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Four other instances of players redeeming themselves after a horrendous beginning

Debayan Sen28-Sep-2020On Sunday evening in Sharjah, after scoring just eight runs from 19 balls, Rahul Tewatia was completely out of sorts and fast proving to be the reason the Rajasthan Royals would fail in their bold march towards achieving the highest chase in the IPL. Then just in a matter of eight balls, including six sixes, Tewatia did the impossible, becoming a hero from a villain instantaneously.Following are four such instances of players redeeming themselves after a horrendous beginning.Malinga stops CSK’s pounding heartThe 2019 IPL final in Hyderabad pitted the league’s two most successful franchises against each other. The Mumbai Indians had posted a modest 149 on the board, and after a steady start, captain Rohit Sharma’s best-laid plans were faltering in the face of controlled aggression from the blade of Shane Watson. Watson took a special liking to Lasith Malinga, scoring at a strike rate of 200 against the Sri Lankan spearhead, who travelled for 42 off his three overs with the last over looming, in which the Chennai Super Kings needed nine to win.Malinga bowled the last over, with Watson taking strike on 76 from 56 – the only other options could have been either of the Pandya brothers or Kieron Pollard, who had not bowled in the match till that point. This is where Malinga showed his value, bowling full, fast, and with subtle variations of line. Watson could take just four off the first three balls and was run-out looking to come back for the second off the next ball. With four runs required, Malinga conceded two to Shardul Thakur and then executed the near-perfect bluff, a floating yorker on the middle stump that the batsman failed to connect.Travis Head bangs into 2016In terms of similarity with Tewatia’s heroics, Travis Head’s virtually single-handed blitz to help the Adelaide Strikers win a home BBL game on the last day of 2015 against the Sydney Sixers must rank right up there. The Strikers were chasing 177 and Head wasn’t exactly smoking it around the Adelaide Oval, batting on 45 from 38 from No. 4, when Adil Rashid joined him at the fall of the fifth wicket in the 17th over. The equation at the end of that over read 51 needed from 18 balls, exactly the same facing Tewatia in Sharjah.Head’s scoring sequence from there read thus: 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 1, 0, 2, 2, 6, 0, 1, 6, 6, 6. Sean Abbott conceded 45 from nine balls as Head scored 56 all off his bat to win the game for the Strikers with three balls and five wickets to spare. In the process, he brought up the small matter of the first BBL century for his team.Shane Watson’s 117 is the highest individual score in an IPL final•BCCIIshant denies England Champions TrophyThe 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston became a 20-over shootout thanks to the weather, but the odds were pretty much in the home side’s favour with three overs to go, and 28 needed to gun down India’s modest 129, especially with Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara both well set. Ishant Sharma had gone for 27 off his three overs, and with Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinners all yet to have bowled out, it seemed a gamble to hand Ishant the ball for the 18th over, especially after Morgan smacked a long hop second ball for six. Ishant then sprayed one wide from over the wicket and repeated the same after changing his angle, and all seemed lost.A slower ball saw Morgan miscue one towards midwicket, and off the very next ball, Bopara picked square leg against another short delivery. R Ashwin had two catches in two balls, and the match had transformed in a jiffy. The next two balls fetched just a single for Tim Bresnan, and Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin combined squeezed the life out of the English chase in the next two overs, leaving India winners by five runs.Watson joins dots for powerful finishAnother IPL final featuring the Super Kings, and another time Watson was at the forefront. The 2018 final in Mumbai featured the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had set a competitive target of 179. Watson came out to open with Faf du Plessis and struggled for rhythm early on against the tight lines and swing obtained by Sandeep Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. At one stage in the fourth over, the Super Kings were at 11, and Watson had just faced his tenth ball without scoring. He drilled one boundary off the next ball, but du Plessis fell in trying to force the pace off the last ball of the over.With 5 off 13 at one stage, Watson was really struggling, until a hoick off Sandeep through the leg side fetched him his first six, and from there, he was a man transformed. His unbeaten 117 came off just 57 balls, included 11 fours and eight sixes and gave CSK the title with a thumping eight-wicket victory against one of the best bowling attacks in the league.

