Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has explained the thinking behind leaving the Lionesses duo of Ella Toone and Jess Park on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League defeat to eight-time winners Lyon. Although already assured of a play-off berth, the Red Devils needed a positive result to improve their seeding and to push for automatic qualification. Skinner's starting XI raised plenty of questions before his side were given a 3-0 thumping.
Park, Toone & Skinner's eyebrow-raising team selection
It wasn't just the absences of Park, in excellent form, and Toone, leading the Women's Super League for assists this season, that left many perplexed. Skinner also named Dominique Janssen, a strong performer at centre-back, to his bench and Julia Zigiotti Olme, who has been excellent since arriving from Bayern Munich in the summer. It was a gamble that didn't pay-off either, with United not really in the game until Skinner brought on all of Park, Toone and Zigiotti at half time. Even then, there wasn't enough time for the Red Devils to turn things around, with them dealt a 3-0 loss.
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Explained: Why Man Utd benched Park, Toone & more for Lyon clash
"You can lose a game against Lyon on set pieces, on physicality, so we had to have balance," Skinner said, explaining his team selection. "We needed to match them physically from the first half, and then always adapt it and change it second half. I felt that, first half, we physically were matching them, especially from set pieces, but we probably didn't get enough pressure on them in moments, so I adapted it half time, got a little bit more ball possession."
Asked what the reactions of players like Toone, Park and Zigiotti was when they were told they weren't starting this big game, Skinner replied: "When they had the reasons and rationale explained, they understood. They don't want to not play but I always explain the reasons. I don't leave any players blind to what the decisions are. That's my job, to make tough decisions."
When asked about Skinner's emphasis on Lyon's physicality, Jonatan Giraldez, head coach of the French giants, said: "For sure, we have top players, technical players, tactical players and also physical players but I don't think that only the physicality has been key. I think as a team, we have done a very good job today."
Busy January coming? Man Utd in need of extra depth
It wasn't just about what Skinner felt was necessary for this particular match-up, either. United don't have the biggest squad, with many of those on the bench on Wednesday having played a lot of minutes as a result. As such, there was also a touch of loading factored into his selection against Lyon.
"We've got four games in 10 days, so we've got to be able to rotate," he added. "I won't have anyone go, 'Oh, well, you don't rotate', and then you do rotate, and it's not right. You've got to. There's got to be a plan ahead of all of the games."
Skinner has been keen to point out that his squad needs reinforcements in January, after a summer transfer window in which fewer were brought in that he would've liked. "It's nothing to do with the quality in my squad right now. It needs support and it needs numbers of quality," he said on Wednesday, emphasising the need for more depth to compete on four fronts. "I don't want to diminish anything from my squad. I love [the players] and what they do. It's not about replacing them, but it's about trying to grow the team."
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Who will Man Utd face in the Women's Champions League play-offs?
While United have already secured a spot in the Champions League league phase play-offs, an automatic qualification spot remains up for grabs, though it is harder for the Red Devils to secure after this defeat. Skinner's side travel to Juventus next week hoping for a win that could sneak them into the top four, but they will need results to go their way elsewhere as well.
United are currently ninth in the UWCL standings, which would leave them unseeded in the play-offs. As it stands, they could be playing Wolfsburg or Arsenal, though that is all likely to change after next week's final games. Creep into the top eight, however, and the Red Devils could get a much more favourable draw, with the likes of Paris FC, OH Leuven and an Atletico Madrid side they beat earlier in the league phase all in the mix.
The positive is that this is just the club's first stage in the Women's Champions League proper and they will be getting out of the league phase. Who they will face in that next round will all be determined next week.
Nick Woltemade has hit back at the “absurd” criticism aimed at Germany teammate Florian Wirtz after the Liverpool star’s slow start in the Premier League, insisting the £116 million signing will prove his quality in England. With Wirtz yet to score for Liverpool and facing scrutiny over his adaptation, Woltemade’s public defence adds fresh weight to calls for patience.
Wirtz struggling to find his feet at Liverpool
Wirtz has come under mounting scrutiny after a difficult start to his Liverpool career following his record-breaking move from Bayer Leverkusen. Despite arriving as one of Europe’s most exciting midfielders, he has so far registered just four assists in all competitions, with only one coming in the Premier League. His frustrations peaked when his strike against Sunderland was ruled an own goal, denying him what would have been his long-awaited first Liverpool goal.
