More big names are expected to join Tom Brady at Birmingham, with Stephen Carr telling GOAL why marquee signings in the transfer market can be completed. The former Blues defender has also been discussing, in an exclusive interview, why plans for a new stadium – which could attract NFL games – and Premier League promotion dreams can come to fruition.

• Winning mentality: Brady's role at Birmingham

  Birmingham tumbled into League One during Brady’s first season as a minority stakeholder of the club. They did, however, bounce back in style when claiming the third tier title in record-breaking fashion last term.

  With big-spending owners on board, the Blues are aiming high. They want to beat Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and Wrexham to the top tier, with both clubs generating plenty of noise away from the field – with documentary series opening up a window to the world.

  Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady has helped Birmingham to spread their word, with the American football legend fully signed up to an exciting project in the West Midlands. He is helping to bring a winning mentality to St Andrew’s.

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  Transfer business: Birmingham backed to land big names

  With the Blues’ mass appeal continuing to grow, Carr – speaking in association with – told GOAL when asked if more household names will head to Birmingham: “I think so. I think that’s what they are aiming for. The stadium that they just released, you can see what they are building – that is for the Premier League, that’s not for the Football League. That has to be a Premier League stadium.

  “I know there is all the other stuff with it, the NFL and everything, but it is being geared up now where they want to go. Very ambitious. But there is a limit to what you can spend, it’s as simple as that. You see it at Newcastle as well – the richest club in the world but they can’t go out and buy whoever they want. That’s where they need plans.

  “They do need a good few players. If they stay in the Championship, consolidate and then build. They need players coming in. It’s what they can bring in, what they are restricted with and what they can spend. They have always had a good academy there, they produce some good young players. But you see with the stadium and everything, they are very ambitious.

  “It’s amazing for the area, it needs it. In the long-term, I think you will see top players. But they need to get into the Premier League to get those players because you are limited in what you can spend. They can’t go and throw money at trying to get to the Premier League. You need to get up, but it’s going to take a bit of time. It’s not simple. The Championship is getting harder and harder. You see it’s stacked at the moment.

  “For the future, that’s the goal. The stadium shows how much money they will be spending. That stadium is only worth something if you are in the Premier League, it’s not for the Championship – with the costs and all that. You see Tottenham’s stadium and what they spent, they spent a fortune, but they are in the Premier League. That’s a Premier League stadium, so hopefully they do it and get up. I think you will see spending. I think it will be controlled, it won’t be stupid, but you will see bigger names coming back to Birmingham.”

• NFL & Taylor Swift: Grand plans for Birmingham

  Another former Blues star, Clinton Morrison, told GOAL recently when asked about NFL games and Taylor Swift concerts at Birmingham: “The city in its own right is the second city in the country behind London. It’s a massive city and a city that probably hasn’t had as much investment as others – like Manchester and others in the UK. There is a lot of scope for growth economically in the city.

  “The owners have got big dreams of bringing this all-purpose stadium in. We have seen it with a couple of other stadiums around the country where they have managed to incorporate other events and generate revenue that way. I believe it is only a good thing what they are planning. Whether that materialises or not is another thing. I believe they have to have Premier League status in order to achieve and attract that magnitude of event.”

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• Birmingham City
  

  Promotion push: When will Birmingham reach the Premier League?

  Birmingham, who continue to work under the guidance of manager Chris Davies, are very much in the Championship top-six picture this season. They sit eighth in the table at present, one point outside the play-off places and only five adrift of the second automatic promotion spot.

  They will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Southampton. They have six more games through to the end of the calendar year, at which point another transfer window will open and more fresh faces could be welcomed through the doors.

Sunderland are now reportedly in pole position to sign a midfield star who Regis Le Bris already knows well ahead of rivals Newcastle United.

Le Bris eyes Sunderland reaction vs Bournemouth

It’s not often that Sunderland have been handed setbacks this season, but defeat against Fulham last time out was exactly that for Le Bris’ side.

