All posts by n8rngtd.top

Mikel Arteta is being backed to bring Arsenal’s long wait for Premier League title glory to a close as the Gunners are working with their “strongest ever squad” in the Emirates Stadium era. That is the opinion of Nigel Winterburn, who has told GOAL in an exclusive interview why domestic dominance can be restored in north London during the 2025-26 campaign.

• When did the 'Invincibles' win Arsenal's last Premier League title?

  The fabled ‘Invincibles’ of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires were the last Arsenal side to claim a top-flight crown. They did so back in 2003-04, with more than two decades having passed since that memorable coronation.

  Arteta has carried the Gunners close during his spell in a demanding coaching role, with the Spaniard overseeing three successive runners-up finishes. The challenge now is to shake that ‘nearly men’ tag and deliver tangible success.

  A positive start has been made to the current season, with a six-point lead at the summit being opened up through 12 fixtures – including a 4-1 derby victory over arch-rivals Tottenham last time out. Defending champions Liverpool have slipped dramatically off the pace, while Manchester City have not been as consistent as Pep Guardiola would have liked – despite Erling Haaland posting stunning numbers on the goal front.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  No more excuses: Does Arteta have to deliver title glory?

  Quizzed on whether Arteta has to deliver, with there no more excuses to be found in the title-chasing stakes, Arsenal legend Winterburn – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “I don’t think there have been any excuses from Arteta and the club. If you want to look at it ruthlessly over the last three seasons, we just haven’t been quite good enough. We have made huge strides, there is no doubt about that. I believe this is the strongest squad that Arsenal have ever had at the Emirates – in terms of its depth. We are seeing that. We have got some huge injuries, but the players that have come in have done exceptionally well and the team are just rolling out the results.

  “I think there has been a little bit of frustration there at times with supporters feeling that we should have done business last season. I don’t know if I completely agree with that, people saying we could have had a big push for the title last season by signing a striker. I’m not so sure. I never felt comfortable last year when we were trying to play catch-up on Liverpool. I felt Liverpool looked like a machine that were not going to give you many chances. With Arsenal, with the injuries, they weren’t quite good enough to close that gap. If you look at some of the stats as well, it might tell you a different story to just buying a striker and fixing the problem. I don’t think that would have been the case. We have come up short in the last three seasons. We have been very close. The players that we have added to the squad this season gives me huge belief that we will be very, very difficult to beat.”

• Timeline for success: Arsenal prediction from former Gunners star

  Ex-Gunners winger Anders Limpar told GOAL back in March that Arteta is not under immediate pressure to break a Premier League title duck. He will, however, be aware that patience can only stretch so far.

  Limpar said of the Gunners’ bid to land the most prestigious of honours: “When it comes to titles, of course as an Arsenal fan that would be unreal to win the Champions League or the Premier League, but it’s not necessary. Over the last few years we have been so close, so everybody is looking at Arsenal and thinking we have to win. Of course we have to win something, the FA Cup or League Cup.

  “To go for the Champions League or a Premier League title, that’s so hard to win. In my opinion, we don’t need to win the two big titles over the next year or two, we should be up there among the best.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Strength in depth: Arsenal have spent big in pursuit of glory

  The Gunners certainly form part of that pack, with greater depth being added to their ranks through the additions of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

  They have suffered just one Premier League defeat in 2025-26, while conceding only six goals. Arteta is now in a position where he can make dreams come true for a loyal fan base, with Arsenal needing to prove that they can handle the added weight of hope and expectation.

No reason was given for the move, even as it came a day after Pakistan lost to India in Asia Cup final

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2025The PCB has suspended all no-objection certificates for players who want to participate in T20 leagues outside Pakistan.Sumair Ahmad Syed, the board’s chief operating officer, sent a notice on September 29, informing players and agents of the decision.”With the approval of Chairman PCB, all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players with respect to participation in leagues and other out of country tournaments are hereby put on hold until further orders,” the notice, seen by ESPNcricinfo, read.No reason has been given as to why this action was taken. Reports have suggested the PCB aims to tie NOCs to a performance based system, the criteria for which has not been made public. The goal, from the board’s perspective, is for players to incentivise national and domestic performances. However, there is no information on how long such an evaluation will take before the current suspension on NOCs is lifted.The move came a day after Pakistan’s tight loss in the Asia Cup final to India in the UAE, but from a tour in which they also won a T20I tri-series. The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class competition, is also due to start in October, having been delayed from its original start date of September 22.The details around the NOCs and any possible exemptions, or how long they last, are not yet known.Seven Pakistanis, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, are due to play in the BBL this season, which begins in December. There are also 16 Pakistan players in the shortlist for the ILT20 auction, which is due to take place on October 1 in the UAE. Three of those include Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have splashed the cash in the attacking department to try and soften the blow of Harry Kane’s departure in 2023.

