training. No stone was left unturned in terms of my preparation and trying to be as good as I could be. Some days it turned out well; some days it didn’t. That’s sport. That’s life. I feel very satisfied with the efforts that I made to be as good as I could be.”I was very lucky Warwickshire offered me a contract to play this year. I signed it. But I’d been out the whole year [2019] injured and, until you’re in the middle, or you’re fielding or running between the wickets, you’re not sure. I just didn’t feel I was moving how I wanted to. And that was restricting me a little bit from getting the best of myself. I didn’t want to just sit on a contract. I didn’t just want to be okay.”And we [Warwickshire] have some good young players coming through. There’s Dan Mousley, Rob Yate and Jacob Bethell. I didn’t want to just take up a spot and block some young, homegrown players from coming through. That would have hurt me more.”So, it felt like the right decision if I’m honest. I’ve enjoyed the media and events work I’ve done and I’m trying to go down the coaching route. I’m very comfortable with I’m doing now.”He accepts, however, that burnout played its part in the ending of his international career. For though there were more obvious casualties of the schedule in 2013 and 2014 – Jonathan Trott, notably – in their own ways, Andy Flower, Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann were all broken, too. Those who decry England’s recent rest-and-rotation policy, would probably do well to reflect how things might look if such a policy was not in place.

“The mental side of the game for me got to a point where I probably needed to take a backward step, take some time off, re-energise and go again”Bell on suffering from burnout

The decline in Bell was less obvious. Indeed, by the end of the 2013 Ashes – in which he scored three centuries and was named Player of the Series; his proudest achievement he says now – it seemed his game had risen to a new level. He had the confidence and experience to add to his obvious class. From Christmas 2009 until August 2013, he averaged 57.51 in Test cricket with 12 centuries in 43 matches. England went to No. 1 in the Test rankings and he went to No. 3 in the ICC’s batting rankings.In retrospect, though, the summer of 2013 was the beginning of the end. In his final 25 Tests, a period which coincided with two more Ashes series (one of them a whitewash), a disappointing World Cup campaign (Bell was actually England’s highest run-scorer in 2015, but we’re in “tallest dwarf” territory here) and a World T20 campaign in which he was a non-playing squad member, he scored two more centuries and averaged 29.52. And there’s nothing more ageing than the cocktail of weariness and disappointment.Reflecting on this period now, Bell accepts he should have taken Andrew Strauss, the managing director of England men’s cricket at the time, up on his offer of a few months’ sabbatical.”That wasn’t physical,” Bell says. “That was more mental burnout. At the time, I was one of those guys who thought I should keep ploughing on. Andrew Strauss, to his credit, offered me the winter off.”But I’d just accepted a central contract. So I didn’t feel taking winter off was the right option. When I look back, probably that was the wrong decision. It probably would have been a good option.Bell was Player of the Series in the 2013 Ashes•Getty Images”Whether it would have changed things and I’d have gone back in and had another two or three years with England, I don’t know. But the mental side of the game for me got to a point where I probably needed to take a backward step, take some time off, re-energise and go again.”There are no serious regrets, though. Marriage and fatherhood suit him nicely. While he remains modest, he has the good-natured honesty to admit, while filming a feature for ESPNcricinfo about the perfect 360-degree batter, that he wouldn’t swap his cover drive with anybody. And really, why would he?He’s not finished with cricket, though. He hopes to move into coaching and has particular interest in the fortunes of his old team-mates, Joe Root – “the best player of spin England have ever had” – and Dom Sibley, who “at his best, he is just what England need,” Bell says. “There are lots of different ways to be successful.”And then there’s Ollie Pope. The similarities between Bell and Pope are lost on nobody and Bell admits there are moments he double-takes and wonders whether his TV is showing live coverage or highlights of the old days. Perhaps partly as a result, there is an almost paternal attitude to analysis of a 23-year-old who is currently coming to terms with the burden of high expectations.”I had that from 16 myself in terms of some quite big statements,” Bell says, referring perhaps to that Dayle Hadlee line about him being the best 16-year-old he had ever seen. “But I think that comes with playing for England.”It always makes me laugh when people say that certain innings weren’t under pressure. You’re always under pressure when you play for England. You have to be able to deal with expectation. But there’s no doubt [Pope] has the ability. And he has the people around him too. I used to tap into Alec Stewart, his coach at Surrey, a lot about batting.Related