Whilst it was just their third loss of the season and there’s no reason to think that last week’s result could derail their strong start, the Black Cats will be eyeing a reaction against Bournemouth.

Three points could take the Black Cats to as high as third if other results also go their way and after 13 games that would simply be remarkable. In many ways, those at the Stadium of Light are replicating the impressive work that Bournemouth have gradually enjoyed since their own promotion.

Le Bris admitted his admiration for the Cherries, saying: “Bournemouth are a good model for us. They way they have built in the last four seasons in the league is really interesting for us.”

Related An Isidor repeat: Sunderland line up move to sign "special" £4.7m star

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It must be said, however, that Sunderland’s model has so featured more investment and the type of investment that could see them land Matteo Guendouzi ahead of Newcastle in January.

Sunderland leading Newcastle in Guendouzi race

According to TeamTalk, Sunderland are now ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Guendouzi in 2026 in a deal that could be worth up to £26m. Le Bris knows the Lazio midfielder well from their time together at Lorient and admitted that he’s still in contact with his former midfielder a few weeks ago.

It would be a statement move if the Black Cats landed a transfer target ahead of their rivals, who are backed by the extensive riches of PIF. But that’s the position they find themselves in after such an impressive start to the Premier League campaign.

League stats 25/26

Matteo Guendouzi

Granit Xhaka

Minutes

888

1,080

Progressive Passes

45

66

Tackles Won

5

13

Ball Recoveries

43

55

It’s easy to see why Sunderland are chasing a reunion between Le Bris and Guendouzi, given how the Frenchman has compared to star man Granit Xhaka so far this season. The transfer report even states that the Black Cats view Guendouzi ‘as the perfect midfield partner for Xhaka, adding experience and bite to their engine room’.

Previously dubbed a “great professional” by former Hertha Berlin sporting director Arne Friedrich, Guendouzi also has unfinished business in the Premier League after leaving Arsenal under a dark cloud in 2021 and could earn redemption at Sunderland.

Isidor upgrade: Sunderland open talks to sign "unstoppable" £26m striker

Real Madrid legend David Beckham has joined forces with current Blancos stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to help launch the new throwback Predator Mania from adidas. The ex-England captain is mingling with Three Lions performers of the present as an iconic design is brought back to life in a stunning colourway that will stand out on the field.

Beckham & Zidane helped to make Predator boots iconic

Beckham, alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane, helped to build the Predator brand back in his heyday. While turning out for Manchester United, Real Madrid and England, the legendary No.7 sported the most recognisable of boots.

Known for setting trends and breaking the mould, Becks became synonymous with fabled footwear that has gone down in football folklore. He is now bringing an iconic boot back, as another era is defined by superstars of the present.

AdvertisementHistoric colourway delivered by adidas

The Predator Mania for 2025, which is delivered in ‘Gunmetal’ grey, is said to blend “early-2000s nostalgia with modern construction”. The colourway itself is steeped in history. Beckham sported it during his early days in Madrid – with a striking combination of siler, white and an "unmistakable red tongue” allowing him to stand out from the crowd.

Said boot is considered to have been “one of the most photogenic of its time” and adidas are reviving it with “care.” The modern Predator “once again features a steely, metal-optic sheen that reads as both polished and aggressive, contrasted sharply by crisp white Three Stripes”. Adidas also point out how “the fold-over tongue, a visual trademark of the Mania series, returns in vivid red leather with embroidered adidas detailing, completing a look that defined a generation of playmakers”.

Predators gracing the field at Santiago Bernabeu again

While the look of the latest Predator remains “faithful” to its roots, “the craftsmanship has been elevated”. The remake has been produced at the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, with said facility adding “a layer of authenticity that mirrors how high-end Predators were once built”.

The Mania has seen “subtle refinements in structure, comfort, and responsiveness” that make the boot “feel prepared for today’s game without losing the weight of its past”. It will be gracing the field at Santiago Bernabeu again as Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold form part of adidas’ current stable of talent.