Rahul Dravid was done as India head coach after his initial two-year term ended at the end of last year’s ODI World Cup, where the team finished runners-up to Australia. Then came a call from Rohit Sharma, and everything changed.”Ro, thank you very much for making that call to me in November and asking [me] to continue,” Dravid, whose tenure ended after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 title win, said in a video posted by the BCCI.”I think it’s been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but Ro, also thanks for the time. There is a lot of time we have to chat, we have to discuss, we have to agree, we have to disagree at times, but thank you so very much.”Related

• Good luck finding another Rahul Dravid

• Dravid: Win a 'great testament to the fight in the team'

As coach, apart from winning the T20 World Cup, Dravid was in charge when India got to the World Test Championship final in June 2023 and the ODI World Cup final in November 2023.In his moment of glory as coach, Dravid said he didn’t believe in “redemption stories”. That was in response to a question on whether it was particularly satisfying to lift the World Cup on the same shores where India were dumped out of the ODI World Cup in the first round in 2007 with Dravid the team’s captain.”I’m not usually short of words but on a day like today, for me to be part of this, I could not be more grateful,” Dravid said. “For the respect, for the kindness, for the effort that each and everyone of you have shown to me, to my coaching staff, to my support staff.”All of you will remember these moments. We always say, it is not about the runs, it is not about the wickets, you never remember your career but you remember moments like this, so let’s really enjoy.”Dravid was hoisted by the entire team on the field during the victory celebrations, with Virat Kohli and Rohit leading the way. Dravid and the selectors were responsible for bringing back the two senior players to the T20I side earlier this year despite them having not featured in the format for a long time.8:43

Rohit Sharma: ‘This has to be my greatest achievement’

As they celebrated together, Dravid had a small message for Kohli: “All three whites ticked off. One red to go. Tick it.” The reference being to India’s wins in the ODI World Cup in 2011, the Champions Trophy in 2013 and now the T20 World Cup, all of which Kohli was a part of, and the Test championship, which India haven’t won yet despite reaching the final on both occasions so far.Dravid’s successor is expected to be named soon. VVS Laxman is coaching the second-string side that will play a series of five T20Is in Zimbabwe starting July 6, and Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has said that the next coach will be named ahead of the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in late July. Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner to be named head coach.Last month, prior to the start of the T20 World Cup, Dravid had cited the packed calendar as a major reason for not reapplying for the job. “Unfortunately, just the kind of schedules [that are in place in international cricket] and where I find myself in this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to reapply,” he had said upon India’s arrival in New York.

The two-time Champions League winner considered retirement after heartbreak in World Cup qualifying, but will make her major tournament debut at 38

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Football history is littered with stand-out names who, despite outstanding individual exploits and remarkable club success, went their entire careers without playing at a major international tournament. For a long time, Jess Fishlock, one of the best midfielders in the history of the NWSL – the top-flight in the United States – looked set to unwittingly add her name to that list.

Across a 19-year international career that has seen her firmly establish herself as Wales' greatest-ever women's footballer, Fishlock has been part of nine failed attempts to take the Dragons to either a European Championship or a Women's World Cup. You could forgive her if, at times, she believed it was never going to happen. But then it did.

Wales didn't certainly do it the easy way, needing extra-time to beat Slovakia and to win in Dublin to overcome Ireland over two legs, but Wales finally got over the line for what Fishlock, now 38 years old, described as "the proudest moment" of her storied career. And now, as the 2025 European Championship gets under way, comes the opportunity she and the whole country have been waiting for – and, as a little added bonus, there's a chance to throw a spanner in the works of England's title defence, too.

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  Bumps in the road

  It's been a long and arduous road for Wales to this point. Back in 2020, they were tied on points with Northern Ireland in a bid to reach the Euro 2022 play-offs, and with a vastly superior goal difference. However, the tiebreaker was head-to-head results, and because Northern Ireland scored two goals in a draw in Newport, it was they who progressed to the next round and, eventually, their first major tournament.

  There would be even crueller heartbreak just a couple of years later, in qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup. The Dragons needed a win in a one-legged tie against Switzerland in Zurich and they even went ahead, thanks to Rhiannon Roberts' 19th-minute goal. But their dreams would be dashed in the most dramatic fashion, when Fabienne Humm's effort in the 121st minute sent the Swiss to the tournament instead.

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  'Can't do it anymore'

  Fishlock contemplated retirement at times through those lows, with that World Cup qualifying defeat a particularly crushing blow. "That was hard. It was really hard," she told last year. "I went home and just broke down in tears to my mum. I really stayed strong at the stadium and got home and I just broke down. I was like, 'I just can't do it anymore. I can't go through this again. I cannot go through this again'.