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“But my advice to him – to any, player, really – would be staying in the moment. And that’s really hard to do. A lot of the time, as a batsman in particular, you’re chasing outcomes. You want to get a hundred, for example. So you’re desperate to get those big scores and sometimes you put a little bit too much pressure on yourself.”When I look back in the partnerships I enjoyed with Trotty, or Cooky, or KP or Matt Prior, we just broke things down into small, achievable targets. I used to try and get to five. And then 10. And then 15. So, I’d say don’t look too far ahead.”But don’t worry about him. He scores big runs whenever he goes back to Surrey. He learns fast. He’s going to be a fine, fine player. I love watching him.”So, no need for a Bell comeback then? “No chance,” he says with a smile. “I played for more than 20 years. I played around the world and enjoyed some success with some really good teams. I did my bit.”

The addition of Brewers flame-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski to the National League All-Star roster was a controversial one.

Misiorowski was added to the NL All-Star team as an injury replacement. The 23-year-old received the nod over some more experienced players who have also been enjoying strong seasons, despite Misiorowski having made just five MLB starts.

That didn't sit too well with members of the Philadelphia Phillies, who voiced their displeasure after Misiorowski was selected over Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez, two pitchers who were also deserving of the recognition. Not everyone in the All-Star Game seems to be upset about the call from commissioner Rob Manfred.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge isn't too worked up about Misiorowski's controversial addition to the Midsummer Classic, though, and even expressed his excitement about potentially getting to face the rookie.

"Try to get one over the plate and see what I can do with it," Judge said when asked about possibly facing Milwaukee's emerging star on Tuesday. "He's a special talent. We've seen it so far in his five or six starts he's had in the big leagues. He's gonna do something special in this league for quite a long time," Judge said.

Judge didn't seem to have any qualms with the relatively inexperienced Misiorowski getting an All-Star nod, and he spoke highly of the potential the young Brewers pitcher has.

Hopefully, that's a matchup we'll get to see take place Tuesday night.

It’s never easy being manager of Tottenham Hotspur, is it? Just ask Ange Postecoglou.

The Aussie won an elusive European trophy for Spurs but after a dismal domestic campaign where the Lilywhites finished 17th, he was given his marching orders.

League proceedings threatened to get better during the early stages of Thomas Frank’s reign. Spurs were more organised and looked compact at the back.

How quickly things change. Last weekend, Frank’s side ended a run of five straight games in all competitions without winning by defeating Brentford. They won again in the Champions League in midweek but were brought back down to earth when they visited Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Spurs were pulled this way and that by Postecoglou’s former employers. With Sean Dyche now at the helm, he more than got the better of Frank who saw his side slip to a dire 3-0 loss.

What went wrong for Spurs at Forest

During the first few weeks of the new regime at Spurs, they looked far better at the back but that solidity appears to have alluded them in recent weeks. They have kept just two Premier League clean sheets in their last eight games to really hammer home the pressure on Frank.

At the City Ground, things didn’t get much better and they had Guglielmo Vicario to blame.

The Italian has made a number of crucial interventions in Spurs colours this season but arguably turned in one of his worst performances for the club in Nottingham at the weekend.

For the opener, Vicario played a very sketchy ball into the path of Archie Gray who was under pressure. He was ultimately caught in possession and Forest ended up finding the net.

Then, for the second, Hudson Odoi appeared to aim a cross into the area but it ended up goalbound and soared over Vicario whose positioning was all wrong.

While the goalkeeper did not help matters, even when Spurs had the ball in the final third they did not do an awful lot with it.

Striker Richarlison managed just two shots, none of which were on target. He also completed a dismal two passes during the game.

As for Mohammed Kudus, he could only carve out one key pass and didn’t manage a shot on target either.

Truth be told, Frank looks out of his depth. His tactics are limited and it may well be time for a change in the dugout.