The criticism surrounding Wirtz has intensified as Liverpool struggle for consistent form under Arne Slot, leaving supporters and pundits questioning how quickly he can adapt to the Premier League. By contrast, his Germany teammate Woltemade has flourished since joining Newcastle, leading to comparisons between their respective transitions.
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Woltemade launches defence against 'absurd' Wirtz criticism
Reports in Germany highlighted increasing debate around whether Wirtz can meet the expectations attached to the £116m fee Liverpool paid in the summer. The spotlight on him has been relentless, particularly as Liverpool rely heavily on his creative role in Slot’s evolving system. It is within this context that Woltemade has stepped forward to defend him and call out what he views as unfair commentary.
Speaking to Stern, Woltemade rejected the mounting criticism of his international teammate. “This is a pseudo-discussion. Anyone who understands something about football sees what incredible skills he has. Flo will make his way, even in the Premier League.”
Wirtz yet to kick off his Premier League tally
Wirtz’s move to Liverpool was always expected to involve a challenging adaptation period due to the physical intensity and pace of the Premier League. His numbers reflect that difficulty, with zero goals and zero assists in 13 league appearances despite flashes of the playmaking quality that defined his success at Bayer Leverkusen. The tactical demands placed on him under Slot have also differed greatly from the highly structured system he thrived in under Xabi Alonso.
Woltemade’s defence follows similarly supportive comments from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who has urged Wirtz not to become distracted by discussion around his fee. The German midfielder continues to show strong involvement outside of goals and assists, contributing through link-up play, pressing and space creation, which his teammates believe will soon translate into end product.
His early adaptation issues mirror those faced by many playmakers moving from the Bundesliga to England, where the rhythm of matches and defensive aggression can be a shock even for elite talents. Despite this, Wirtz has shown promising signs in the Champions League, where he has already provided decisive assists.
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Wirtz remains a crucial part of Liverpool's plans
Wirtz is expected to retain a key creative role in Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures against Leeds United and Inter Milan, as Slot continues to build an attacking structure that maximises his strengths. A first Premier League goal could significantly reduce the scrutiny he faces and serve as a turning point in his adaptation. As for Woltemade’s comments, they add a strong voice of support from within the German national team camp, reinforcing the belief that Wirtz’s long-term potential remains unquestioned.
Contrasting sides meet in spin-friendly conditions as Test cricket returns to Gaddafi Stadium
Danyal Rasool11-Oct-2025
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This is a series of opposites and inversions. South Africa, the side that won the World Test Championship this year, visit Pakistan, the team that finished bottom. Two sides historically known for their legendary fast bowling prowess will look to manufacture alternate means of taking 20 wickets, with the conditions set to favour each team’s less decorated spin bowlers. South Africa will look to complete a record-extending 11th straight Test win, while Pakistan have triumphed in just three of their previous 12.Even the venue is a bit incongruous for the occasion. Despite Test cricket returning to Pakistan after a decade-long hiatus in 2019, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hasn’t seen much of it, with just one five-day game played here, three years ago. All told, this will be just the second Test since 2009 to be played in Lahore, with the Gaddafi Stadium regaining its original position in Pakistan after the stadium was knocked down and rebuilt ahead of the Champions Trophy this year.South Africa are in a somewhat unprecedented position, beginning a world title defence. An ICC trophy was elusive enough for the side to put any notions of defending one into uncharted territory. But a credible defence will have to go through this awkward test in Pakistan. They will do so without the services of their talismanic captain Temba Bavuma, whom his stand-in Aiden Markram termed “irreplaceable”. As importantly, they will miss Keshav Maharaj for the first Test, needing the internationally less experienced Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen to step up.Related
Pakistan prepare for South Africa with precious little first-class cricket
The hosts are in the early stages of an experiment with the surfaces they prepare, one that has brought them results, but also left games heavily dependent on the toss. Pakistan have won three of the four home Test matches played under this system, but three of four have also been won by the side batting first. Pakistan have three finger spinners in their line-up which make their intentions plain, while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan return to the side after white-ball absences. In theory, Pakistan have a soft enough draw to make qualification for this edition’s final in two years a realistic prospect. But two Test matches, such as the ones coming up, are a long enough time in Pakistan cricket, let alone two years.