  "She just gave me a hug and said, 'And that's okay'. I was fully expecting her to be like, 'No, you can't stop now, you can't give up now'. But she said the complete opposite and it was exactly what I needed. I went to bed that night, I woke up and I was ready to go again."

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  'Ultimate team player'

  And Fishlock didn't come back for herself. She didn't come back because she, personally, had to make it to a major tournament in order to tick a final box in her career or something like that. She came back because, in her words, it would be a "travesty" for Wales, "with the players that we have", not to finally break through that ceiling. "[It's] not so much about me but everything that we stand for on and off the field, everything these girls have done over the years. They deserve it."

  That's telling insight into what Fishlock brings to this team off the pitch. On it, she's a classy midfielder who dictates games, brings bags of energy to the table, and can both create and score plenty. But she's also a cool head that the more inexperienced members of this Wales team can look to in big moments. After all, Fishlock has been there and done almost everything, with two Champions League titles and three NWSL Shields standing out on her long list of honours. "She is the ultimate team player," Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson believes.

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  Total transformation

  Fishlock is keen to reciprocate that praise, too, highlighting Wilkinson's role in this historic achievement for Wales. For years, the Dragons have had the talent in the squad to be capable of finally making a major tournament, and all while support within the federation has been growing impressively. But it wasn't until after Wilkinson was appointed last year that they were guided over the line.

  “Rhian’s transformed us," Fishlock told last week. "I think in the past we haven’t really had a manager that’s believed in us this much, but Rhian’s unwavering. She’s raised the bar. From minute one, she introduced a set of non-negotiable standards, wielded the hammer and established whole new expectations. It’s brought the best out in us all. It’s always been an honour and a privilege to represent this country, but she’s put us in a spot where we’re now able to compete against top teams.

  “In the past we would just agree, I guess, that maybe we couldn’t do this or we couldn’t do that, but Rhian just doesn’t accept that. I think she really, truly, does believe in us. She communicates very clearly and she’s instilled so much confidence. We knew we were good enough, but we maybe just had a block. Now, you can see us improving. We’ve raised our game. It’s just so exciting."

The team which qualifies in second place in this group will take on South Africa, the Group 2 toppers

S Rajesh24-Jun-2024

Australia’s 24-run defeat against India in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 means their semi-final chances now depend on the result of the last group game, between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. For Australia to qualify, Bangladesh need to beat Afghanistan, but by a margin of under 62 runs if they bat first (assuming a total of 140). If Bangladesh chase, they’ll need to get to 141 in at least 12.4 overs for Australia to finish with a higher run rate.That means Bangladesh, whose net run rate is currently languishing at -2.489, need a huge win on Monday night to surpass Australia’s -0.331. A win by 62 or more runs, and a chase of 141 in 12.3 overs or earlier, will push them to second place on the points table. (If they level the scores and then win with a six, they can push the chase to 13.1 overs.) If Afghanistan score 160, Bangladesh can stay ahead of Australia by chasing it down in 12.5 overs or sooner (if they score 161), or in 13.3 overs if they level scores and win with a six.For Afghanistan, the equation is much easier: a win will ensure second place in the group and a place in the semi-finals, while a defeat will knock them out. That’s because even with a Super Over defeat, their NRR will only improve to -0.433, which is still below Australia’s -0.331.The team which qualifies in second place in this group will take on South Africa, the Group 2 toppers, in Tarouba in a night game on Wednesday, while India will take on England in the second semi-finals in a day game on Thursday in Providence.

Arsenal have now joined the race for a Premier League forward who has “X-factor pace”, but they may have to pay at least £43m for his services, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new winger

After progressing past Real Madrid last week, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to win the Champions League for the first time, but Mikel Arteta’s side have been hampered in their Premier League title pursuit by a number of injury issues.

Bukayo Saka’s long-term absence arguably hit the north Londoners the hardest, with the inexperienced Ethan Nwaneri being given the nod at right-wing while the talisman was sidelined, underlining the need for Arteta to bolster his wide options this summer despite Nwaneri’s clear potential.

Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams appears to be among the main targets, with a bid for the Spanish winger now being formulated, while talks have also been held over a deal for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who could be available for a fee of just £25m.

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Williams has been a long-term target for Arteta, given the level of his performances for club and country, while Cherki has been in remarkable form for Lyon this season, amassing 12 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.

However, with neither player proven in England, Arsenal are also monitoring a winger who has performed very well in the Premier League this season, namely Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, according to a report from Caught Offside.