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Bellingham helps return Real to winning ways

Bellingham has followed in the footsteps of legendary Frenchman Zidane at Real, inheriting the No.5 jersey that the World Cup winner once wore with such distinction. He has drawn comparisons to Beckham throughout his career, with both able to blend on-field ability with off the pitch marketing appeal.

All-action midfielder Bellingham wore the gunmetal Predators when Madrid returned to winning ways in their latest La Liga fixture – with a 3-0 victory away at Athletic Club ensuring that they remain just one point adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in another thrilling title race.

Shakib said he wants to play a full series across formats in Bangladesh to say goodbye to the fans

Mohammad Isam07-Dec-2025Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and has said that he wishes to play all three formats. Shakib has not played international cricket in over a year and had announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.”I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.”I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”Related

• BCB says door still open for Shakib to play for Bangladesh

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Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, once the Awami League government was dethroned on August 5. Shakib was an MP for that party. He was named in an FIR in an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then went on to play Tests in Pakistan and India. The second Test against India in Kanpur was his last international game.When asked whether he will return to Bangladesh, Shakib said, “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen.”Shakib further said that he will not be burdened by results and he wants to “give something back to the fans” for years of support in a home series.”I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words,” he said. “They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that.”I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series.”Shakib Al Hasan last played a Test in late 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Ahead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced he wasn’t going to play T20Is anymore, while expressing his desire to play his last Test in the home South Africa series that was scheduled for October.There were some protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of the Test series, after which Shakib issued an apology for his silence during the students-led protest which led to hundreds of deaths in July and August.The BCB then dropped Shakib for the Tests against South Africa, mainly because Bangladesh’s interim government couldn’t guarantee his safe exit from the country.Earlier this year, a BCB official said that Shakib was welcome to return to the Bangladesh team. In September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after Shakib wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown Magura in January 2024, also suggested that he wasn’t done with his political career when he was asked what legacy he wants to leave. “[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe political side is left,” he said. “It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”

Opener adapts his game to go deep and delivers when it most matters

Alan Gardner14-Sep-2025Will Smeed was relieved to have finally produced the goods when it mattered for Somerset after his perfectly paced innings of 94 off 58 balls helped secure the club’s third T20 Blast title, and second in the last five years.Smeed had never previously scored a half-century in a T20 knockout match – a record that stretched back to his breakthrough season in 2021, and encompassed 13 innings for Somerset (five quarter-finals, five semi-finals and three finals), as well as one for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.He fell one hit away from becoming only the second player to score a century on Blast Finals Days – after Chris Lynn broke new ground for Hampshire in Saturday’s second semi-final – and the first to do so in the final of the competition. But he said he was happy to hand over to his captain, Lewis Gregory, whose ruthless five-ball onslaught sealed the game for Somerset with an over to spare.Related