Form guide
Pakistan: LWLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first) South Africa: WWWWW
In the spotlight
Perhaps it says more about Pakistan than it does about Noman Ali, but the man who celebrated his 39th birthday last week is the most important player for the home side this week. With Sajid Khan struggling to overcome a bout of flu, the left-arm spinner needs to take on even more responsibility on the kind of surface Pakistan will prepare almost exclusively suited to his strengths. Noman last played red-ball cricket in February, but he has taken 36 wickets in his last four Tests, making full use of conditions. Sajid just about picked up the other half, but in his absence, Pakistan will ask even more of the man who has entered his 40th year.Ryan Rickelton is still finding his way as an opener in the longest format•Associated Press
Ryan Rickelton has 638 runs in 19 Test innings, and is still finding his way as an opener in the longest format. Nearly half of those runs, though, came in one mammoth innings earlier this year against Pakistan, when he amassed 259 as South Africa ground Pakistan into the Newlands dirt. There is an unbeaten hundred against Sri Lanka, but aside from that, he has yet to cross 42 in 17 other innings. As South Africa begin their defence and Rickelton takes guard in conditions he has not faced before, it remains to be seen whether his happy memories against Pakistan can overcome his otherwise modest Test record.
Team news
Pakistan’s biggest headache is the potential unavailability of Sajid Khan as he battles flu. The offspinner did rejoin the Pakistan camp, but Shan Masood said a decision on whether he plays will be taken last minute.Pakistan (possible): 1 Abdullah Shafique/Imam ul Haq, 2 Shan Masood (capt) 3 Kamran Ghulam 4 Babar Azam 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 7 Salman Ali Agha 8 Noman Ali 9 Khurram Shahzad 10 Sajid Khan/Abrar Ahmed 11 Asif AfridiSouth Africa captain Aiden Markram kept his cards close to his chest regarding the eleven, though it is inevitable the visitors will also go spin-heavy.South Africa (possible): 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Wiaan Mulder, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Bedingham (wk), 6 Kyle Verreynne, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Prenelan Subrayen, 9 Senuran Muthusamy, 10 Simon Harmer, 11 Kagiso Rabada
Pitch and conditions
The previous week saw unseasonal rains and cool temperatures in Lahore, but that weather system has been washed away. The Test will be played under hot October sunshine. That should help break the surface, almost certainly spin-friendly, up even quicker. It was kept under cover today. The winner of the toss will almost certainly bat first.
Stats and trivia
South Africa have won 10 Test matches on the trot, their longest streak in history
Babar Azam is 251 runs away from becoming the 5th Pakistan batter to 15,000 international runs. Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad are the only players to have achieved that feat.
Quotes“It’s a good opportunity for us to start against the defending champions. It will be a good yardstick for us to play against them, especially if we can get a good result against them.” “Preparation has been good. We had a camp back in South Africa where we tried to simulate conditions as best as we could. There was a lot of focus on spin play and our spinners getting used to the ball spinning a lot compared to South Africa.” South African captain Aiden Markram reveals what the visitors tried to do to replicate the conditions they are likely to encounter
Paul Skenes was looking like his usual dominant self on the mound during the Pittsburgh Pirates' Sunday showdown against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Skenes racked up eight strikeouts throughout the first four innings, including a particularly devastating punch-out against Adrian Del Castillo in the fourth inning. The Diamondbacks' designated hitter stood absolutely no chance against a nasty 86-mph sweeper from Skenes that broke across the entire plate.
The pitch started on the outside and ended up running well inside on Del Castillo who whiffed on the pitch badly for his second strikeout of the game. Have a look:
Simply unhittable stuff from Skenes, who had some of his best stuff on the mound on Sunday, and received some rare early run support from the Pirates lineup, who tagged Zac Gallen for three runs early on.