Elanga has caught the eye for the Tricky Trees, meaning a whole host of Premier League clubs are also in the race for his signature, including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and former employers Manchester United.

Forest haven’t put the winger up for sale, and they are considering offering him a contract extension, but there is a feeling they could be open to bids of at least €50m (£43m).

"Powerful" Elanga impressing for Europe-chasing Forest

Forest’s Champions League hopes have recently taken a hit, having lost their last two Premier League games, but they remain in a strong position to qualify for Europe next season, and the 22-year-old has been one of their most important players.

The Forest star has six goals and eight assists to his name in 32 Premier League outings, having predominantly featured at right-wing, although the Swede has often featured on the opposite side throughout his career, indicating he could push for Gabriel Martinelli’s starting spot.

The former Man United man has also impressed both Andy Reid and Jamie Redknapp this season, with the former particularly impressed by his “X-factor pace”.

Elanga’s displays for Forest indicate Man United made a mistake letting him leave, and with Arteta in need of more attacking depth next season, the Sweden international’s versatility could make him an ideal addition to the squad.

While it was roughly six months ago that Erik ten Hag finally lost his job at Manchester United, it could be argued that the Dutchman’s fate was sealed far earlier, particularly following what has proved to be a damaging 2023 summer window.

Despite the way his tenure ended, it’s worth remembering that the former Ajax boss had overcome a shaky start to life at Old Trafford to ultimately enjoying a promising debut campaign at the club, securing a third-place Premier League finish and winning the Carabao Cup to boot – ending a six-year wait for silverware.

Although that season was punctuated by the lows of the FA Cup final defeat to rivals Manchester City – and the 7-0 drubbing away at Anfield – Ten Hag had largely helped to stabilise the Red Devils, having also overseen the resurgence of 30-goal talisman, Marcus Rashford.

What United needed then was to kick on again with a handful of marquee summer signings, in order to try and bridge the gap with those above them. Instead, in came an error-prone Andre Onana, an injury-prone Mason Mount, and a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund.

That assessment may be with hindsight in mind, although the issues were staring the Old Trafford hierarchy in the face. Onana, for instance, had made a catalogue of mistakes during his time at Inter and Ajax; Mount had endured an injury-hit 2022/23 season at Chelsea and Hojlund had scored just nine Serie A goals for Atalanta.

Arijanet Muric

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Alphonse Areola

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How different things could have been had different targets been acquired, be it Ten Hag’s first-choice striker, Harry Kane, or even a certain Declan Rice.

Why Man Utd missed out on Rice

There remains the feeling that during the days of the great Sir Alex Ferguson, both Kane and Rice would have ended up at Old Trafford, a point that club legend Teddy Sheringham notably made last month:

As reported by Sky Sports at the time, it was the England captain who was Ten Hag’s ‘number one target’, albeit with Rice – alongside Mount – also on the club’s midfield shortlist.

The then-West Ham United skipper had also been linked with a move to Manchester a year earlier, while in 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also seemingly keen on signing the rising midfield star from the London Stadium.

As it proved, Kane moved on to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, while Rice made the move to Arsenal on a £105m deal, with the Gunners also edging out rivals Manchester City to make that deal happen.

Whether United were truly in the mix, considering the mammoth nature of the transfer fee, is a valid point, albeit when considering that £156m was spent the previous summer on Antony and Casemiro, it illustrates where the funds could have been more wisely invested.

As it is, the 26-year-old – who deemed the Emirates “project” to be more “exciting” than the one at the Etihad – is now the centrepiece of Mikel Arteta’s midfield, having since scored twice against the Red Devils over the last two seasons.

The one-time Chelsea youth project no doubt joins the list of those who got away for the Old Trafford side, although – thankfully – the club could be brewing their answer to the Three Lions star.

Man Utd's answer to Declan Rice

While Arsenal’s title bid faltered, it has proven to be a positive few weeks, at least, for Rice in north London, with the midfield machine scoring in the 1-1 draw against Ruben Amorim’s side, before producing stunning heroics in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Those pinpoint free-kicks highlighted another weapon to the £105m man’s already impressive arsenal, with the Gunners’ number 41 having perhaps helped to already book their place in the last eight.

Of course, back in Manchester, United already have a set-piece king of their own in the form of Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker notably netting from range against both Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old is, however, a naturally more attack-minded playmaker than his Arsenal counterpart, with a better likeness seemingly shown in the form of young Kobbie Mainoo, even amid the 19-year-old’s injury-hit season this time around.