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“To be honest, I just wanted to win the game. I was gutted about not getting us over the line, but Lewis did it, so now I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to make sure we won it. That was the main thing.”Asked if it was his best innings, Smeed said: “It’s the first time I’ve done it in a knockout game. So it’s nice to nice to get that under my belt, and hopefully can take that on going forward. But tonight I’m just gonna celebrate with my mates.”The innings was also evidence of Smeed’s efforts to “add a few more dimensions” to his game as an all-or-nothing power hitter opening the batting. He was 18 off 15 balls when losing opening partner, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and steadily increased his tempo through the chase, reaching a 35-ball fifty. His first and only six of the night came in the 17th over, from the 53rd ball he had faced.Lewis Gregory and Sean Dickson celebrate the moment of Somerset’s victory•Getty Images”We knew one of the top order had to take it deep, just the way the game panned out meant I had to take some more sensible options than I’m used to,” he said. “But it felt like you could hit fours if you hit gaps.”I think that’s been something I’ve tried to work on this year, is trying to add a few more dimensions to the game, as opposed to going gung-ho. TKC did it in the first game brilliantly [with 81 off 52 to set up victory over Lancashire], and I tried to take some learnings from that. We’ve got so much faith in guys down the order that if the rate does creep up, we can always get it back down. So yeah, it worked out today.”The absence of Tom Banton with England, which led to Kohler-Cadmore moving up from his usual berth at No. 3, “probably put a bit more responsibility on me,” Smeed said. “But we’ve not exactly got bad players filling in for him, we’ve got guns coming in. So yeah, it doesn’t change much in terms of the balance of the team or anything. I think that’s been our strength, everyone knows what the team needs from them, and they just go and try and do that.”In the middle alongside Gregory for the moment of victory was Sean Dickson, twice Somerset’s top-scorer when they prevailed on Finals Day in 2023 and the man who dragged them through the quarter-finals last weekend with a scintillating innings against Birmingham Bears. This was likely his last innings for the club, having agreed a move to Glamorgan after not being offered a new contract.”He’s been unbelievable for us. I think, probably the best number five in the country, and I think he shows that time and time again. So yeah, gutted to be losing hm, I’m not looking forward to playing against him next year. But yeah, he’s been so good for us, he brings that calm composure and the ability to execute under pressure, and he can smack any kind of bowler. So he’s a serious, serious player. We’re very grateful for what he’s done for the club over the last few years.”Smeed hailed Sean Dickson’s influence after his key role in the campaign•Getty ImagesHampshire, who were aiming for a record fourth T20 title, had appeared to be favourites after posting the joint-highest total in a Blast final on the back of Toby Albert’s 85 and a partnership of 97 off 59 balls with their captain, James Vince. They squeezed Somerset’s requirement up to 12.66 an over, with six overs left in the game, only for Smeed and Dickson reel it back in as dew descended and it became harder for bowlers to hold the ball.”They obviously got off to a flyer, but we bowled so well, like we have done in the last few games, through that middle period. At the halfway stage, we felt really in the game. We knew we’d have to bat well, but we felt in it. It was a great wicket and the outfield got quicker. So yeah, just absolutely buzzing to have won.”Both teams were playing at Finals Day for the 11th time – a joint-record – and while Somerset have the better record of reaching the final (this was their eighth), Hampshire had never previously been beaten with the trophy on the line.”They’re a great side. Every time we play them, it seems like a really close game, so I’m sure we’ll have lots of close games in the future. You’ve just got to look at their side, they’re full of good players. They know how to win, they know how to get to finals day, and it’s nice to get one over on them this time, but I’m sure they’re going to come back with a vengeance next year.”

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is facing a potentially defining week in his career at the club ahead of Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Liverpool at Elland Road.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Farke’s job may be on the line in these next two matches, because senior figures at the club believe that two losses could lead to his dismissal.

It added that his position in West Yorkshire could be ‘untenable’ if he does not pick up at least one point, as the report states that his job hangs ‘in the balance’.

The Guardian, though, also revealed that some sources have expressed sympathy for the German manager because the results have not been as positive as the performances have been.

Leeds exploring move for English head coach

Whilst a final decision has not been made on the former Norwich City head coach’s future at the club, a fresh report has named one of the managers already in the frame to take his place.

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According to Football Insider, Leeds United are exploring the possibility of a move to appoint former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil as Farke’s replacement at Elland Road.

The report claims that the English tactician is ‘firmly’ in the running to be the next Whites manager if they decide to part ways with the German this week.

It adds that Farke will be in the dugout for the clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night, as the earlier report from The Guardian backs up, but his future beyond these next two games remains in doubt.

However, the 49ers should change their mind and avoid a deal to appoint O’Neil as their next manager if they opt to move on from Farke, because he could be a Javi Gracia repeat for the club.

Why Gary O'Neil could be a Javi Gracia repeat for Leeds

The Whites appointed Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch in February 2022 in an attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and it seemed to be a shrewd move on paper.

Prior to joining Leeds, the Spaniard had finished 14th and 11th in the Premier League with Watford in his first two seasons with the Hornets, per Transfermarkt, before losing his job after three defeats in four games at the start of his third campaign.

He, therefore, arrived as a ‘proven’ Premier League manager, but that did not stop him from losing six of his 11 games in charge before being sacked by the Whites, who then brought in Sam Allardyce.

