Rangers aren’t doing too much to keep the supporters happy right now, and an official club announcement has not gone down too well at all.
Rangers boardroom receiving endless criticism
Thursday’s 3-0 defeat away to Brann in the Europa League was the latest dire result for the Gers, bursting Danny Rohl’s bubble in his opening game in charge, on a night when it was hoped they would turn a corner.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist was one of many not remotely amused by the performance of the players, not holding back in his criticism of the team, on Friday morning: “Last night is probably as depressed as I have been during this whole debacle, because I actually feel for the manager. I don’t know what he is going to do.
“He might improve them in terms of a little bit of organisation – set plays, you can do all that, bits and pieces, but I do not think there is anywhere near the level of improvement in that team that will even be required to get them up the league domestically, to tell you the gospel truth. There are just absolutely miles off it. They are getting outfought, outrun, outmuscled – I mean, it’s actually very sad to watch.”
It isn’t a happy time at Rangers, so it is important that those within the club cause further unrest, but they aren’t helping themselves at the moment.
Rangers kit announcement slammed
On Saturday, Four Lads Had A Dream reacted angrily to Rangers announcing their 2025/26 fourth kit, saying the timing was bad after such a poor run of form: “Great launch. Smashing kit. Timing & awareness of wider feeling, completely ignorant.”
It certainly isn’t the best timing from the Gers, who need to be aware of how frustrated the fans are at what has gone on so far this season, making this a bizarre time to market a chance for fans to invest more of their hard earned money into the club.
While supporters often like new kits, many fans feel that the players aren’t even worthy of wearing it this season, given the nature of the results and performances on show. Hopefully, things change for the better for Rangers from this weekend onwards, with Rohl’s side facing a must-win home clash against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
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Yet more dropped points would only further see momentum dropped, and their new boss will be praying that he can mastermind a positive result.
Palmeiras e Atlético-MG se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira (19), às 19h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A partida terá transmissão exclusiva do Premiere (pay-per-view).
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoInvestidora do Palmeiras tem acordo com Vasco em caso de vitória de Pedrinho nas eleições do clubeVasco18/10/2023PalmeirasAproximação de Crefisa com o Vasco acende mais um alerta no PalmeirasPalmeiras18/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras aproveita Data Fifa para blindar o elenco e solucionar vazamentosPalmeiras18/10/2023
+ O brabo tem nome! Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$340 com gol de Rony, do Palmeiras, contra o Atlético-MG
+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Ambas as equipes estão na parte de cima da tabela e buscam, pelo menos, uma vaga para a próxima Libertadores. O Verdão é o atual quarto colocado com 44 pontos e não vence há três rodadas. Já o Galo ocupa a nona posição, com 40, tendo apenas uma derrota nos últimos quatro jogos.
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Na última rodada, a equipe de Abel Ferreira perdeu para o rival Santos por 2 a 1, de virada, na Arena Barueri. Assim como o Palmeiras, o Atlético-MG também perdeu para o Coritiba pelo mesmo placar e de virada, no Mineirão. As equipes se enfrentaram recentemente pelas oitavas de final da Libertadores. Na ocasião, o Verdão se classificou às quartas após vitória por 1 a 0 em Belo Horizonte e empate em 0 a 0 em São Paulo.
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O Alviverde não perde para a equipe mineira no Allianz há sete anos. A última vitória do Atlético-MG na casa palestrina foi em 2016, na vitória por 1 a 0, pelo Brasileirão, com gol marcado porLeandro Donizete.Portanto, o Galo precisará quebrar uma longa escrita para voltar com os três pontos na bagagem.
Na partida do primeiro turno, no dia 28 de maio, os times empataram em 1 a 1 no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG). O jogo ficou marcado pela anulação de um gol de bicicleta marcado por Rony que gerou bastante insatisfação por parte dos palmeirenses.