The man to replace Thomas Frank at Spurs

The Dane may well have only been in charge since the summer but it’s time for a replacement. Frank did a wonderful job at Brentford but for a club that wants to be challenging for honours, they need someone progressive, someone with a better style of football.

Manager Focus

Enter Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. Daniel Levy allegedly interviewed the Spaniard at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, as per TalkSPORT, who confirmed a few weeks ago that he has his sights set on a move up the Premier League, although with the caveat that he wants to see out the season.

Well, if Spurs play their cards right, that time could be now. Hailed as “the best coach in the Premier League” by European football expert James Horncastle for his exploits on the South Coast, the Cherries manager looks ready to be an elite name in the sport.

Since taking over at Bournemouth, he has turned them into a top-half club. They finished ninth in the table last season, just nine points off a European spot.

It was a brilliant accomplishment for such a small club, but like Iraola, they are growing in stature with the Basque-born coach in charge.

Frank has been accused of playing rather boring football since moving to Spurs. It’s the opposite of Postecoglou’s reign. That’s a positive for sure, yet there also has to be a level of ambition to their play. That’s where Iraola could come in.

Bournemouth writer, Sam Davis, once noted that ‘we were told that we would see “rock and roll” football and “organised chaos” when the new boss joined the ranks at Vitality Stadium – they weren’t kidding!’

On that evidence, he could well be the perfect hybrid between Ange and Frank. Structure and organisation to the defence but crucially, a desire and ambition to attack and play free-flowing football.

Spurs must look away from Frank and roll their dice on Iraola; it could be a match made in heaven.

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Tottenham are entering a new era with new up-and-coming superstars.

By
Angus Sinclair

2 days ago

As Sabrina Ionescu tried to help the New York Liberty stay undefeated in the regular season and win their second Commissioner's Cup game, she set a franchise record along the way.

She entered Thursday night's game against the Washington Mystics at 399 career three-pointers—one short of a milestone three that would also tie her for the most in Liberty history. Two minutes into the game, she made the 400th three-point field goal of her career, tying Crystal Robinson for the most in a Liberty uniform. Four minutes later, she broke the tie on a fast break off a dish from Natasha Cloud.

Here are both record-setting treys in order:

Robinson's record has stood for 20 years—she played for the Liberty from 1999 to '05. New York is one of just three original WNBA franchises (Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury) that remain active in their original location.

According to the team, Ionescu also became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 400 three-pointers. She reached the feat in her 151st career game, beating the record previously set by the league's all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi by seven games.

Through seven games this season, Ionescu is averaging 17.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 35.7% from three on eight attempts each contest. Now, she can widen the gap as the Liberty's leading three-point shooter.

Napoli have been plunged into turmoil after club president Aurelio De Laurentiis was officially indicted on charges of false accounting tied to the high-profile transfers of Victor Osimhen and Kostas Manolas. With prosecutors alleging inflated valuations, leaked testimonies revealing pressure behind the deals, and a full trial set for 2026, the crisis now raises serious questions about the club’s future on and off the pitch.

• Fraud charges and accusations against Napoli president

  Napoli were left in shock as president De Laurentiis was indicted by Rome’s preliminary hearing judge for alleged false accounting across the 2019, 2020 and 2021 financial years. Prosecutors claim the club artificially inflated capital gains in two major transfers, Manolas from Roma in 2019 and Osimhen from Lille in 2020 to strengthen Napoli’s financial position on paper.

  The indictment also extends to CEO Andrea Chiavelli and the club itself, marking one of the most serious legal challenges in De Laurentiis’ 20-year tenure. According to the prosecution, Napoli booked “fictitious profits” through inflated player valuations, violating financial reporting rules. Napoli’s lawyers have fiercely contested the charges, calling the ruling “astonishing,” arguing that prosecutors misapplied accounting principles, and emphasising that “Napoli gained no financial advantage” from either deal.