O’Neil would arrive at Elland Road with a similar reputation because he finished 15th and 14th with Bournemouth and Wolves in his first two seasons in the division, before being sacked after a run of 11 losses in 16 games in his third top-flight campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The English boss, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, per Transfermarkt, lost his job with the Old Gold for a run of form that was even worse than Farke’s current performance at Leeds.

Games managed

13

16

Wins

3

2

Draws

2

3

Losses

8

11

Points

11

9

Points per game

0.85

0.56

League position

18th

19th

As you can see in the table above, Farke would still have a better record than O’Neil did last season if he loses these next two games against Chelsea and Liverpool.

These statistics suggest that there is no guarantee that the ex-Wolves manager would be an upgrade on the German in the dugout, as Gracia wasn’t, despite his Premier League experience, when they sacked Marsch in 2022.

With this in mind, the 49ers should avoid moving for the out-of-work head coach if they decide to sack Farke, because it could be a repeat of the mistake that former sporting director Victor Orta once made with Gracia.

Instead, they should look to appoint a manager who is a clear upgrade on the German boss, whether they have Premier League experience or not, to help them in their battle against relegation.

Leeds lining up January spending spree for "phenomenal" Farke replacement

Daniel Farke will reportedly be sacked if Leeds lose their next two matches.

ByBen Goodwin Dec 1, 2025

Of course, it would be remiss of us to ignore the possibility that Farke can turn things around in these next two games to save his job, which would alleviate any need for the board to step in and make a decision on a replacement for him in the coming weeks.

Martin O’Neill hasn’t just steadied the ship at Celtic, he’s steered it firmly back on course, with Wednesday’s narrow victory over Dundee seeing the Glasgow giants move level on points with Hearts at the Premiership summit – and with a game in hand to boot.

While that recent surge up the table has come amid a mid-season slump for the Jambos, O’Neill could have done little better during his interim stint, recording five successive league wins, while claiming November’s Manager of the Month award.

Parachuted in following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, the 73-year-old has brought calm to the chaos, with the Hoops now firmly back on track both domestically and in Europe.

Although the treble-winning coach may not have overseen a vintage display on his final outing in the dugout, Daizen Maeda’s brave first-half header was another to secure all three points, ensuring new man Wilfried Nancy can aim to build on this momentum heading into the weekend’s top-of-the-table clash.

The Frenchman – finally – will take charge at Parkhead, with Wednesday’s win outlining that there is still plenty of work to be done to right the wrongs of Rodgers’ regime.

Nancy's in-tray at Celtic

Perhaps the most notable point of concern for the incoming 48-year-old will be the raft of injuries that have struck Celtic of late, with left-back Marcelo Saracchi the latest to be struck down on Wednesday.

As O’Neill confirmed post-match, the 27-year-old appears to have pulled his hamstring once again, cruelly curtailing his hopes of genuinely challenging Kieran Tierney in that full-back berth.

The summer signing thus joins the likes of Jota, Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand and Cameron Carter-Vickers on the sidelines, with the latter man having notably been ruled out for the season following a severe Achilles injury.

Away from the treatment table, a key issue for Nancy to solve will be in the attacking unit, with the likes of Sebastian Tounekti, Yang Hyun-jun and the forgotten Michel-Ange Balikwisha all vying for that left-wing berth.

On the opposite flank, O’Neill has utilised Luke McCowan in recent weeks, although the Scotsman looks far more suited to a creative number ten berth, much like Sweden star Benjamin Nygren.

Equally, too, a decision will have to be made on the make-up of the midfield trio, with Reo Hatate having found his feet again under O’Neill, notably playing that stunning sweeping pass in the build-up to Maeda’s header against Dundee.

Perhaps the biggest debate, however, might be how best to cover for that devastating loss of Carter-Vickers in the backline, with questions still to be asked of the Auston Trusty and Liam Scales partnership.

Celtic's "player of the year" could now be replaced

In a department that has seen such turbulence in recent years, with figures like Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki coming and going without so much as leaving a trace, the news of Carter-Vickers’ lengthy absence will have been a bitter blow for those at Celtic Park.