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+ Palmeiras está invicto contra o Atlético-MG, mas Abel ainda busca quebra de tabu
Os desfalques do Palmeiras são Atuesta, em transição física, e Dudu, que se recupera após lesão no joelho. Além deles, o volante Richard Ríos cumprirá suspensão por acúmulo de cartões amarelos, e o técnico Abel Ferreira também será ausência pois está suspenso pelo STJD. Gustavo Gómez, Piquerez e Raphael Veiga, jogadores que estavam servindo as suas respectivas seleções na Data Fifa, já treinaram com o restante do grupo nesta quarta (18), mas ainda não são certezas para o duelo.
Pelo lado do Alvinegro, Felipão não poderá contar com Mariano e Eduardo Vargas, lesionados. Battaglia e Pedrinho avançaram no processo de recuperação de suas lesões, mas seguem fora. Guilherme Arana, que estava com a Seleção Brasileira, foi relacionado.
Veja todas as informações da partida:
PALMEIRAS X ATLÉTICO-MG 27ª RODADA DO BRASILEIRÃO
Local:Allianz Parque, em São Paulo (SP) Data e hora:18/10/2023, às 19h (de Brasília) Árbitro:Bruno Arleu de Araújo (Fifa-RJ) Assistentes:Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) eThiago Henrique Neto Corrêa Farinha (RJ) VAR:Wagner Reway (VAR-Fifa/PB) Onde assistir:Premiere (pay-per-view)
PALMEIRAS:Weverton, Mayke, Murilo, Gustavo Gómez (Luan) e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga (Jhon Jhon); Endrick, Rony e Kevin. Técnico: João Martins.
Desfalques: Atuesta (transição), Dudu (lesionado), Richard Ríos e Abel Ferreira (suspensos) Dúvidas: Gustavo Gómez, Piquerez e Raphael Veiga
ATLÉTICO-MG:Everson, Saravia, Maurício Lemos e Bruno Fuchs, Guilherme Arana (Rubens), Otávio, Battaglia (Zaracho), Pedrinho (Igor Gomes), Pavón, Paulinho e Hulk. Técnico: Felipão.
Desfalques: Mariano, Vargas, Battaglia e Pedrinho (lesionados)
After the deadline passed at the end of the summer transfer window, Leeds United did not have the attacking depth that Daniel Farke wanted in the squad.
Journalist Graham Smyth noted that the manager revealed that it would be “difficult” for the club to avoid relegation if they did not add to their attacking options, and they did not.
The 49ers left it too late and had no back-up options when a deal for Harry Wilson fell through on deadline day, which meant that they ended the window with Noah Okafor as their only signing out wide.
Okafor, who was signed from AC Milan for £18m, was the only attacking signing who was signed for a transfer fee, as the club did not sign another winger, attacking midfielder, or striker from another club for a fee.
Lucas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the only two other attacking signings made by the club during the summer transfer window, and both of them arrived on free transfers.
Calvert-Lewin joined on a free transfer from Premier League mainstays Everton in the summer after his contract with the Toffees expired, and Leeds need more from him.
Why Leeds need more from Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The 11-cap England international has played 245 matches in the Premier League, per Transfermarkt, for Everton and Leeds combined in his career, which shows that he is a hugely experienced player at the level.
His experience does shine through in his physical output. The towering striker has won 4.7 duels per game and won 42% of his aerial duels in the top-flight, per Sofascore, whilst Joel Piroe, for example, has won 0.5 duels per match and won 20% of his aerial duels.
This shows that he is providing an outlet at the top end of the pitch for Leeds to hit when they are under pressure, which is why Farke is right to continue to select him over Piroe, who is a lightweight out of possession.
However, Calvert-Lewin needs to offer more in front of goal for the West Yorkshire outfit, as his header in the clip above is his only goal for the club to date.
The £100k-per-week centre-forward has missed five ‘big chances’ in five starts in the Premier League, whilst he also missed four ‘big chances’ in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday on his debut.
Most big chances missed in the 25/26 Premier League
Player
Big chances missed
Goals
Jean-Philippe Mateta
10
5
Erling Haaland
8
11
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
5
1
Viktor Gyokeres
4
3
Antoine Semenyo
4
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin is third in the Premier League for ‘big chances’ missed this season, but he does not boast the goal tally that the players around him in that list have.