The Lilywhites spent £55m on the services of Mohammed Kudus this summer, with the Ghanaian occupying a starting role under Thomas Frank off the right-hand side of the frontline.

He’s already made an immediate impact in North London, as seen by his tally of one goal and four assists in the Premier League – with the latter the joint-highest of any player in the division.

However, club-record signing Dominic Solanke has struggled for fitness this campaign, with the £65m addition currently being restricted to just 31 minutes of league action due to an ongoing ankle issue.

Despite the struggles of the Englishman, one first-team member who’s been injury-free has often struggled to meet the high expectations he’s set for himself at the club.

How Johnson compares to Premier League wingers in 2025/26

Last season was arguably the best of Brennan Johnson’s professional career, with the winger ending the campaign on a total of 18 goals across all competitions.

Such a tally was the highest in the first-team squad, which undoubtedly helped catapult the Lilywhites to Europa League glory under Ange Postecoglou’s guidance.

However, many expected the Welshman to kick on after scoring the winner in the final, but Kudus and Frank’s arrival has seen a huge decline in his numbers during the first few months of 2025/26.

The 24-year-old has only registered a total of 0.9 shots per 90 in the league this season, with such a tally ranking him in the 12% percentile – meaning 88% of wingers have managed more in the Premier League.

He’s also created just 0.7 chances per 90 to date, placing him in the 18th percentile, which has restricted him to registering zero assists for his teammates at present.

Johnson has massively struggled to get past the opposition, with his tally of 0.5 dribbles completed per 90 showcasing his lack of impact – subsequently placing him in the 23rd percentile compared to other wingers.

As a result of his dismal form in North London, the club have been constantly on the lookout for other talents, which has resulted in one player appearing on their radar.

Frank's answer to Semenyo

In recent weeks, Spurs have been just one side touted with a potential winter move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after his incredible start to the current campaign.

The Ghanaian has been Andoni Iraola’s shining light to date, as reflected in his remarkable tally of six goals and three assists in just his first 11 matches of 2025/26.

Such form has captured the attention of numerous Premier League outfits, with Arsenal, Liverpool and the Lilywhites just three clubs on red alert for his signature.

It was reported this week that the 25-year-old has a £65m release clause that becomes active from January 1st, which could see one of the aforementioned sides grab themselves a bargain.

However, with competition being fierce for his services, it’s unclear how much of a chance Frank’s men will have in completing a deal for one of the country’s hottest prospects.

Should the Lilywhites miss out on a deal, the fans shouldn’t worry, with the club already having their answer to Semenyo in the form of winger Wilson Odobert, a player described as “a mixture of [Bradley] Barcola and Aaron Lennon” by one Sky Sports analyst.

The Frenchman joined the club in a £25m deal from Burnley last summer, but has had to bide his time in North London, often resorting to minutes off the substitutes bench.

However, in recent weeks, he’s made a major impact on Frank’s side, registering an assist against Manchester United and subsequently securing a point in the 2-2 draw.

Despite his lack of action, Odobert has been labelled a “super talent” by former boss Postecoglou, with Frank needing to hand him a more consistent starting role.

When comparing his stats to those of Semenyo, the 20-year-old has managed to outperform the in-form star in numerous key areas – subsequently showcasing the talent he possesses.

Odobert has managed to achieve an average of 4.5 progressive carries and 4.3 progressive passes per 90 – with both of the aforementioned tallies higher than the Cherries star.

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts being key passes per 90 – subsequently offering a more creative threat in attacking areas.

The Frenchman’s dominance is further reflected in his higher take-on success rate, with Frank desperately needing to place more faith in the youngster.

£65m for Semenyo would still be an excellent deal in the current climate, but ultimately, the Lilywhites should look to avoid a move for the winger in the near future.

Such a transfer would only halt Odobert’s progress in North London, with the youngster still having bags of potential to fulfil during his period under Frank’s guidance.