Chalkboard

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

Unsurprisingly, since then, O’Neill has settled on the experienced duo of Trusty and Scales, although that pairing is not without its problems, as was evident again last night.

Indeed, the Republic of Ireland international was particularly underpar against Steven Pressley’s side, having hardly been his usual dominant self in both boxes.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old won just a solitary duel from four attempts, while failing to win a single tackle, having been dribbled past once in that midweek encounter.

One particular moment of concern came late on, with Scales allowing substitute Ashley Hay to burst in behind and in on goal, albeit with the towering left-footer doing well to narrow the angle for the subsequent attempt on goal.

Callum McGregor

24

Liam Scales

24

Benjamin Nygren

24

Arne Engels

23

Kasper Schmeichel

22

Kieran Tierney

21

Reo Hatate

21

Daizen Maeda

21

Luke McCowan

18

Not his usual threat in an attacking sense either, having registered no shots, dribbles or key passes despite Celtic’s possession dominance, it was a bit of an off night for the former Shamrock Rovers man.

Of course, it has largely been a positive season for the Irishman, having been noted as in the running to be the club’s “player of the year” this term by one podcaster, although as Wednesday showcased, he isn’t without his limitations.

Equally, with the sight of two left-footers deployed together at centre-back still looking somewhat unnatural, Nancy may instead prefer to take a punt on young Dane Murray.

Scales, for what it’s worth, has done little wrong of late, but if Nancy truly wants to progress this team, the steady centre-back may have to be a potential casualty.

Better than Maeda: Celtic star is going to be undroppable under Nancy

This Celtic star who was even better than Daizen Maeda against Dundee should be Wilfried Nancy’s first undroppable star.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 4, 2025

Eddie Howe didn’t name a weakened Newcastle United side against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday in the Champions League, despite the Tyne-Wear Derby looming large.

Indeed, the 48-year-old went full strength, as he picked the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon, even as his team’s tense showdown with Sunderland comes onto the overloaded fixture list on Sunday.

Going all out with his team selection didn’t mean a convincing win was forthcoming, though, as Newcastle’s frailties away from St James’ Park reared their ugly head once more in a 2-2 draw at the BayArena.

Unfortunately, many of Howe’s top performers throughout the season struggled in Leverkusen, as an 88th-minute equaliser from Alejandro Grimaldo proved to be a sickening end to a night that was meant to boost the Toon’s confidence, before travelling to the Black Cats.

Newcastle's worst performers vs Leverkusen

It was a well-worked move that saw the Spanish defender slot home past Aaron Ramsdale, but the lax marking of the full-back will have angered Howe at the full-time whistle, as Tonali looked nowhere near his energetic best once more.

The Italian just casually jogged about the pitch when the move was being orchestrated, with the ex-AC Milan man also falling victim to a sluggish display on the ball when giving up possession eight times.

As journalist Luke Edwards put it at the close of the 2-2 draw, he’s meant to “bring control” to contests late on, but looked haphazard on the flip side.

Moreover, Howe could now be second-guessing whether Malick Thiaw should start what will surely be a heated contest at the Stadium of Light, with the clumsy German fortunate not to receive a red card when bringing down Patrick Schick early into the first half, just before he could fire a shot at Ramsdale’s net.

Thankfully, the 24-year-old evaded the referee’s wrath, with the hope that he can get back to his rock-solid best on Wearside, having further come up short uncharacteristically on three of his eight duels away from St James’ Park.

Guimaraes was also left red-faced during the clash when he unfortunately put an own-goal past an unsuspecting Ramsdale, but he did more than enough at BayArena to keep his first-team spot, as seen in him notching up a hefty five key passes, as per Sofascore.

The same, however, can’t be said for one of his declining teammates…

The Newcastle star who must now be axed

Hailed as an “unbelievably frustrating” night from a Toon persuasion by Sky Sports’ Andy Sixsmith, it will be intriguing to see what changes Howe makes to his starting XI now for the demanding Tyne-Wear face-off to come.