  The club issued a strong statement reinforcing their confidence, citing independent technical reports that confirmed the accuracy of their bookkeeping. They further stressed that a similar charge tied to the same investigative file was dismissed for Inter, an argument they believe strengthens their defence. Still, with the first courtroom hearing scheduled for December 2, 2026, the case marks the beginning of a long and high-stakes legal battle for Napoli’s hierarchy.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Oshimen opens up on fraud Napoli transfer in his secret testimony

  The biggest focus of the investigation is the €76 million Osimhen deal of 2020, which included four Napoli youth players – Oreste Karnezis, Claudio Manzi, Ciro Palmieri and Luigi Liguori, valued collectively at nearly €20m. Italian investigators believe these valuations were artificially inflated to disguise capital gains, a technique similar to those that triggered major sanctions elsewhere in Serie A.

  However, the legal scrutiny deepened further when Osimhen’s own leaked testimony to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza painted a troubling picture of how his transfer unfolded. The striker revealed that he never understood the contract he signed, describing a process in which he felt pressured, confused and emotionally overwhelmed as he navigated negotiations soon after his father’s death. He said he was pushed into meetings, told an agreement already existed, and even urged to fly to Naples the day after his father passed away, something he described as profoundly distressing.

  Osimhen explained that he had never seen a contract draft, was handed only a “pseudo-agreement,” and claimed his then-agent prioritised the transfer over his personal situation. He admitted he wanted to return to France to escape the chaos and eventually cut ties with his agent before signing with new representatives. Despite the emotional backdrop, the transfer went ahead and became the catalyst for both his rise and his rift with Napoli.

  Now, as prosecutors revisit the valuations and circumstances of his signing, the Osimhen deal stands at the heart of a scandal that stretches from financial irregularities to the player’s own claims of being pressured into the move.

• The Manolas transfer and the alleged false accounting

  Manolas' 2019 move from Roma to Napoli is the second major transfer under scrutiny, and prosecutors view it as the starting point of the alleged pattern of fictitious capital gains. The Greek defender joined for roughly €36m, activating his release clause, while midfielder Amadou Diawara simultaneously moved from Napoli to Roma for around €21m. The combined structure allowed both clubs to register significant capital gains at a critical time-particularly Roma, who were racing to meet UEFA Financial Fair Play requirements before the fiscal deadline.

  Napoli logged the Manolas acquisition at a value prosecutors now claim was inflated to improve the club’s financial presentation. The allegation is that the transaction did not reflect genuine market dynamics and instead served accounting interests. The situation became more suspicious in hindsight when Manolas was sold to Olympiacos in 2022 for only €2.5m, marking a dramatic drop in valuation and prompting investigators to question whether the initial fee had been artificially increased.

  The core conflict revolves around whether the Manolas and Osimhen deals signal falsified accounting. Napoli's defence is clear as they contend that the transactions were completely legitimate, market-aligned, and fully audited.

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• AFP
  

  The road ahead for Napoli

  The indictment places Napoli in a precarious position both legally and competitively. The club faces a long wait before the trial, with proceedings set to begin in late 2026, leaving more than a year of uncertainty. While Serie A has recently dealt with financial irregularities, most notably Juventus' capital gains scandal, there is no immediate indication of point deductions or sporting sanctions for Napoli. Legal experts suggest such penalties would only emerge if prosecutors prove a systemic, long-term pattern of fraud.

If you didn’t believe that Manchester City were bona fide title contenders, well, you surely do now.

On Sunday, the serial champions crushed the reigning champions 3-0 at the Etihad, doing so with plenty to spare.

Despite the fact Erling Haaland saw an early penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, this merely momentarily delayed the Sky Blues onslaught.

Haaland headed home the opener soon after, before Nico González’s deflected shot deservedly doubled the Citizens’ advantage in first-half injury time, with Jérémy Doku curling home a clinching third; more on the brilliant Belgian in a bit.

The match marked Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th match in management and took his tally to 716 wins, which isn’t bad.

Now eyeing a seventh Premier League title, Manchester City are just four points adrift leaders Arsenal, after Mikel Arteta’s team were denied victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday night by Brian Brobbey’s last-gasp equaliser for Sunderland.

if Man City are going to become champions of the land once again, they’ll need two of their stars from Sunday to continue to perform.