Spurs have their new Parrott in academy star who's been "compared to Kane"

This Tottenham Hotspur youngster could be a future star in North London despite his struggles this season.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 20, 2025

The Miami Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the struggling New York Yankees on Sunday with a 7–3 win at home.

The in-stadium DJ seemed to have some fun at the Yankees' expense late in the game as Neil Diamond's legendary song "Sweet Caroline" was played before the top of ninth inning at LoanDepot Park.

The playing of that song has become a tradition at Fenway Park, the home of the Yankees' most heated rival. The Red Sox swept the Astros on Sunday and are now in second place in the AL East after passing the Yankees on Saturday.

Look at this scene in Miami:

That is too good.

MLB fans loved it.

The Yankees dropped to 60–52 with their third straight loss.

The left-hand batter from Bihar heads a list of teenage debutants, some of whom have had successful careers while others faded away

Varun Shetty19-Apr-20251 Vaibhav Suryavanshi – 14 years, 23 days (vs Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025)On Saturday, the left-hand opener came into the Rajasthan Royals (RR) XI to replace the injured captain Sanju Samson. He first made national headlines at 13 with a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19. That knock made Suryavanshi the youngest player – at 13 years and 187 days – to score a century in youth cricket. Suryavanshi was picked up by RR for INR 1.1 crore after impressing at their high-performance center in Nagpur.For India Under-19, he cracked a 58-ball century in a four-day game against Australia Under-19, while his 176 runs at an average of 44 took India to the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in 2024. He also has a triple-century to his name – an unbeaten 332 – in the Randhir Verma Tournament, an U-19 competition in Bihar.2 Prayas Ray Barman – 16 years, 157 days (vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019)He was picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 1.5 crore after topping Bengal’s wicket charts in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Just minutes before the toss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, head coach Gary Kirsten told him he was playing. At 16 years and 157 days, he became the youngest IPL debutant at the time. Bowling to Jonny Bairstow and David Warner on a flat pitch in the afternoon sun, he conceded 56 in four overs. It remains the only IPL game of his career, and since 2022 he has played only three domestic games.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 17 years, 11 days (vs Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2018)The Afghan mystery spinner made history when he debuted for Kings XI Punjab in 2018. He made an instant impact after being introduced in the powerplay, trapping Colin Munro lbw with his first ball . His unorthodox bowling had already earned him global attention before this game, and he repaid the faith, bowling a full four-over spell for figures of 2 for 28. This season, he was a late replacement addition to the Mumbai Indians squad.4 Riyan Parag – 17 years, 152 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019)The first IPL appearance for the allrounder from Assam was a thriller remembered for Mitchell Santner’s last-ball six and MS Dhoni’s infamous outburst against the umpires. In his debut season, Parag also became the youngest to hit an IPL fifty. Since then, he has become a regular for RR, retained continuously over the years, and is the squad’s current vice-captain.5 Pradeep Sangwan – 17 years, 179 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2008)Pradeep Sangwan was considered a prize catch during the inaugural season, was an U-19 World Cup winner not long before, and held the tag of the youngest debutant for nearly a decade. He went for 40 and took no wickets on his debut against CSK and had only one real season of meaningful cricket (13 games in 2009). He last played in IPL 2022 representing Gujarat Titans and has not played any cricket since the start of 2024.6 Sarfaraz Khan – 17 years, 182 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2015)
The batter from Mumbai debuted for RCB in 2015 and seemed to be someone they were willing to invest in, long-term. He was, a few years later, one of their retentions, but was let go in 2018. Fast forward to 2025 at the peak of his red-ball form – and ten years since his IPL debut – he found no takers in the auction for a second season in a row.