Chalkboard

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

Joelinton dropping out feels like an obvious alteration, as the underperforming number seven limped off with a clear injury issue on the hour mark.

To make matters worse for the waning Brazilian, his replacement, Lewis Miley, scored within 14 minutes of his introduction into the lively game, leading one content creator to state that the young Englishman has now “claimed his starting space.”

Minutes played

60

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

33

Shots

1

Accurate passes

20/23 (87%)

Key passes

0

Total duels won

2/9

Even if the lethargic South American didn’t have his injury issue to contend with, he would likely be fearful of the axe when looking at his poor numbers from the Leverkusen score draw in more detail, as the 29-year-old, who used to be known for his verve and determination centrally, ended up only winning two of his nine duels on the night.

On top of that, he also very much fell victim to fading in and out of the match, having come off at the hour mark with only 33 touches accumulated, unlike his midfield partners in Guimaraes and Tonali, who amassed a weighty 121 touches between them.

Even Ramsdale in between the sticks would tally up more touches, ending the 2-2 affair with a slightly higher 39.

Having lost his spark in the Premier League this season, too, with zero goals or assists next to his name from 13 league outings, it does feel like a straightforward swap to bring in Miley for some freshness against Sunderland, as the homegrown prodigy licks his lips at the prospect of facing the Toon’s fiercest rivals.

Dropping Joelinton is unlikely to be the only tweak at the Stadium of Light, as Howe does everything in his power to pick the strongest XI that hands his team the bragging rights on Sunday.

As bad as Tonali: £75k-p/w star had his worst game in a Newcastle shirt

This Newcastle star struggled in their 2-2 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen

ByJoe Nuttall 1 day ago

Mistakes sank the Cubs in Game 2 of the NL division series on Monday night. Now they'll head back to Wrigley Field and try to pick up the pieces, while the Brewers bask in a 2–0 series lead.

Chicago raced to a 3–0 lead in the top of the first as they jumped all over Milwaukee's opener, Aaron Ashby. A single from Nico Hoerner and a walk from Kyle Tucker set the stage for Seiya Suzuki, who launched a 440-foot bomb into left-center.

It took less than an inning for Chicago's good vibes to vanish.

In the bottom of the first, Shota Imanaga got the first two outs, then gave up back-to-back singles to William Contreras and Christian Yelich. Andrew Vaughn was next and worked a full count. That's when Imanaga made Chicago's first mistake of the night. The 32-year-old lefty tried to bury an 84 mph sweeper in on Vaughn's hands. He annihilated it, sending the ball 382 feet over the left field fence at 109.2 mph to tie the game 3–3.

Vaughn slugged .455 on breaking pitches this season, and all but two of his 22 home runs were pulled. Going soft in on him was a terrible decision, and the Cubs paid for it. That wasn't the last pitch Imanaga would regret.

The veteran starter settled down and retired six in a row after the Vaughn home run. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Contreras stepped to the plate. After throwing two splitters and running the count to 1–1, Imanaga again attempted to beat a pull hitter by going in and paid the price. His 91 mph fastball wasn't far enough inside, and Contreras punished it, launching the ball 411 feet to left field in a no-doubter that left the bat at 107.6 mph. The 27-year-old admired his work as it flew out of the park.

Again, Imanaga must have missed the scouting report. Contreras's xSLG on fastballs was .448 this year and .517 in 2024. Only 16 of his 45 extra-base hits went to the opposite field. He tried to beat Contreras in with a fastball, left it belt-high and paid the price.

Imanaga surrendered a whopping 31 home runs during the regular season, which was the second-most in the NL. He has now given up three in the postseason in 6 2/3 innings, tied with Cincinnati's Hunter Greene for the most allowed.

After those two massive mistakes, the Brewers led 4–3 in the third inning, and there was plenty of time for Craig Counsell's team to mount a comeback. Unfortunately, that task was made much more difficult because of a third mistake.