Jérémy Doku's performance against Liverpool

As noted by Opta, Jérémy Doku won 11 duels, completed seven dribbles, created three chances and registered three shots on target against Liverpool.

If you think that sounds impressive, well, that’s because it is. He is the first player to rack up such an impressive figure in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard against West Ham in April 2019.

Doku’s thunderous strike capped off the victory as well as his own sublime display, with Gary Neville, speaking during commentary for Sky Sports, saying never before had he awarded the player of the match after 62 minutes, until today.

David Hytner of the Guardian asserted that the winger was ‘unplayable’, praising his ‘blur of tricks and direct running’, with Doku tormenting Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, the Northern Irishman having pocketed Vinícius Júnior just a few days before.

This was Doku’s 100th appearance in sky blue, scoring just his 17th goal for the club, previously netting against Napoli and Swansea this season, his previous Premier League goal coming at Portman Road against Ipswich in mid-January.

Now though, perhaps the 23-year-old is showing signs of realising his full potential so, while he was the obvious star of the show, an under-the-radar Man City player also deserves to be heralded for their display.

Pep Guardiola's unsung Man City hero

12 months ago, when Manchester City were in complete free fall, all the talk was about how this team cannot win without Rodri.

Well, despite enjoying a brief cameo off the bench against Bournemouth last weekend, the Ballon d’Or winner was not even in the matchday squad against Borussia Dortmund nor Liverpool subsequently, which was one of the major talking points prior to kick off on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Guardiola once described Nico González as like a “mini-Rodri”, and the midfielder helped ensure his compatriot was not missed.

Nico scored the second goal, a hammer blow for Arne Slot’s team coming on the cusp of half-time, and put in a generally imperious performance, as the numbers support.

Goals

1

1st

Accurate passes

51

3rd

Passing accuracy %

88%

5th*

Defensive actions

8

3rd

Tackles won

3

2nd

Duels won

6

4th

Ground duels won

5

3rd

Touches

72

2nd

SofaScore rating

8.3

2nd

*minimum 30 passes completed.

As the table highlights, the midfielder ranked in the top four when it came to a wide variety of statistics, registering more touches than any other player in sky blue, winning five of the six ground duels he contested as well as completing 51 of 58 passes. Truth be told, this was probably his best display in blue, dominating one of the best sides in the division.

The Manchester Evening News awarded him an 8/10 for his performance, noting that the Spaniard took ‘charge of the game’.

This, in truth, should not be overly surprising.

The midfielder joined from Porto back in January for around £50m and did so with a big reputation, given that he is a La Masia graduate, breaking into the Barcelona team with fellow mononymously known midfielders Pedri and Gavi, rated as highly as both when they were teenagers.

Nevertheless, it is still invaluable for Man City that Nico is able to take a step forward in his development and has the quality to operate as a one-man midfield, allowing their attacking stars, namely Doku, Haaland and others, to shine.

With Rodri and his obvious back-up Mateo Kovačić both struggling due to ongoing injury issues, while Tijjani Reijnders appears ill-suited to the role, Nico has been thrown in at the deep end in the number 6 position, but is gracefully swimming like a swan, rather than sinking like a heavy stone, to continue that analogy.

When Manchester City return to action after the international break, they’ll do so with a tricky trip to St James’ Park, but victory over Newcastle would cut the gap at the top to just one point, ahead of the North London derby the following day.

For the here and now, on the occasion of Guardiola’s 1,000 match as a manager, it was probably fitting that a diminutive Spanish defensive midfield shone.

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Following the release of the beta last week, Football Manager fans have finally been able to get to grips with the new game ahead of the full launch on November 4th, and it has been a long time coming.

The 2025 edition of the game was cancelled, with Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson revealing the problems with the game would’ve done irreversible damage to their reputation if it had been released.

It is full steam ahead for FM26 however, with a number of exciting new additions being made, including official FIFA tournaments, a Premier League license, over 40 new roles and the introduction of women’s football.

However, many of the core principles have stayed the same, and undoubtedly one of the most satisfying parts of FM saves is developing lesser-known talents into world-beating stars.