India scored just 56 in the last eight overs as Bangladesh fought back valiantly

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2025Abhishek Sharma continued his magnificent tournament, following up his 39-ball 74 against Pakistan with a 37-ball 75, but Bangladesh still held India to a total of 168 for 6 after sending them in.India’s innings followed a pattern not unlike Pakistan’s against their bowlers on Sunday: a strong start followed by a dramatic slowdown when the ball became older and harder to time. India scored 95 runs in overs 4-11, when Abhishek ran rampant, and just 73 runs in the 12 overs either side of that stretch.Bangladesh made things difficult for Abhishek and Shubman Gill with new-ball swing in the first three overs, and then by varying their pace and using the grip on offer when the ball got old. In between, Abhishek played an incandescent innings, hitting five sixes to jump up to joint No. 7 on India’s all-time T20I six-hitting charts. He has now hit 58 sixes in just 21 innings; Suresh Raina, with whom he drew level, hit 58 in 66 innings.It’s a different sport now, and Abhishek lives on its cutting edge, and Bangladesh seemed to have no answers when he was cutting their bowling to ribbons. They could, however, have dismissed him for 7 off 8 in the third over, had the wicketkeeper held on to an edge off Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who came into an XI with as many as four changes and bowled brilliantly with the new ball, swinging it prodigiously while also hitting the deck hard.The wicketkeeper who shelled that chance – and Bangladesh’s captain on the night – was Jaker Ali, standing in for Litton Das who was ruled out with a side strain.That miss seemed to be costing Bangladesh dearly when India were 112 for 2 at the start of the 12th over. But a brilliant bit of fielding from Rishad Hossain – diving to his left to stop a dab from Suryakumar Yadav and springing up, ready to throw, in one motion – sent Abhishek back, run out, and changed the complexion of the game. India only scored 56 runs across their last nine overs. Hardik Pandya – who was out off the last ball of the innings for 38 off 29, did the bulk of the scoring.Their slide looked worse for coming against the backdrop of batting-order changes that didn’t come off on the day. India promoted Shivam Dube to No. 3, and sent in Hardik, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel above Sanju Samson, who did not get to bat at all.With batting usually a little easier in the second innings in Dubai, Bangladesh have a genuine chance of tripping India up and firming up their hopes of getting into Sunday’s final.

Ilan Meslier’s long fall from Leeds United’s undisputed starting position to a goalkeeper searching for a lifeline has pushed his agent, Pini Zahavi, to attempt to engineer a move to Serie A. With both AC Milan and Inter monitoring the situation, Leeds run the risk of losing a once-elite Premier League talent for far less than they hoped, while Meslier weighs a fresh start to revive a career derailed by dwindling confidence.

• Meslier frozen out as his agent pushes for a Serie A escape

  Meslier has not started a competitive match for Leeds since April, a dramatic decline for a goalkeeper once regarded as one of the club’s most valuable assets. His role has diminished to the point where he is now effectively out of the picture, watching from the sidelines as Lucas Perri and Karl Darlow occupy the first-team spots. With his contract expiring in 2026 and Leeds unwilling to keep a high-earning third-choice goalkeeper, the club is open to selling him in January.

  According to Tutto Sport,sensing the urgency of the situation, his agent Zahavi has moved aggressively. Zahavi, who maintains strong relationships with Milan and Inter is positioning Meslier for a switch to Serie A. Both Milan clubs are interested, attracted by the possibility of signing a young, technically gifted keeper who once ranked among the Premier League’s brightest prospects. But while Leeds want a January sale, both Milan and Inter prefer to wait until summer to sign him for free, setting up a standoff that could deprive Leeds of a transfer fee entirely.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  From Premier League standout to a sudden collapse in form

  Meslier’s decline has been gradual but unmistakable. At his peak in the 2020–21 Premier League season, the Frenchman was electric, producing extraordinary reflex saves, commanding his box with confidence and playing a crucial part in Leeds' ninth-place finish under Marcelo Bielsa. He looked every bit the modern goalkeeper being calm in possession, agile under pressure, and brave in one-on-one situations.

  But the seasons that followed exposed the fragility of both Leeds' defensive structure and Meslier’s still-developing decision-making. As Bielsa’s chaotic, high-risk style increasingly stretched the defence, Meslier faced more dangerous situations than almost any keeper in the league. His shot-stopping numbers plummeted, errors multiplied and the pressure mounted. During Leeds’ relegation campaign he conceded well over expected goals against and ranked among the poorest shot-stoppers in the division.

• Leeds' dilemma: sell now, risk losses or hold on to a fading asset

  Leeds now find themselves in a difficult position. They see Meslier as a player whose value has dropped but still carries Premier League experience that should, in theory, command a meaningful fee. Yet the market is unforgiving for goalkeepers who have lost their starting role, and European clubs know Leeds are under pressure to sell. The club has explored offers in previous windows but has not received anything close to their valuation.