Daniel Palencia relieved Imanaga in the third inning. He had been excellent all season and showed up in a big way against the Padres in the wild-card round, picking up the win in each of Chicago's two victories. But the 25-year-old is going to want Monday night's outing back.

Palencia retired the final batter of the third inning, then got Sal Frelick to ground out to open the top of the fourth. After hitting Caleb Durbin, he struck out Blake Perkins before allowing a single to the light-hitting Joey Ortiz. Allowing a single to the weakest hitter in Milwaukee's lineup was a sin, but not his worst on the evening.

Jackson Chourio stepped in to face Palencia and fouled off two 101 mph fastballs. Palencia was feeling himself and his velocity, so he threw the 21-year-old star outfielder another four-seamer right down the pipe. Big mistake. Chourio had seen the pitch twice, and the third came in just above his belt in the dead center of the plate. He didn't miss it, crushing the ball 419 feet to dead center.

Palencia could have tried a slider to break up the sequence—or at least thrown the heater anywhere other than the middle of the zone—but instead attempted to fire another four-seamer by Milwaukee's most talented player. It didn't work.

That home run gave the Brewers a 7–3 lead that was never threatened as Chicago only mustered a single base runner the rest of the game. Three mistakes, three home runs, seven runs for Milwaukee.

That was all she wrote.

Jacob Misiorowski Earns His Stripes, and a Win

Brewers flame-throwing righty Jacob Misiorowski made his playoff debut in Game 2 and lived up to the hype. After a brilliant start to his career, the rookie All-Star faded down the stretch of the regular season. He posted a 6.06 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in eight starts over the campaign's final two months, but looked fantastic coming out of the bullpen Monday night.

Misiorowski went three innings and allowed one hit and two walks while striking out four. His fastball regularly registered triple digits, and his first eight averaged 102.6 mph. He was electric, and Chicago had no answer for him.

While Milwaukee has limited Misiorowski's innings over the past few months, expect him to be deployed in key spots as the team continues its postseason run. He's earned it.

Chicago's Bats Are Quiet

The Cubs are heading home down 2–0 with few cards they can play. They had one of baseball's best offenses all season, but in five playoff games, they're slashing .216/.217/.386. Chicago has also struck out 58 times, which is second-most in the postseason behind the Tigers (59).

In five playoff games, the Cubs have scored 12 runs. That's 2.4 runs per game, compared to the 4.9 they averaged during the regular season. The key so far has been the team's big bats not showing up.

Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong have been held without an extra-base hit thus far. Tucker is slashing .176/.263/.176, while Crow-Armstrong's line of .222/.222/.222 isn't much better. Dansby Swanson's defense may have won them the wild-card series against the Padres, but he's slashing a weak .176/.222/.235 and has struck out a team-high 11 times.

Michael Busch (1.077 OPS), Suzuki (.930), and Nico Hoerner (.929) have answered the bell, but the rest of the lineup is dragging. Something has to change, or a sweep is coming.

أعلن نادي الزمالك، عن اعتزال شروق فؤاد لاعبة الفريق الأول لكرة الطائرة بالنادي. 

وكانت شروق فؤاد قد إنضمت إلى صفوف طائرة نادي الزمالك في صيف الموسم الماضي 2024، قادمة من صفوف الأهلي في صفقة انتقال حر. 

طالع.. خالد الغندور يوجه رسالة قاسية لمجلس إدارة الزمالك: النادي ينهار.. والوزير لن يُقدم حلولًا

ونشرت الصفحة الرسمية لنادي الزمالك للكرة الطائرة على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي صورة شروق فؤاد وعلقت عليها قائلة: “شكرًا شروق على كل ما قدمتيه”. 

وتعد شروق فؤاد، من أبرز اللاعبات في مركز صناعة اللعب، وسبق لها وحصدت لقب أفضل صانعة ألعاب في بطولة إفريقيا للأندية عامي 2016 و2019.

كما تُوجت شروق فؤاد لاعبة طائرة الزمالك بلقب أفضل صانعة ألعاب في البطولة العربية وإفريقيا في عام 2015.