Goalkeeper Guillaume Restes

Every top side is built from the back, and one of the most exciting up-and-coming goalkeepers is Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes, who has already made 18 appearances for France’s U21 side, indicating the youngster could be the heir to Mike Maignan.

Just 20-years-old, the Frenchman is still in the very early stages of his career, but he has emerged as Toulouse’s first-choice option between the sticks, keeping three Ligue 1 clean sheets this season.

If you aim to emulate Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal by building from the back, Restes will provide a rock-solid foundation, but be sure to snap him up quickly, as the goalkeeper is likely to attract interest from plenty of Europe’s elite clubs.

Hidden gems: Quenten Attigah, Tommaso Martinelli, Alessandro Nunziante

Right-back Givairo Read

Previously an unfashionable position, with Jamie Carragher famously quipping “no one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville”, Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased just how influential right-backs can be during his time with Liverpool.

It may be difficult to replicate Trent’s stellar assist record, but there are plenty of options to choose from in FM26, although many are already at top clubs, such as FC Barcelona’s Hector Fort and Real Madrid’s Jesus Fortea.

Givairo Read, on the other hand, may be easier to prise away from Feyenoord, despite the 19-year-old breaking out as a first-team player for the Dutch side, chipping in with two assists in nine Eredivisie games this season.

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Hidden gems: Martim Fernandes, Daniel Banjaqui, Marco Palestra

Centre-back Willy Kambwala

Manchester United may end up ruing the decision to let Willy Kambwala leave in the summer of 2024, with the 21-year-old going on to make an immediate impact for Villarreal last season, making 19 appearances in La Liga.

Kambwala also caught the eye in a United shirt in the very early stages of his career, when called upon against Liverpool near the end of the 2023-24 campaign, at which point he was just 19-years-old.

If you do try to sign the Villarreal star, watch out for United, who retain a buy-back clause which doesn’t expire until 2027.

Hidden gems: Matteo Palma

Left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly

Lewis-Skelly needs very little introduction, given the impact the 18-year-old has made at Arsenal since such a young age, infamously mocking Erling Haaland with his celebration after scoring in the Gunners’ 5-1 rout of Manchester City last season.

The teenager hasn’t featured quite as regularly for Arteta’s side this season, but it is a testament to his ability that he has already amassed six international caps for England, with the youngster’s World Cup debut very much on the cards next summer.

The north Londoners are likely to demand a huge fee for their left-back, however, so it may also be worth taking a look at the more affordable options below…

Hidden gems: Saba Kharebashvili, Davinchi, Tom Rothe

Central midfield Ayyoub Bouaddi

It is no surprise that Ayyoub Bouaddi has already started to attract the attention of some top clubs, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all hatching plans to sign the Lille midfielder.

Boauddi only turned 18 earlier this month, but he has already emerged as a key first-team player for Lille, making 66 appearances for the French club, during which time he’s displayed his versatility by featuring in both defensive and attacking midfield roles.

Having been born just one month too late to be included in the previous edition, FM26 fans should be chomping at the bit to sign the Lille starlet, given that beta players have already discovered he develops into a midfielder with phenomenal physical and mental attributes.

Hidden gems: Tom Bischof, Niccolo Pisili, Kees Smit

Right-wing Lamine Yamal

It would be impossible to compile this list without mentioning Lamine Yamal, who is already regarded as one of the best wingers in world football, currently sitting in second place in the 2026 Ballon d’Or power rankings.

Having established himself as one of the best players in the world, however, signing Yamal is likely to break the bank, which means it may be worth taking a look at some lesser-known prospects, such as Vasco da Gama’s Rayan, who Tottenham Hotspur recently opened talks to sign.

Still, if you choose to start a Barca save or somehow manage to persuade the La Liga giants to cash-in, you can be sure the 18-year-old will remain one of the best right-wingers in the world for a decade to come.

Hidden gems: Rayan, David Martinez, Ian Subiabre

Left-wing Kenan Yildiz

Much like Bouaddi, Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz has already started attracting major interest from the Premier League, with it recently being revealed Man United were preparing an ‘aggressive pitch’ to sign the 20-year-old.