Missing chances is not the end of the world for a striker if they are still scoring goals, as Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta are doing, but the Leeds striker is not scoring enough goals to make up for his misses.
This is why Farke needs more from the experienced number nine. For all the good work he is doing physically, Calvert-Lewin must step up and provide goals to win points for the team.
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The longer his struggles in front of goal continue, the more Leeds may regret how they ended up in a position where Mateo Joseph had to be axed from the squad in the summer.
Per the striker’s comments, Farke told him that he would not be counted on in the Premier League, which led to a loan move to LaLiga outfit Mallorca.
Why Leeds must regret loaning out Mateo Joseph
The Spain U21 international came through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch to score six goals in 73 first-team matches for Leeds, per Transfermarkt, whilst mainly coming off the bench.
Journalist Phil Hay even said that Joseph was “starting to look a little bit like Archie Gray” at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, as the young striker was “becoming a really big impact player off the bench” in the same season that Gray stepped up before his £30m move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Unfortunately, Farke did not have faith that the Spaniard would be able to make the step up to the Premier League, which is why he was sent out on loan to Mallorca.
His form in LaLiga since being sent out on loan may be frustrating for supporters, because his current performance level suggests that he would be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin at Elland Road.
The Leeds academy graduate has won 47% of his ground duels and 37% of his overall duels across eight appearances in LaLiga, per Sofascore, which shows that he has handled the physicality of one of Europe’s major leagues well.
On top of showing good physicality in his performances, Joseph has also scored two goals in four starts in LaLiga for Mallorca, twice as many goals as Calvert-Lewin has managed in the Premier League.
25/26 season
Calvert-Lewin (Premier League)
Joseph (LaLiga)
Appearances
6
8
Starts
5
4
Duels won per game
4.7
2.4
Duel success rate
38%
37%
Goals
1
2
Big chances missed
5
2
Assists
0
1
Penalties won
0
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old marksman has scored twice as many goals, provided one more assist, and won one more penalty than the Leeds forward this season.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin has only won a slightly higher percentage of his physical duels, which suggests that Joseph would not be a significant downgrade in that respect.
Therefore, Leeds must regret binning the Spanish forward in the summer, because Farke did not trust him, as he is now outperforming Calvert-Lewin in another major European league.
His return of two goals with only two ‘big chances’ missed suggests that he is the clinical marksman that Leeds are sorely lacking in their team right now, after they failed to score any of the four ‘big chances’ they had against Burnley on Saturday.
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Farke and Leeds will now be hoping that Calvert-Lewin can turn his form around and start to show why the club were willing to move Joseph on to go with him as their main number nine.
Jadon Sancho endured a difficult night on a rare start for Aston Villa as former player Stiliyan Petrov criticised the Manchester United loanee for failing to take his chance in Thursday's 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Sancho's subdued display left the former club captain "disappointed" with renewed doubts over his long-term Premier League future.
Sancho struggles in Europa League clash
Sancho was handed a rare starting opportunity for Aston Villa on Thursday night but failed to impress in the Europa League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Making just his third start of the season, the Manchester United loanee played 75 minutes before being substituted in what many saw as a make-or-break chance to convince Unai Emery he deserved a bigger role. His overall performance was criticised as ineffective and lacking intensity.
Sancho’s inclusion came as part of a rotated Villa side, with key players like Ollie Watkins rested for the European clash. Villa’s goals from Maatsen and Donyell Malen secured the three points, but the performance of the English winger again drew scrutiny from pundits and fans alike. His limited impact, despite flashes of skill, did little to dispel the growing perception that he has yet to rediscover his best form since leaving United on loan.
Speaking on after the match, former Villa captain Petrov delivered a blunt assessment of Sancho’s performance. "A few of those players would have the opportunity to show the manager they should be in the starting XI," he said. "Really impressed with Maatsen — every time he’s had the chance he always performs, he always impresses. I’m not sure if I can say that for Sancho and [Evan] Guessand. I’m a bit disappointed there."