He is their highest wicket-taker in the format but often there is no room for him in the XI due to issues around batting depth
Sidharth Monga02-Nov-2025
Arshdeep Singh came into the side and picked up 3 for 35 in Hobart•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
No Indian has taken more wickets in T20Is than Arshdeep Singh. Among the ten who have taken 50 or more wickets, only Kuldeep Yadav has a better strike-rate than him. Yet Arshdeep was not part of India’s first-choice XI in their previous T20I series, the Asia Cup. He played two matches, but only when India’s progress had been confirmed.Even in Australia, Arshdeep was brought into the XI only as an afterthought after India kept him out for the first two games. It comes down to the unfortunate scenario of having four excellent strike bowlers but never being able to play them all at once because none of them can bat. It was the issue with Virat Kohli’s ODI side as well when they just couldn’t afford to play Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal all in the same XI. Arshdeep and Varun Chakravarthy have taken the places of Shami and Chahal in this T20I squad, but the problem remains the same.Even so, if there are any conditions where India need to play both Bumrah and Arshdeep, they are the ones in early-season Australia. It was surprising that it took India till the third match to bring the left-arm quick in.Related
Arshdeep and Washington help India level the series against Australia
That they immediately had to leave Kuldeep out for Washington Sundar tells you about the balancing act India are forced to carry out. At the same time, Arshdeep immediately showed why he is such an important player in conditions that have a little bit of assistance for fast bowlers.In a match that largely followed T20 rhythms, the first four overs of Australia’s innings, in which they scored just 24 runs for the loss of Travis Head and Josh Inglis, proved to be all the difference. India scored 41 in their first four, and eventually had nine balls to spare when they overhauled the total Australia set them.1:43
Washington: There’s purpose to each of my practice sessions
In those four overs, Arshdeep took the wickets of Head and Inglis, aided in part by the threat posed by Bumrah at the other end. Arshdeep has the ingredients to use the conditions: he swings the ball both ways, and his high release aids seam movement and uneven bounce. In a game of such small margins as T20 cricket, these overs can have a huge impact. Arshdeep also returned at the end to team up with Bumrah and deny Australia a finishing kick.India again needed all of it because they did make a small selection error. Bringing in Arshdeep and Jitesh Sharma – the latter for Sanju Samson, who has not looked effective in the middle order – was spot on, but they still left themselves short on fast bowling by dropping Harshit Rana for Washington, whom they didn’t bowl at all because of a combination of the conditions and the abundance of right-hand batters in the Australia line-up.Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma had to fill in with four overs for 56, but in the end Washington also showed his importance with an unbeaten 49 off 23 when promoted to No. 6. That’s also the thing with Washington. He is wasted as a batter in the lower order when you mostly have to just walk in and swing.This match was evidence that there is no dearth of resources for Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir, but in conditions where the ideal line-up consists of three fast bowlers, they are always one small piece short of being the perfect team.
Caleb Jewell hundred helps Derbyshire post 315 but late collapse lets Rapids back in
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Aug-2025Worcestershire 316 for 6 (D’Oliveira 138, Libby 69) beat Derby 315 (Jewell 113, Montgomery 92) by four wicketsBrett D’Oliveira’s List A best 138 led Worcestershire Rapids to a four-wicket victory over Derbyshire Falcons in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup Group A match at Repton School.Rapids skipper Jake Libby made 69 before 19-year-old Dan Lategan scored an unbeaten 42 off 39 balls on his first-team debut to take the Rapids to their target of 316 with 11 balls to spare.Caleb Jewell made 113 off 107 balls and Matt Montgomery 92 before the Falcons lost their last five wickets for 25 to be bowled out for 315. The Rapids were in trouble at 11 for 2 but D’Oliveira and Libby revived them before Lategan saw them over the line.There was a sell-out crowd as first team cricket returned to Repton School for the first time since 1988 and the Falcons made a solid start after they were put in.Jewell and Harry Came took the score to 46 before Came pulled Kurram Shahzad into the hands of leg slip. But that was the Rapids last success for 24 overs as Jewell and Montgomery took full advantage of a good batting pitch.After reaching 50 from 57 balls, Jewell pulled Ben Allison for six and swept D’Oliveira for another maximum with 15 coming from his first over. Jewell surged towards his century, which came off 96 balls, by driving and sweeping D’Oliveira for two more fours before pulling Ethan Brookes over the ropes.Montgomery drove Brookes down the ground for four to go to his first 50 for the Falcons and the stand was worth 150 when Jewell skied a cut at Brookes into the covers.Brooke Guest missed a cut at Fateh Singh and the left-arm spinner ended Montomery’s fine innings by having him caught behind.Amrit Basra drove Allison to mid-on and the Falcons hopes of a total above 350 crumbled as the last five wickets fell in six overs. After Martin Andersson was lbw to Singh, Allison had Ross Whiteley caught at short midwicket and bowled Zak Chappell before Shahzad cleaned up.Even so, a target of 316 was a challenging one and it looked even tougher when the Rapids lost two wickets in the first four overs. Isaac Mohammed was dropped at second slip without a run on the board but failed to take advantage, slicing Ben Aitchison to third man.Rory Haydon beat Kashif Ali’s drive but D’Oliveira and Libby regrouped before asserting themselves on the bowlers.D’Oliveira cut and drove Haydon for sixes on his way to a run a ball 50 and with Libby easing the ball into the gaps, the momentum swung towards the Rapids.D’Oliveira took three fours from a Chappell over as he accelerated to an 84 ball hundred but Haydon returned to give the game another twist. He bowled Libby to end a stand of 183 in 28 overs and then deceived Brookes who chipped to short midwicket.Lategan pulled Haydon for six and with 67 needed from the last 10 overs, drove Jack Morley for another maximum. When he went for a repeat, Aitchison took the catch at long-on only to step on the rope but Morley hit back by bowling D’Oliveira.Henry Cullen sliced to cover but Lategan showed nerve and skill to settle an absorbing contest.