Described as a “generational talent” by teammate Hojlund, Mainoo has had a campaign to forget due to his repeated spells on the sidelines, albeit with it hard to ignore the brilliance of his breakthrough 2023/24 season, which was rounded off with the decisive goal in May’s FA Cup final.

Subsequently thrust in as Rice’s partner in the knockout stages of Euro 2024, as Gareth Southgate’s men surged to the showpiece, the United teenager was actually praised by his midfield colleague for his “leadership” despite his youth, with the pair forming a “nice partnership” in the centre of the park.

Much like Rice, Mainoo showcased his ability to feature as a number six or as a number eight during Ten Hag’s reign, with club legend Paul Scholes even stating that the pair are alike in the fact that it can be hard to pin down their best position.

Even so, what the two men both possess – as the Arsenal star showed on Tuesday – is the impact they can make in the final third, with Mainoo notably curling home in fine fashion against both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool last season.

While we are yet to see the £20k-per-week starlet’s free-kick ability, he does mirror Rice in being able to thrive when popping up just outside the area, while at the other end of the pitch, the United man can also sniff out the danger when needed – as shown with his vital goalline clearance against Everton on what was his first Premier League start.

Where the two international colleagues are also alike, perhaps most notably, is their knack for driving forward with the ball from deep, with Rice ranking in the top 4% of European midfielders for progressive carries, while Mainoo ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

The issue now for Amorim is finding a permanent home for his young sensation in the 3-4-3 system, having trialled the 2022 FA Youth Cup winner as a number ten of late, with it set to be a real waste if United fail to get the best out of their own Rice-like midfield powerhouse.

Bad news for Mainoo: Man Utd ready move for "out of this world" £52m star

Man Utd are seeking to bolster their midfield ranks this summer

1 ByRobbie Walls Apr 8, 2025

Nathan Lyon has defended his controversial pre-Ashes comments about Matt Prior and wanting to end England players’ careers

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba24-Nov-20171:45

‘I thought you guys were smarter than to fall for that’ – Lyon explains trash talk

Australia’s spinner Nathan Lyon has defended his controversial pre-Ashes comments, joking that he had successfully diverted attention and pressure from debutant Cameron Bancroft and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who is playing his first Test for seven years.On Monday, Lyon suggested that he would be happy if Australia ended the careers of some of England’s players during this series, and claimed that former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior had wanted to go home during the 2013-14 Ashes because he was “scared”. Prior called Lyon’s comments “laughable”.”Well, I took a lot of pressure off Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft, so I thought you guys were a little bit smarter than that,” Lyon said after the second day’s play in Brisbane. “It is what it is. I’m not going to stand back from what I said.”Lyon declined to be drawn on whether his comments about Prior in particular were unkind. “Let’s go, next question,” he said.Whatever the case, the storm around Lyon’s comments did no harm to his bowling form. Despite finishing with only 2 for 78 in England’s first innings, Lyon bowled outstandingly, turning the ball sharply from his first ball on day one. England managed only 2.16 an over off Lyon, whose sky-high confidence was also shown by his sharp direct-hit run-out of James Vince on the first day.”My confidence has grown a large amount over the last 14 months,” he said. “I’ve worked hard in the nets with John Davison and I’ve really nailed down my consistency and knowing my game inside out, and knowing what works really well for me. The comments that I said before the match, it has nothing to do with the way I’m bowling now. It’s a team game. I know my role in the Australian cricket team.”I know I’m a leader, I know I’m one of the most experienced guys in that change room. If I can go out there and share my experience with the younger guys, then hopefully we can put Australian cricket in a good place. I’m very confident with where my bowling is at, at the moment. I feel like I’m bowling very well. The way it’s coming out of my hand, it’s probably coming out the best it’s ever come out. I know my role and I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.”Lyon said he had been surprised by the spin and lack of pace in the Gabba surface from the first day. Although he has had success at the Gabba in the past, rarely has he found such assistance from so early in the match.”I’ve never seen the Gabba spin this much,” he said. “I’ve seen it spin before, but not the amount I was able to generate out there. It’s probably a tad softer to what we’re used to. Today was probably more like a typical day one wicket for the Gabba, so hopefully it will harden up over the next couple of days, there’ll be more pace in the wicket.”The lack of pace in the pitch also had the effect of negating Australia’s plans to pepper England’s batsmen with short bowling, as Mitchell Johnson had done in 2013-14. When Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood did dig the ball in, it rarely reach head height, but Lyon said it was still pleasing to see the way the fast men had operated to prevent England from getting away.”Our bowlers have taken a lot of confidence out of that, especially on a slow wicket, that we were able to stick to our plans and not go away from that as a bowling group. I think the boys are pretty proud, but they’re also pretty excited to hopefully come across some fast decks around the summer to really see how the plan goes.”