  Adding to the complexity is that Leeds had once considered offering Meslier a new contract, largely to protect his transfer value. But the emergence of Perri and the reliability of Darlow have pushed Meslier further down the depth chart, making a renewal both financially unwise and sporting unnecessary. If Milan and Inter insist on waiting until the summer to sign him for free, Leeds risk losing him without compensation just two years after rejecting offers that would have earned them substantial profit.

  The club must now decide whether a cut-price January sale is better than clinging to an asset whose value and playing time are evaporating by the month.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What Meslier needs

  For Meslier, a move away from England may be the only path to rediscovering the promise that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young goalkeepers. Serie A, with its emphasis on tactical organisation and structured defensive systems, could provide the stability he has lacked since Bielsa’s final seasons at Leeds. Milan and Inter offer environments where keepers have time to rebuild confidence and refine fundamentals without the relentless chaos and pace of English football.

Fit, adaptable and supremely confident, England’s Test team continue to walk the talk

Matt Roller11-Oct-20241:26

Miller: England have found perfect tempo to be ruthless

It was a collapse that could only be explained by its context. Pakistan lost this Test on the fourth evening when they slipped first to 41 for 4 then 59 for 5 and 82 for 6 in the third innings. Impressive as England’s bowlers were across the match, these were unexpectedly easy wickets to come by on a blameless pitch.But Pakistan’s batters were beaten by the time they had even reached the crease, run down by the dual burdens of their recent struggles and 150 overs being run ragged in the field. Saim Ayub spooning Brydon Carse’s first ball to mid-off was the worst of a series of grim dismissals, which were the culmination of mental and physical exhaustion.It is one thing to spend around 150 overs in the field, as both sides did in their first bowling innings. It is another for them to be spread across three days, and to spend them chasing after the ball as the opposition score at more than five runs per over: England scored 478 non-boundary runs in their first innings, compared to Pakistan’s 276.Related

• Pakistan, a graveyard for Test bowlers – in numbers

• Abrar in hospital after falling ill during Multan Test

• Stats – Rare England innings win in Asia, Pakistan losing streak continues

• Leach four-for consigns Pakistan to historic innings defeat

• England further expose Pakistan's mental and tactical fragility

Joe Root and Harry Brook’s partnership ground them down, a 454-run epic spread across 86.3 overs. Brook’s gear change after lunch on the fourth day – he hit 99 off 65 balls in the second session – compounded Pakistan’s weariness, and left them floundering in the mid-afternoon heat. “It had a massive effect, which is what Test cricket is about,” Chris Woakes said.”Here in the subcontinent, you can have three supposedly dull days and then the game can happen quickly. That was always the plan: once we were able to get ahead and run them ragged in the field, it was always going to be hard for them, even on that surface. We know how much it takes out of you.”Root and Zak Crawley’s partnership across the final 18.4 overs of the second day was a vital phase in the match – not least after Aamer Jamal’s spectacular catch to dismiss Ollie Pope. It enabled Brook to start his innings fresh on the third day, and gave Ben Duckett’s thumb time to heal before he came out to bat at No. 4.”The way that Ducky and Creeps [Crawley] go about their business has such a good impact on the changing room,” Brook said. “Watching them go out there and put immense amounts of pressure on their two best bowlers in Shaheen [Afridi] and Naseem [Shah]… it gives you comfort going out there, thinking that the pitch is probably better than what it is.”Touring the subcontinent as an England cricketer in 2024 is completely unrecognisable to what it once was: the team are travelling with their own chef, and are staying on a luxury hotel with a neighbouring golf course. There is still a mental adjustment to make from playing in front of full houses back home to the banks of empty seats this week, which England made impressively quickly.Harry Brook and Joe Root laid the platform for England’s innings win•Getty ImagesThis win was testament to their players’ fitness, and their ability to adjust from the start after coming from a wet, cold autumn back home to the stifling heat of Multan. England insisted in the build-up that three tough training sessions would be enough for them to acclimatise and so it proved, as they coped far better than Pakistan with the oppressive conditions.Brook worked tirelessly on his fitness in the early months of this year, when he missed England’s tour to India and the IPL to be with his grandmother on her deathbed. By his own admission, this was not an innings he could have played without that dedication: “If I hadn’t done that, I’d have probably got to 150 and just slogged one up in the air.”None of England’s seamers had played a Test match in Pakistan before but Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse comprehensively outbowled Afridi and Naseem. Carse was particularly compelling on debut, bowling at high pace and finding some reverse-swing: England have moved on from James Anderson and Stuart Broad with impressive speed.The Test match run has lost its value almost as quickly as the rupee in Pakistan, but even in the context of a high-scoring match on a lifeless surface, England’s total of 823 for 7 declared was remarkable. There were seven sessions between them losing Pope to his second ball in response to Pakistan’s 556 and their winning moment on the final morning.But just as Pakistan’s third-innings failure carried an air of inevitability after their recent results, England’s players were not intimidated by a big score. This was the third time since Brendon McCullum took over as coach two-and-a-half years ago that they had conceded more than 500 in an innings: they have now won all three.”You take confidence from those previous performances, when you’re that far behind in the game,” Pope said. “We try not to think about the end result too much during the game, especially if we’re behind… That’s allowed us to go and put together these performances and good wins in situations where potentially, in the past, we wouldn’t have got over the line.”England’s series results under McCullum have been a mixed bag: they have beaten teams they would expect to, drawn with Australia, and lost heavily in India earlier this year. But it is their style and approach that has made them such a compelling team to watch: asked if this was his favourite Test win, Pope claimed it was “definitely top three” – and then named three others.Along with their victories in Rawalpindi two years ago and in Hyderabad in January, England have won three Tests in Asia that few other sides could hope to. McCullum has dismissed the idea that Bazball has been “refined” in any way beyond personnel but this was a reminder of its central tenet: that athletes perform at their best when imbued with immense self-belief.It is not totally foolproof, and there are times when England’s tactical approach has overstretched. But they have now won 20 of their last 30 Tests – and there remains an intoxicating sense that the best is yet to come.