Having initially made his breakthrough in the 2023-24 campaign, it was last season in which Yildiz truly started to flourish, regularly providing goals and assists for Juventus across all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goal contributions

Serie A

35

12

Champions League

10

2

Club World Cup

4

5

Italian Cup

2

1

Italian Super Cup

1

1

The Turkish starlet announced himself to the world with his stellar performances at the Club World Cup, and he could make all the difference in your pursuit of European domination on FM26…

Hidden gems: Jeremy Monga, Gabriel Mec

Attacking midfielder Arda Guler

Arda Güler has already gotten his big move to Real Madrid, which means he will no doubt cost a pretty penny on FM26, but the Turk has shown all the signs he is capable of reaching the very top level with his performances under the helm of Xabi Alonso.

Alonso clearly has a lot of faith in the 20-year-old, having played him in every La Liga match this season, and the Turkish youngster has repaid his manager with three goals and four assists.

FM fans will know all about the Real Madrid star, given that he was among the highest-potential players on FM24, and he is once again set to be one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders, although there are some potentially more affordable alternatives.

Hidden gems: Rodrigo Mora, Luca Williams-Barnett

Striker Vitor Roque

South American strikers have helped transform countless struggling sides into European champions in FM saves over the years, and Vitor Roque has the ability to do exactly that.

The 20-year-old Brazilian has been prolific in front of goal for Palmeiras in the 2025 Serie A, picking up 13 goals and three assists in 27 matches, and it no doubt won’t be too long before links with a move to England re-appear, having previously been targeted by Newcastle United.

With the now one-time Brazil international still currently plying his trade in his home country, a deal will not break the bank, at least in comparison to his potential, which is among the highest of any striker in the game, as it has been revealed he is expected to cost around £45m.

Hidden gems: Sami Bouhoudane

There was once a time when 22 players took to the field alongside a referee, two linesmen and a fourth official between two managers. Those days feel long gone, however, and what was once a routine game is now becoming increasingly complicated.

That said, as far as FIFA is concerned, there’s still space for some more fresh ideas with the introduction of purple and blue cards potentially on the horizon.

The problems behind VAR concern

If this was a popularity contest, then VAR would arguably be at the very bottom of the pile. The Video Assistant Referee has been at the centre of controversy ever since its arrival, whether in the Premier League, La Liga or elsewhere around Europe. Endless lines have been drawn over the years and whilst semi-automated offside calls should keep rulers in their drawers for the time being, the wait for many is still unbearable.

The technology has even received some criticism from referees. Former Premier League official Graham Scott went as far to say that working as part of the VAR team is “utterly unenjoyable” in a recent interview with talkSPORT.

For the players, meanwhile, celebrations have often been interrupted, wonder goals have been ruled out and size 15 boots have been used to call the most marginal offside calls. Scott didn’t enjoy VAR in the Premier League and it’s hard to imagine a world in which the players are fans.

So, change must take place. Problems with how long VAR takes, how many decisions it scrutinises at every angle and other issues must change. Whether that should start with purple and blue cards is another question entirely, however.

FIFA to trial purple and blue cards

According to the BBC, FIFA is currently trialing the use of purple and blue cards which hand the managers the power to request decision reviews. In an attempt to replicate the system used in tennis, the cards are currently being tested at the U20 World Cup in Chile and other small tournaments.

Described as Football Video Support (FVS), the system is “cost-effective and stable”, according to FIFA, and has been introduced in leagues that cannot afford VAR such as Serie C and the Primera Federacion in Italy and Spain. Trials have taken place in the Italy Women’s Serie A as well as in Brazil since August, but the jury is still out.

The system hands both managers a card at the start of the match – one a purple card and one a blue card – and that card can only be used by them. Managers are then allowed to submit two requests per game. Like in tennis, if the decision is not changed despite their request then one of the cards will be lost. Meanwhile, if the request results in a decision change then the card will remain intact and can be used again.

To implement the card, managers must twirl a finger in the air – yes, really – and hand their card to a fourth official to make an official review request. All requests must come directly after the incident has taken place.

Whilst it’s hard to imagine the likes of Diego Simeone twirling their fingers in the air for this request, the idea itself could yet solve football’s VAR problem.