Elsewhere, Dietmar Hamann questioned whether the winger can still succeed in the Premier League, he told footballblog.co.uk: "It hasn’t really happened for Jadon Sancho at Aston Villa yet. He’s failed to settle at several English clubs – should he be looking to return to Dortmund when his loan expires and is he in danger of not realising/wasting his talent?
"He's such a good player. When he came to United, I said to everybody, what he's done in the Bundesliga was second to none. I was really surprised he struggled at United. Obviously, he didn't get on with the manager, which didn't help. I just thought he was too good not to make an impact at United. He came back, did well at Dortmund.
"I think he's got to have the belief to do it somewhere outside of Dortmund, or outside of Germany, because I think he's a player who can certainly play in the Premier League, who should be one of the better or best players in the Premier League.
"Then again he went back to Dortmund. Does he come back once more? I’m not sure. Dortmund probably has had a look at him. Usually when you do go back and do these things again, they’re not as good as they were the first or the second time.
"If Dortmund take him back, the wages might be a problem. At a reasonable price maybe it works, but I think even Dortmund might think, if you take him back a second time, for his third stint in Dortmund, we're not sure whether it's going to happen again as well as the first two times."
Emery believes Sancho is improving physically
Emery’s outlook on Sancho remains cautious yet optimistic. The Villa manager has repeatedly insisted that the winger’s limited minutes are part of a long-term plan to rebuild his fitness and confidence. "I am so happy because his impact was good, his electricity, his skill, but then to play more than now, he’s not ready to play 90 minutes," Emery explained recently. "He’s getting better and better."
The Spaniard has a strong record of rejuvenating careers. Emery believes Sancho still has the technical qualities to succeed. However, the coaching staff remain concerned by his sharpness and conditioning, often substituting him after the 70-minute mark or using him primarily in less demanding fixtures such as cup or European ties.
Sancho has made seven appearances across all competitions, registering no goals or assists, and remains without a Premier League start.
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Getty Images SportMan Utd ready to cut costs with Sanch
Sancho’s immediate focus will be regaining consistency and fitness ahead of Villa’s upcoming fixtures, but time is running short to change perceptions before his loan expires next summer. With United reportedly prepared to let him leave on a free transfer rather than pay his £200,000-a-week wages, his long-term future appears to lie away from Old Trafford.
علّق الظاهرة البرازيلي رونالدو، لاعب ريال مدريد السابق، على تصريحات النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، بأنه الأفضل في تاريخ كرة القدم.
وأجرى كريستيانو رونالدو مقابلة صحفية مطولة مع بيرس مورجان، أدلى خلالها بتصريحات عديدة، بينها أنه الأفضل على مر العصور.
وقال البرتغالي رونالدو في تصريحاته ردًا على سؤال إذا كان يستحق أن يكون الأفضل على مر العصور: “بالتأكيد، لكن لا يهمني ذلك، التاريخ يتحدث عن نفسه، لا مشكلة”.
مضيفًا: “لقد فزنا بثلاث ألقاب مع البرتغال وأنا سعيد جداً، سأكون سعيداً جداً بالفوز بكأس العالم، لكن البرتغال لم تفز بها أبداً، سنقاتل من أجلها، لكن هل تعتقد أنه سيكون عادلاً تقييمي في بطولة واحدة؟ أو إذا سأكون بين الأفضل، وإذا فازت البرتغال بكأس العالم ستكون مفاجأة” (طالع تصريحاته كاملة من هنا).
وفي تصريحات نشرها الصحفي فابريزو رومانو، قال الظاهرة رونالدو: “هل يقول كريستيانو رونالدو إنه الأفضل في التاريخ؟ بعض الناس لديهم ثقة كبيرة بأنفسهم”.