Borussia Dortmund's Diant Ramaj has declared he will not return to the German club just to be second choice goalkeeper next season.

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• Ramaj makes bold statement after impressive spell with Copenhagen
• German goalkeeper not interested in a backup role at Dortmund
• Calls himself the 'best goalkeeper of the young generation'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Riding high in confidence after a stupendous spell with Copenhagen, Ramaj made some bold claims in an interview with . The German goalkeeper is demanding a regular role at the club next season, claiming he's the best young goalkeeper available.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After completing a move to Bundesliga in the 2024-25 winter transfer window from Ajax, Ramaj was loaned out immediately to Danish club Copenhagen. The German's loan spell worked wonders for both the player and club as they went on to complete the double, winning the league title and Danish Cup. Now, with his loan spell ending, he has voiced his opinion on his future making it clear that he wants regular football.

• WHAT DIANT RAMAJ SAID

  The shot stopper said: "I really enjoyed the season in Copenhagen; what we've achieved is fantastic. And one thing's clear to me: I have to keep playing, get minutes, and match practice. Therefore, one thing's clear to me: I'm not sitting on the bench in Dortmund! It's clear to me that I won't be coming to Dortmund to line up at the back, that I have no chance of playing behind Gregor Kobel. I have to play."

  He added: "I said I'm the best goalkeeper of the young generation. And I think I've proven that in the past few months!"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

  First choice goalkeeper Kobel has reportedly been a transfer target for Chelsea, but after Dortmund's Champions League qualification under Niko Kovac, the German saw a resurgence and is expected to stay. That could see Ramaj push for a summer transfer.

The Daniel Levy era at Tottenham Hotspur has been a total rollercoaster, one that’s not just been encapsulated by years of mediocrity on the pitch, but their dealings off the pitch too.

While their recruitment is getting better, notably preparing for the future by bringing the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and highly-rated defender Luka Vuskovic to the club, they have still wasted several hundreds of millions on players who simply haven’t cut it.

In recent years we’re talking about the likes of £60m Richarlison, £25m Yves Bissouma, £25m Emerson Royal and £55m Giovani Lo Celso.

One of the worst, however, was the ill-fated Tanguy Ndombele move.

Why Ndombele's Spurs move was such a disaster

The year was 2019 and the month was July. It was the summer window and Levy knew he needed to spend to take Spurs to the next level.

Spend he did, splashing out a club-record fee at the time of £55m on Ndombele. The Frenchman arrived from Lyon with some suggesting he was the dream replacement for the much-loved Mousa Dembele.

You could see why such a comparison was being made. Ndombele was a powerful carrier, his technical ability was first-class and he could affect games in both boxes.

He moved from Ligue 1 having scored three goals and supplied eight assists in the 2018/19 campaign. The Frenchman – capped seven times – never replicated those numbers in the white of Spurs, however.

In fact, across 91 outings for the club, he only amassed nine assists and netted ten goals. He wasn’t explicitly signed for his ability to contribute in the final third but for the price tag and the hype, you’d expect better.

So, why did it not work out? Well, not only did he suffer from injuries, missing several games through a groin problem, but he didn’t particularly work hard enough. That was the view of many people, chiefly Jose Mourinho.

“We had to start with him as a No 10,” the former Spurs boss explained. “He didn’t have the discipline, the strength or the stamina to be a midfield player.”

2019/20

29

2

4

2020/21

46

6

4

2021/22

16

2

1

One training ground source encapsulated it perfectly. Speaking to the Athletic, they said at the time: “Tanguy is the maverick of the team, he can do stuff that nobody else can do. Incredibly talented, incredible ability, just sometimes you just want to be like, ‘Tanguy you’re so good, just do the basics’.”

Well, after never really making the grade in north London, he finally left England behind in June 2024 when his contract was cancelled.

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Spurs haven’t exactly done great things in the market since then, and that’s typified by Timo Werner’s move.