Luciano Spalletti has addressed speculation linking him to the vacant Juventus managerial position following the sacking of Igor Tudor. Speaking at a public event in Milan, the former Italy and Napoli boss offered a cheeky but respectful response, praising Tudor’s work and admitting that “whoever replaces him will be lucky” to inherit a team ready to compete.

• Spalletti responds to Juve links with class and humour

  Former Italian manager Spalletti has reacted to reports that Juventus are eyeing him as Igor Tudor’s replacement, just a day after the Croatian coach was dismissed following a dismal run of results. The former Italy and Napoli boss, speaking at an event in Milan, didn’t shy away from the rumours but handled the subject with a blend of humour and humility.

  “I thought we were talking about something else,” Spalletti said with a grin when asked about the Juventus links. “If I had to say something about Juventus, I’d gladly say it in favour of Tudor. I’ve met him and he seemed like a serious, valuable person. I’ve seen him work well on the bench, and he gave me the impression of a person of substance, someone who goes straight to the heart.”

  The 66-year-old coach, who won the Scudetto with Napoli in 2023 before managing Italy, added that “whoever replaces Tudor will be lucky; he’ll certainly find a team he can manage. Juventus is a great club with a great history. I think anyone would be happy to coach them; it could be the fortune of any coach.”

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  Spalletti shows respect for Tudor and Juve's legacy

  Spalletti’s remarks carried both empathy for Tudor and admiration for Juve, reflecting the coach’s trademark diplomacy. He emphasised that despite the speculation, his first thoughts were with the man who had just lost his job. “When we talk about this situation, the first thought goes to Tudor, who was fired, and I know very well what it’s like to be in the shoes of the guy who’s been let go,” he explained.

  Tudor’s sacking came after Juventus failed to win any of their last eight matches in all competitions, leaving them eighth in Serie A and six points off the top. The club issued a brief statement confirming his departure on Monday: “Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as coach of the men’s first team.”

  Despite the downturn, Spalletti insisted that Tudor had done good work. “He seemed like a good person to me, a tough guy, a true professional, and whoever is lucky enough to go and coach Juve will surely find a motivated, well-coached team because it was clear that he did his job to the fullest,” he added.

• Juventus step up up talks with Spalletti after Tudor's exit

  According to , Juventus have accelerated their pursuit of Spalletti following Tudor’s dismissal. The club’s directors, led by Damien Comolli, are reportedly planning direct talks with the 66-year-old, who is currently out of work following his sacking from the Italy job earlier this year.

  The proposed deal is said to be short-term, valid until the end of the season, with an automatic extension clause if Juve qualify for the Champions League. Spalletti, for his part, is understood to be “open” to the challenge but is seeking a longer commitment. Juventus’ offer could therefore evolve into a one-and-a-half-year deal to satisfy both parties.

  If negotiations fail, Juventus have reportedly lined up alternatives including Roberto Mancini, recently linked with a Serie A return, and Raffaele Palladino are on standby. However, the reports in Italy suggest Spalletti remains the clear frontrunner.

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  How Spalletti's Juve could look?

  The coming days could prove decisive in determining Juventus’ managerial future as talks between the Bianconeri hierarchy and Spalletti are expected to intensify this week, with the club eager to secure stability before their next Serie A fixture against Udinese.

  Should Spalletti take the Juventus job, his tactical setup is expected to differ markedly from Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 formation. The veteran coach has traditionally favoured a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, systems that prioritise quick transitions and creative interplay between midfield and attack. The flexible shape mirrors the one Spalletti used successfully at Napoli, where he crafted one of Serie A’s most fluid and entertaining teams, powered by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

  Juve have struggled for goals and consistency, failing to score in four consecutive matches and sitting outside the European qualification spots. The appointment of a proven tactician like Spalletti could reignite their campaign and restore belief among supporters.

  As for Spalletti, the Juventus job represents both risk and redemption, a chance to return to Serie A after his abrupt Italy exit and to rebuild one of the country’s most iconic clubs. Whether he accepts the challenge remains to be seen, but his words alone have already captured the respect of Turin and beyond.