وأضاف: “أُفضّل أن يتحدث الآخرون عني بدلاً من أن أتحدث أنا عن نفسي، إنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين في التاريخ، ولكن هل هو الأفضل؟ لا أتفق معه، لكنني أحترم رأيه؛ إنه بلا شك من بين الأفضل في التاريخ، وأقول إنه من بين العشرة الأوائل”.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand insists his side "can win" against Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich, despite admitting the "gap is now bigger" to the defending champions. As Kompany and team ride a perfect 8-0 winning streak, Hjulmand is looking to "close the gap" and prove the runaway leaders are not "unbeatable" in Saturday's crucial clash.
Hjulmand: 'Gap to Bayern is now bigger'
Hjulmand has insisted that his side can secure an upset against Bayern Munich in their top-of-the-table clash, stating that "no team is ever unbeatable" despite the champions' flawless start to the season.
The match on Saturday evening sees first-place Bayern host fifth-place Leverkusen, with the hosts already holding a significant seven-point lead after just eight league matches. While expressing belief in his own team, Hjulmand was candid in his assessment of the gulf that has opened up between the perennial champions and the chasing pack, including his own side.
"Perhaps the difference to Bayern is now a little bigger than last season, but we are working hard to close the gap," Hjulmand said at a press conference.
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Bayern's flawless, record-breaking start
Hjulmand's task is made all the more daunting by Bayern's perfect record, having won all 14 of their competitive matches in a record-breaking run for a top European team.
Their dominance has been absolute at both ends of the pitch. Kompany's side have scored a remarkable 30 goals while conceding just four. This relentless form has left all title hopefuls trailing in their wake. RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund are all scrambling to keep pace, but Leverkusen are the next team with a chance to halt the runaway train.
Despite the daunting statistics and Bayern's "flawless season so far," Hjulmand was defiant, insisting he would not travel to Munich with a defeatist attitude.
"No team is ever unbeatable. I never go into a game with that attitude," the Danish coach affirmed. "It's always possible to win a game. I believe it's possible."
A victory for Leverkusen would be the biggest statement made by any Bundesliga side this season and would cut the gap at the top to four points. A defeat, however, would see them fall 10 points behind, all but ending any realistic title aspirations before November.
Vazquez out and Tillman a doubt for Leverkusen
Leverkusen's attempts to achieve the "possible" will be hampered by injury concerns, particularly following a gruelling mid-week cup tie.
Hjulmand confirmed that his side, whom he referred to as the “best team in Germany” in a likely reference to their cup opponents, will be without Lucas Vazquez for the trip to Munich due to "muscular problems".
There is also a question mark over the fitness of Malik Tillman. The attacking midfielder, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury, is only just "returning to training" and Hjulmand stated he "could return to the squad," but a starting role seems improbable.
There was positive news regarding star man Alejandro Grimaldo. The free-kick specialist was a concern after Leverkusen were forced into extra time in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, eventually securing a 4-2 win over Paderborn.
The 120-minute "extra shift" raised fears over fatigue for the defender, but Hjulmand confirmed Grimaldo survived the cup appearance unscathed.
The coach stated that Grimaldo was "just exhausted" after the match, implying he will be fully available for selection against Bayern.
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What next for the Bundesliga title race?
All eyes will be on the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Leverkusen are facing the most difficult task in German football: attempting to stop a Bayern side showing no weaknesses this season and hell bent on defending their Bundesliga crown.
Hjulmand's side will have to overcome their own injury issues and potential fatigue from their 120-minute cup tie. For Bayern, a ninth consecutive win in the league would further enhance their status as champions-elect, even at this early stage. For Leverkusen, it is a final chance to "close the gap" and keep the Bundesliga title race alive.