Australia have been crying out for an all-format allrounder who can bowl left-arm orthodox, and Connolly can be their man
Daya Sagar23-Sep-2025The past year has been like a dream for Cooper Connolly. The 22-year-old only made his first-class debut for Western Australia in March of 2024. Since then, he has toured the UK, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the UAE and the Caribbean with Australia, making his international debuts in all three forms.Having made his Test debut in Sri Lanka in February, he is now getting a taste of first-class cricket in India, coming off 70 and a wicket for Australia A in the first unofficial Test against India A in Lucknow last week.”As a kid you dream of playing for Australia, you dream of playing one game but I guess to get the opportunity to play more, it has been nice,” Connolly told ESPNcricinfo. “Hopefully I can play a few more but I think it’s just about learning from the experience, being around those world-class players and then if I get my opportunity, just make the most of it.”Related
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Part of Connolly’s rise to prominence has been the rare skill set that he possesses. Australia have been crying out for an all-format allrounder who can bowl left-arm orthodox.After making his T20I and ODI debut on the UK tour in September 2024, where he spent time working on his spin craft with Australia’s bowling coach and former New Zealand left-arm orthodox Daniel Vettori, Connolly was called up for a surprise Test debut earlier this year in February against Sri Lanka, a tour that was invaluable for him.”I learned a lot with some world-class players around me,” Connolly said. “I sat next to Travis Head a little bit and tried to understand how he goes about it. I am trying to model my game a little bit on him and how he plays. He’s a pretty aggressive player. So I was just trying to learn as much from him as I could. And then with my bowling, I was just getting stuck into Nathan Lyon and even Murph [Todd Murphy], just trying to understand how they go about it.”Cooper Connolly and Todd Murphy in conversation•Tanuj/UPCAHis bowling is raw but the improvements have been evident. In his last ODI against South Africa last month, he claimed his first five-wicket haul in professional cricket. In Lucknow, he felt he bowled well on a surface that provided very little assistance for the spinners, picking up the wicket of India’s incumbent Test No. 3 in B Sai Sudharsan.”I felt like in the first game, my bowling was nice on a pretty flat wicket,” Connolly said. “I felt like I tried to get some wickets out of the rough and tried to be aggressive with my bowling.”And then with my batting, I was just trying to be free-flowing, take the game on, looking to score. I think that’s the best way to bat in Indian conditions.”Connolly has scored six half-centuries in just ten first-class innings at a brisk strike rate of 64.36. The likes of Head and former Australia left-hander Shaun Marsh have been clear influences on Connolly already in his short career, as well as Western Australia’s batting coach and former Australia Test spinner Beau Casson.”I’ve sort of been leaning on Travis Head but to be honest, you don’t really lean on players,” Connolly said. “You just ask for advice, you ask for information, how they go about it. You speak to them, you speak to the team, trying to get the best communication from everyone.”Back home my batting coach Beau Casson has been very good for me, just ticking the right boxes and communicating with me, which has always been nice. And then Shaun Marsh has always been my idol growing up. I was lucky enough to be a part of the Western Australian squad when he was still playing. I think it’s just about getting as much information as you can and trying to understand how much information you can take and be a good player.”Connolly’s skill with both bat and ball makes him an attractive prospect for Australia as they look ahead to a five-Test tour of India in 2027. He is aware that the Australia A tour is the perfect time to work on improving his game in the subcontinent, because he knows that as a spin-bowling allrounder, he will likely get more opportunities to play in this part of the world.”I am just trying to add to my game in the subcontinent,” Connolly said. “Trying to work out how I can play spin better. And then also with my bowling, how I can create opportunities, how I can spin the ball, how I can change the game with the ball. I feel like I am trying to be a game changer. So I am just trying to work out where I can chip in best for the team.”