Spurs' worst signing since Ndombele

While the likes of Richarlison, Lo Celso and Bissouma – all signing since Ndombele – haven’t exactly set the world alight, they have at least made positive contributions.

The Brazilian scored 12 goals in all competitions last term, while Lo Celso had some memorable moments, netting against Manchester City in 2023/24 and playing an important role in the team through the middle stages of Ange Postecoglou’s debut year at the helm.

However, for Werner, he hasn’t had many memorable moments at all. While Ndombele is certainly the worst of the bunch, the German has flopped in a similar way.

Of course, being a loan move, there hasn’t been a whole wad of cash wasted here but if anything has been wasted, it’s time and effort to get a deal over the line.

The former Chelsea attacker initially signed in January of 2024 on loan and did make an impact in the back end of that season, scoring twice and supplying three assists in 13 outings.

As a consequence, his loan move in England was extended over the summer, keeping him at the club until the end of the current campaign. Sadly, it just hasn’t been worthwhile.

The £165k-per-week earner has only scored once all campaign – a goal in the Carabao Cup – and has three assists in the Premier League.

The nadir of his time at the club was definitely against Tamworth in the FA Cup back in January. Spurs nearly lost the game and Werner notably underperformed with podcaster and content creator Will Reyner suggesting “he looks comfortably the worst player on the pitch against a non-league side.” Damning words indeed.

He’s not just frustrated supporters but he’s also annoyed Postecoglou who notably laid into the Germany international back in December after a performance against Rangers, suggesting his performance was “not acceptable”. Tell us how you really feel, Ange.

Also described as a “weird” signing by ESPN pundit Don Hutchinson, is it really a surprise that Spurs are set to pass on their option to buy the 29-year-old at the end of his loan this summer?

It was reported that Levy could exercise a £8.5m buy option but it’s suggested that he will head back to RB Leipzig in the summer.

That is certainly the right decision for a player who has flopped just as hard as Ndombele did in Spurs colours.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 21, 2025

da betcris： Leeds United are looking to sign a “world-class” goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier next season, according to a new report.

Leeds pushing for promotion with Meslier struggling

da mrbet： The Whites head into the final eight games of the Championship following the international break top of the table, however, there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke’s side have four home games against Swansea City, Preston North End, Stoke City and Bristol City, and away, Leeds have to travel to Luton Town, Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Plymouth Argyle.

One player who looks set to start all those games is Meslier, who has been backed by Farke all year, despite the Frenchman making some costly mistakes. Talking about the Frenchman’s errors in a 3-3 draw with Hull City at the start of the year, Farke said:

“When the goalkeeper makes one or two mistakes it is natural to talk about changes. We don’t change a goalkeeper quickly like a full-back. There is no rule that a player is not dropped. If a centre-back was to score loads of own goals he would be dropped. But straight after the game I am not going to finger point.”

Goalkeeper (Championship 2024/25)

Club

Goals prevented

1. James Trafford

Burnley

+11.4

2. Viktor Johansson

Stoke City

+10.8

3. Jamie Cumming

Oxford United

+7.8

4. Michael Cooper

Sheffield United

+6.2

18. Illan Meslier

Leeds United

-2.7

Now 25 years of age and out of contact in 2026, Meslier has made more than 200 appearances in a Leeds shirt but his place could be at risk next season.

Leeds looking to sign £25m goalkeeper compared to Pickford

According to Give Me Sport, Leeds will look to sign Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher this summer, should they win promotion.

The Reds goalkeeper is expected to cost around £25m and Leeds are eyeing the Republic of Ireland international ‘due to the uncertainty’ around Meslier.

Compared to Jordan Pickford by FbRef, Kelleher has interest from ‘a host of other clubs’, so it could be tricky for Leeds to seal a deal, even if they do go up.

An ambitious target, Kelleher previously came in for praise from Virgil van Dijk, who claimed the goalkeeper should have got the Player of the Match award following the Reds’ EFL Cup final win over Chelsea in 2024.

“He should have got it. I’m probably one of his biggest fans, I think. I have always said he is world class and he stepped up today, again. It’s good to see. He’s a good boy, good goalkeeper and that’s what we need at a club like Liverpool.”

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Posts 2 ByTom Cunningham Mar 19, 2025

A move to Elland Road could be one to watch, but Leeds and Farke have to do the job on the pitch before the 49ers Enterprises can make any sort of moves for players like Kelleher.