England Under-19s were made to toil on the opening day of the first Youth Test
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay12-Jul-2025
File photo – Ayush Mhatre scored 14 fours and two sixes during his century•PTI
India Under-19s were on top after day one of their unofficial Test match against England Under-19s at Beckenham, reaching 450 for 7 at stumps.The day was dominated by two huge partnerships: Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra put on 173 for the second wicket, with Mhatre cashing in after being dropped twice to make 102 and Malhotra hitting 67.Abhigyan Kundu then hit 90 and Rahul Kumar 85 in an even bigger stand of 179 for the fifth.Alex Green, Archie Vaughan and Jack Home all took two wickets apiece, but England were left to rue four dropped catches.India won the toss and chose to bat, but there was a major disappointment for the crowd when the 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was out for just 14. He’d effortlessly glided the first delivery of the morning for four, lifting James Minto over the slip cordon, but then flashed at Green and was caught by Ralphie Albert at deep third.Malhotra eased to 50 soon afterwards when he took two from Vaughan and Mhatre reached his hundred in style by striding down the wicket to the same bowler and hitting him for four over long off.Vaughan then had Mhatre brilliantly caught on the boundary by Singh, who nearly collided with Albert and held on one-handed as he hit the ground.Malhotra went seven balls later, when Green conjured a late away swinger that was caught behind. Vaughan then got Maulyarajsinh Chavda for 11, edging to Flintoff at first slip.If three quick wickets seemed to have put England back in the game, Kundu and Kumar reasserted India’s dominance. Kumar raced to 50 off just 43 balls and it was 289 for four at tea.Kundu brought up his half-century when he drove Albert for four but Home got both set batters out in the 67th over. Kundu cut him to Vaughan at point when he was 10 shy of three figures and Kumar then edged him to the wicket-keeper Tom Rew.This drastically slowed the run rate and Albert then had Mohamed Enaan lbw for 23. Home should have had a third wicket when Henil Patel, edged him to second slip, but Flintoff couldn’t hold a slip-high catch. In the next over Green was thwarted when Denly put down RS Ambrish at first and eight overs were left unbowled when the 6.30 pm cut off was reached, adding to the authentic Test-match feel.Mhatre was luckier. He was dropped by Rocky Flintoff when he was on six, after he got a thick edge to Minto and he reached 50 with an edged four through the vacant third slip area, again off Minto.He was dropped again, this time when he was on 66, by Jaydn Denly, who was at first slip when Mhatre edged Denly’s Kent team mate Ekansh Singh.
Glasgow Rangers need to find the next head coach to carry the club and the new ownership forward after Russell Martin was relieved of his duties from the Ibrox hot seat on Sunday night.
It is hard to make a case for the former Scotland’s international’s defence, because the statistics around his short time at Rangers paint a pretty clear picture.
Martin’s Gers conceded 24 goals in 17 games and won just five times, including once in the Scottish Premiership, which is why it is hard to argue against the decision to part ways with him heading into the international break.
Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell must, though, get this next appointment right to get the Ibrox supporters back on side, and to get Rangers’ season back on track.
Rangers eyeing move for title-winning manager
After Martin, a manager who had never won a top-flight title in his playing or managerial career, the Gers may turn to a proven winner to bring success back to the club.
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According to Football Insider, the Light Blues have identified four managers who are not the frontrunners to replace Martin in the dugout for the clash with Dundee United after the break.
The report claims that Steven Gerrard, Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl, and Kevin Muscat are the four head coaches in the running to land the job at Ibrox.
Muscat, who played for the club in 2002, is an interesting contender for the vacant position because he could be an upgrade on Martin and Rangers’ own version of Ange Postecoglou.
Why Rangers should appoint Kevin Muscat
Journalist Gavin Berry recently compared the English-born boss to the former Celtic manager, who worked with Postecoglou as his assistant at Melbourne Victory.
The reporter said: “I just think the style that he plays, similar to Postecoglou, obviously worked under him. We know it works in the Premiership. I think he’s someone who could take a squad and get the most out of it.”
Postecoglou, of course, won two Premiership titles in two seasons with the Hoops, including a domestic treble in his second campaign, with his high-octane, exciting, brand of football.
Muscat’s managerial record since going down his own path as a head coach suggests that he could bring similar success to Ibrox as a big upgrade on Martin in the dugout at Rangers, as he has shown that he can win titles.