Marsh fell for 4 as WA slumped to 98 for 4 on a day when only 30 overs were bowled due to rain
AAP06-Dec-2025Mitchell Marsh’s Test audition has failed, dismissed cheaply for the second time in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.In his first red-ball game since being dropped by Australia following last year’s Boxing Day Test, Marsh made just 4 in WA’s second innings on Saturday after managing 9 on day one.Related
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He lasted just six balls as he fell to Victorian seamer Sam Elliott, who is enjoying one of the best games of his first-class career.Marsh, who last played a Shield match in October 2024, had been touted as a potential shock factor at the top of Australia’s order in this summer’s Ashes.But another Test call-up seems unlikely with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald making a promising start to their opening combination for Australia.Marsh had to wait more than half a day on Saturday to get an opportunity to bat, with no play possible until midway through the second session due to rain in Melbourne.With WA starting day three on 5 for 1, Marsh was quickly in the game after nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli was trapped lbw by Elliott.The visitors crumbled to 17 for 3 when Marsh exited, before captain Sam Whitemanand fellow veteran Hilton Cartwright rallied.The pair got WA to 75 for 4, a lead of 14, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session. But play was able to resume again, with WA getting to 98 for 4 at stumps and Whiteman unbeaten on 56.With the weather likely to be fine on Sunday, Victoria will still fancy their chances of running through WA and securing an outright win.
تحدث مدرب ليفربول، آرني سلوت، عقب الفوز أمام وست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وأوضح سبب تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، وأشاد بمهاجم الفريق، ألكسندر إيزاك.
وتغلب ليفربول على وست هام بهدفين دون رد، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” موسم 2025-2026.
وقال سلوت لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “هناك شعور بالراحة بالتأكيد، لأنه إذا خسرت مرات عديدة، فإن الفوز مهم، لم نتلقَّ أي فرصة تقريبًا، لقد خلقنا فرصًا بأنفسنا، في مباريات أخرى، أهدرنا فرصًا أكثر بكثير مما فعلنا اليوم”.
وأضاف: “من المفيد ألا تتأخر 1-0 بعد خمس دقائق، لأن ذلك يُتيح لك فرصةً أكبر، لعبنا المباراة التي أردتُها”.
وواصل: “ما رأيته كان له معنى كبيرٌ بالنسبة للاعبينا وجماهيرنا، اضطرت الجماهير للسفر مسافاتٍ طويلة لدعم فريقٍ كان أداؤه ضعيفًا”.
وواصل: “يوم الأربعاء، سنواجه سندرلاند، إنه جدول مزدحم للغاية للجميع، هذه خطوة أولى جيدة لنا، الفوز والحفاظ على شباكنا نظيفة”.
اقرأ أيضًا | إيزاك بعد ثنائية ليفربول أمام وست هام: علينا أن نكون متواضعين
وسُئل هل يُعد هدف ألكسندر إيزاك الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مع ليفربول لحظةً مهمة، وأجاب: “نعم، أعتقد أنه يبدو مهمًا، لم أكن أخطط لمنحه دقائقَ لعبٍ إضافيةٍ كثيرةٍ قبل استبداله”.
وأشار: “إنه مهاجم من الطراز الرفيع، كانت هذه اللمسة الأخيرة رائعة، أبقيته في الملعب لفترة كافية ليُسجل هدفًا للفريق ولنفسه”.
وأكمل: “الفوز كان ما كنا نحتاجه بشكل أساسي، وحافظنا على نظافة شباكنا أيضًا، وهو أمر مفيد دائمًا، لم نُقدم أي شيء للفريق المنافس كهدية كما فعلنا مرات عديدة هذا الموسم، لم يُخلق المنافس أي فرصة تُذكر إلا في الدقيقة الأخيرة عن طريق جارود بوين”.
وأكد سلوت: “وست هام جعل المباراة صعبة علينا، لكننا قدمنا أداءً دفاعيًا رائعًا، لحسن الحظ، لم تُتح لهم سوى فرصة واحدة”.