The incident that caused the probe happened during Pakistan Shaheens’ tour of the UK

Danyal Rasool07-Aug-2025Pakistan batter Haider Ali has been placed under criminal investigation by the Greater Manchester Police, and has been provisionally suspended by the PCB pending the outcome of the inquiry. While no details about the nature of the criminal offence have been released, ESPNcricinfo understands Haider is not currently in custody in the UK, but was interviewed under caution by GMP.The PCB issued a statement it had been “made aware” of the investigation, with the incident in question occurring during Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England, which concluded on Monday. The PCB has confirmed it is providing Haider legal support “to protect his rights throughout this process”.”The PCB has been made aware of a criminal investigation currently being conducted by the Greater Manchester Police involving cricketer Haider Ali,” the PCB statement said. “The investigation pertains to an incident that reportedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England.”The PCB fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the United Kingdom and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course. Accordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Once the legal proceedings are concluded and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary.”Haider, 24, has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan, and was a senior player on the Shaheens’ UK tour. He played all three 50-over games against a first-class XI, as well as two three-day games.

Thomas Frank enjoyed a rip-roaring start to life as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs looked a great deal more organised, shipping just four goals in their first six Premier League games and keeping five clean sheets in their first seven fixtures across all competitions.

Yet, despite maintaining their clean sheet against Everton a week ago, there is a sense that Frank still hasn’t got the fans on side.

They have kept a clean sheet in only two of their last eight games and have won just two of those encounters too.

While a more trigger-happy Daniel Levy may no longer be chairman, the pressure is still on Frank to improve.

The way in which the Lilywhites lost to Chelsea on Saturday, tasting a 1-0 defeat, was alarming.

The hosts only managed an expected goals tally (xG) of just 0.10, they gave the ball away on countless occasions and were subsequently booed off the pitch at the full-time whistle after making a mess of a late free-kick.

Guglielmo Vicario decided to take it short, much to the dismay of the home support and indeed Jamie Carragher who simply said: “You have been awful today Spurs”.

So, why are things going wrong?

Spurs' biggest underperformers against Chelsea

Despite his bizarre set-piece late in the fray, the only player in white to come away with any credit was that man Vicario.

Without him, the scoreline would have been far worse as he made a whopping eight saves, denying a combined xG of 2.17.

He was made to work hard due to the efforts of the players in front of him, notably the defence.

Both Xavi Simons and Micky van de Ven combined in dismal fashion to give the ball away in the build-up to Joao Pedro’s goal.

The likes of Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso did not cover themselves in glory either. Porro notably gave the ball away in the first half which led to a Pedro chance, while Danso was also given a rough time by the Brazilian. It was no surprise to see Cristian Romero come on for him in the 60th minute as the centre-back made his return from injury.