2025 (26)
2.19
1st
2024 (30)
2.60
1st
2023 (34)
1.88
2nd
2022 (34)
2.00
1st
2021 (18)
1.83
2nd
As you can see in the table above, he has won a league title in two of the last three seasons, and is on course for a third title in four seasons unless Rangers can convince him to make the move to Ibrox.
He won the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos in the 2022 campaign and currently manages SH Port, which is the club he joined at the start of the 2024 season.
His impressive league form in Japan and China shows that he would come in as an upgrade on Martin, because Muscat has proven that he can instill a winning mentality in multiple countries and leagues.
Muscat, who has won seven trophies (Transfermarkt) in his managerial career, knows what it takes to win trophies and to win titles, which is exactly what the Gers need in this moment in time.
Ally McCoist says 49ers and the old Rangers staff colluded to make fatal error
The Gers are in peril.
ByBen Goodwin Oct 6, 2025
Rangers have not won a trophy since Philippe Clement lifted the League Cup in 2023, but the SH Port boss could bring glory back to Ibrox as the 49ers’ own version of Postecoglou.
It is now down to Stewart and Thelwell to convince Muscat to move on from the Chinese club, in spite of his side being on the verge of winning a league title.
In the strange, paranormal world known as hitting, in which lucky socks or a borrowed bat are believed to carry superpowers, there is one five-letter unwelcome interloper who might as well be known as He Who Will Not be Named. Hitters do not even like to use the word “slump,” no less acknowledge such an enemy exists, such are its negative forces.
“I’m not in a slump,” premier hardball sensei Yogi Berra once said. “I just ain’t hitting.”
At its worst, though, a slump is unmistakable, even if it is unspeakable. For Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, it has grown as large as the man itself. It cannot be ignored.
One of the great sluggers of this generation cannot get out of his own way. He is taking strikes and swinging at balls. He is late on fastballs and early on breaking pitches. He has struck out 19 times in 11 games this postseason while batting .150.
Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday was a new low. Judge struck out swinging three times on pitches out of the zone, only the 16th time he had done so in his career. The Yankees again could not survive without some positive energy from their captain, losing 4–2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers to fall in the series two games to none.
Judge never did speak the word “slump” after the game, as he parried different versions of the question: He didn’t have to speak it. Accountable as he was, Judge gave away one of the root causes of his slump by how many times he used the same two words, with emphasis added:
“I’ve definitely got to step up. I got to do my job.”
“Especially with Gleyber [Torres] and what Juan [Soto] did at the top of the lineup, I've got to back them up.”
“They're going to keep getting on base. I've got to drive them in or move them over.”
“My boys are going to keep picking me up, but I’ve got to step up and pick them up, too.”
“It’s plain and simple. I got to start swinging at strikes.”
“Got to.” It’s the telltale admission of a hitter pressing. Judge knows how important he is to the Yankees. He knows at age 32 that he has waited his professional career to have this opportunity of playing in the World Series. And worse, he knows this October slump spans years. He is stringing together a legacy of empty postseason at-bats that is only getting harder to turn around.
In 55 postseason games, Judge is a career .199 hitter who is striking out 34% of his plate appearances, which is pretty much the regular season career of Mike Zunino. Judge has whiffed 85 times—12 more than anybody else in postseason history through 55 games (next closest is Cody Bellinger, 73).
While Juan Soto (right) stays hot in the postseason, Judge continues to struggle. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Is there any one factor, someone wondered, that you can put your finger on?
“Just expanding the zone,” he said. “You know, that's really what it comes down to. You got to get a pitch in the zone and drive it. And if you don’t, don’t try to make something happen.”
It’s the obvious place to start. Judge chased pitches during the regular season at a rate of 18.7%, a career low. In the postseason it has spiked to 29.3%. He is 0-for-10 on 34 chase swings.
But it’s more than that. It’s mechanical. Manager Aaron Boone talked about Judge not able to get into his load position on time to fire off a good swing. He has hit sometimes with his feet in a slightly open stance and sometimes in the neutral stance that served him well in May when he crawled out of his season-opening 35-game slump. His swing is more uphill. He is falling across the plate when he misses a pitch away, a sign of a balance issue. Teammate Anthony Rizzo suspects a timing problem.