وعن تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، أوضح: “نلعب الكثير من المباريات، في 10 أيام لعبنا أربع مباريات، هؤلاء اللاعبون يتمتعون بجودة عالية، كان محمد صلاح مهمًا جدًا للنادي وسيظل كذلك، لذا دعونا نرى ما سيحدث يوم الأربعاء (ضد سندرلاند)”.
It is still only October, and it already feels as if the wheels have come off at West Ham United.
The East Londoners are currently in the relegation zone and only being kept off the bottom of the table by an even worse Wolverhampton Wanderers side.
Worse yet, any of the positivity that came from the draw away to Everton in Nuno Espírito Santo’s first game has all but vanished thanks to three consecutive defeats.
Therefore, if the Portuguese coach is to save the Hammer’s Premier League status this season, he needs to make some changes to the team as soon as possible, such as dropping someone who looks miles off the pace.
Changes that Nuno has to make to West Ham
Given the dire situation West Ham currently find themselves in, Nuno has to make some dramatic changes to the team for the next game, and that starts at the back.
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Both Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman must come out of the team, as even though the other options are less than ideal, they have a chance of being better than the Frenchman and Englishman, who have been diabolical for a few games now.
Then, with Ollie Scarles recovering from his dislocated shoulder, the manager should move Kyle Walker-Peters to that right wing-back role if he insists on keeping the shape he used against Leeds on the weekend.
Moreover, while he’s been a brilliant servant to the club, Tomáš Souček now offers little to nothing when he starts, and therefore, he should be dropped to the bench for the far more dynamic and promising Soungoutou Magassa.
Moving on to the attack, and the experiment of player Lucas Paqueta up top has to come to an end.
Paqueta vs Leeds
Minutes
94′
Expected Goals
0.09
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.10
Assists
0
Shots on Target
1
Touches
83
Crosses (Accurate)
4 (0)
Accurate Passes
45/62 (73%)
All Stats via Sofascore
Yes, Callum Wilson is not of the standard either, but by playing the team’s most creative player as a false nine, the chance creation from deep is practically non-existent.
Ideally, Nuno should revert to a four at the back system and play the Brazilian in attacking midfield.
Last but not least, another change should be made in the middle of the park: the removal of a player who is miles off being the standard required to play for West Ham.
The West Ham ace who must be dropped
He isn’t the number one problem at West Ham this season, but it has become increasingly clear that Andrew Irving is nowhere near good enough to play for the club and should therefore be dropped.
It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by journalist Jordan Rushworth, who described the Scotsman as a “National League standard” midfielder, adding that he “gets walked past every time an opposition midfielder has the ball.”
Unfortunately for the Edinburgh-born ace, his statistics from the game at Elland Road only back up such a brutal assessment.
Irving vs Leeds
Minutes
64′
Expected Assists
0.01
Key Passes
0
Shots
0
Crosses (Accurate)
1 (0)
Touches
48
Lost Possession
7
Duels (Won)
5 (1)
Dribbled Past
1
All Stats via Sofascore
For example, in his 64 minutes of inaction, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.01, failed to make a single key pass, didn’t take any shots, misplaced 100% of his crosses, took 48 touches, lost the ball seven times, lost four of five duels and was dribbled past once.
It’s not just his technical weaknesses that are a problem for the Irons, though, but also his complete lack of any real physicality.
He’s not strong enough on or off the ball and lacks any real athleticism or explosiveness, which in the modern Premier League is a massive problem, and one highlighted by Jamie Carragher after the Brentford loss, when he described the Hammers as “one of the slowest teams I’ve seen in Premier League history!”
Therefore, regardless of the formation he wants to play, Nuno simply has to take Irving out of the starting lineup from now on, especially when he has better options to choose from.
For example, while he can still be a little rash, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described Magassa as someone blessed with “pure athleticism.”
Moreover, he’s still relatively inexperienced at this level, but Freddie Potts can get around the pitch far easier than the Scotsman, and as Mattinson says, is blessed with an impressive “passing range and powerful carrying” ability.
Ultimately, while there are plenty of changes that need to happen at West Ham, one of the big ones is the removal of Iriving in favour of a far more dynamic and promising alternative.
Worse than Summerville: Nuno must drop 3/10 West Ham flop who's "the worst"
West Ham’s woes continued as they were defeated by Leeds United in the Premier League.