Danso has had a few encouraging displays of late but this was not one of them, notably allowing Chelsea’s main man in attack to get past him easily towards the end of the opening 45 minutes.

In attack Spurs were dry. The defence didn’t do their bit but those in front of them failed to ever relieve the pressure.

They did not create a single big chance and had just 15 touches in the opposition’s box. For context, Enzo Maresca’s men managed 36.

Chalkboard

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

It was a tale of woe for many of the club’s summer signings. Randal Kolo Muani cut an isolated figure up top but not much of the blame can be handed to the French loanee who was starved of service.

That fell at the door of Mohammed Kudus, who despite completing 96% of his passes, failed to create a goalscoring opportunity and failed with all six of his crosses.

Perhaps the biggest concern, however, was the display of marquee arrival Simons.

Spurs' biggest concern after Chelsea

Frank will have been hoping for a straightforward first transfer window at Spurs but it’s safe to say he did not get that.

With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison out long-term with injuries, the club’s hierarchy knew they needed to bring in more creativity. They tried extremely hard to do so.

For all the world it looked as though they were going to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest.

A secret release clause was allegedly activated only for Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, to threaten legal action against the north Londoners. Gibbs-White ultimately stayed at the City Ground and signed a new contract in the process.

Spurs moved on to Eberechi Eze but were again fruitless in their efforts. The England playmaker looked set to sign, a deal had been agreed with Crystal Palace only for Arsenal to gazump their rivals at the 11th hour.

An injury to Kai Havertz meant that the Gunners needed more cover in their attack and there was only going to be one ending once Eze’s boyhood club came to the table.

As a consequence, Frank and Co turned their attentions to Simons. Before arriving in England, the 22-year-old was seen as one of the most sparkling jewels on the continent.

Once of La Masia, Barcelona’s famed academy, Simons has long been highly thought of and had made a living off scoring and assisting goals regularly.

In his two seasons with RB Leipzig in Germany, the creative midfielder scored 22 goals and supplied 24 assists in 78 matches. At Spurs, however, that ability to influence games has waned.

Like another Bundesliga import in the shape of Florian Wirtz, he looks lightweight in the Premier League and has really struggled to get going. The Dutchman has a solitary assist and no goals to show for his efforts from 12 contests to date.

Simons’ worst performance to date arguably came in that 1-0 loss to Chelsea, so much so that he was substituted on and back off.

The Netherlands international initially wasn’t pencilled in to start but after young Lucas Bergvall suffered a first-half injury on just seven minutes, Spurs’ big-money summer signing was introduced to the action.

His influence on proceedings was near non-existent. Football.London reporter Alasdair Gold handed the midfielder a dismal 3/10 rating post-game, aptly summing up his performance by writing: ‘Other than a couple of nice touches the Dutchman was a passenger against the team he was linked with all summer.’

Simons gave the ball away on several occasions, 14 in total, and never really looked like providing a much-needed spark. He didn’t have a single shot and didn’t provide a key pass either.

His display was summed up abysmally when he was asked to defend. The former Leipzig man sold Van de Ven short in the build-up to the goal and was shown a late yellow for a desperate lunge on Alejandro Garnacho in the second period.

For a player who cost £51.8m in the summer, more is expected. At the moment, he’s heading into the Richarlison and Tanguy Ndombele categories.

Ndombele was another talented midfielder when he joined. The Frenchman had bags of talent but failed to ever extract it.

As the Daily Mail’s Dan Ripley put it in September 2020, he was a signing that should have ‘at the very least cemented Tottenham Hotspur’s place inside the top four for another season.’

It was a signing that, after reaching the Champions League final, really excited Spurs fans.

The parallels with Simons are strikingly scary. Spurs’ big addition after getting to a European final and indeed winning the competition, the Dutchman is here to take Frank’s side up a level, just as Ndombele was supposed to do six years ago.

However, for whatever reason, he’s simply failed to do that. Like Ndombele, he’s enduring a nightmare first campaign in English football and it’s difficult to see him extracting his full potential anytime soon.

He is yet to play a full 90 minutes for his new club and hasn’t lasted past the 78th-minute mark in any game he’s played in.

Frank may well be struggling to get a tune out of the Netherlands star but he’s going to have to if Spurs are to cement themselves as genuine top four contenders.

Sadly at the moment, Simons is becoming another Ndombele. He’s a talented midfield player and was deserving of his price tag at the time. Unfortunately, he is not deserving of it right now.