“It’s one of those intervals,” as Rizzo referred to He Who Will Not be Named. “You know, I think it just takes one feel. If you're asking [what’s wrong] the first thing is it's probably just timing.”
But there is a mental component that is starting to surface: an inability to get off his "A" swing when the moment is there. He is often caught in between on his swing decisions.
I had a specific pitch in mind from Game 2—a 2–0, 94-mph fastball from Dodgers starter Yoshi Yamamoto that froze him in the sixth inning—when I asked Judge whether he felt he had pitches to hit.
“Yeah, 2–0, Yamamoto, I think my third at bat,” Judge said. “He kind of grooved me a heater down and in. You know, when we're going well, we can fire on that. Then the next pitch is a curveball that we foul off. I just have to have a little bit better swing on those two.”
So deep is the valley in which Judge walks these days that Boone was looking at pop-ups for signs of life. He said before the game that a pop-up against reliever Blake Treinen in Game 1 had the ingredients of a turnaround for Judge.
“He threw me a four seamer, kind of up and in, and I just missed it,” Judge said. “I'd rather get the job done in that situation, but I felt better. But like I said, it comes down to I’ve got to get the job done.
“We're getting close. … I couldn't transfer it over to this game. You know, like I said, it comes down to you’ve got to be disciplined in my strike zone. That's what got us in this position all year long. So, just got to get back to that.”
Got to. Give credit, too, to how well the Dodgers have pitched Judge in the World Series. In Game 2 they threw Judge 21 pitches. Only twice did they double up on the same pitch within an at-bat—and each time Judge was fooled and struck out on a chase swing.
Yamamoto (top) dominated Judge and the Yankees, giving up only one hit in 6 1/3 innings. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Here is how Yamamoto pitched Judge in terms of speed variation from pitch to pitch:
First at-bat, starting at 96 mph: -16, +17, -10, -8, -7, -1.
Second at-bat, starting at 80 mph: -5, +21, -10, +9.
Third at-bat, starting at 95 mph: -6, +5, -18, +16.
That is exquisite execution changing speeds.
Judge is the kind of impactful hitter who is always just one swing away. He broke his April slump, for instance, with a May 5 homer off Tarik Skubal in his first at-bat when he squared up his feet.
“You’ve got to make your plate this big,” teammate Giancarlo Stanton said, holding his hands together roughly in the shape of a hamburger. “You feel like your plate is this big,” he pushed his hands far apart, “and you just have got to compress it. No, it’s not mechanical. He's going to help us win games here.”
Time and opportunity begin to slip away. Judge has 55 postseason games of pressure pushing down on his shoulders. His team faces a veritable must-win Game 3 on Monday. He is one of the game’s truly great sluggers and the emotional linchpin of this team. He has got to do something, and fast. And isn’t that how we wound up here, in the land of the unspeakable?
Leeds United travel away from West Yorkshire and Elland Road to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon.
The Whites are looking to win back-to-back matches in the Premier League for the first time this season, after they beat West Ham United in their last outing.
Daniel Farke’s side won, thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon, and Anton Stach did not play a single minute of the match at Elland Road.
Why Leeds should unleash Anton Stach
Despite beating the Hammers, Leeds can improve on their performance from last time out because they failed to put the game out of sight for the away side, which led to a nervy ending when they pulled a goal back.
After Rodon’s goal, the Whites did not create a single chance that was worth more than 0.14 xG, per Sofascore, and they allowed West Ham to get back into the game, albeit they were able to hang on for all three points.
Stach, who did not get on the pitch, has proven that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, with one goal, 1.8 key passes per game, and two ‘big chances’ created in eight appearances, per Sofascore.
The summer signing from Hoffenheim has shown that he can be a difference-maker with his individual quality, which could help Leeds to capitalise on a shaky Brighton defence that has conceded 15 goals in the Premier League.
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In order to bring Stach into the starting line-up, though, Farke would have to ruthlessly ditch Ao Tanaka, whose performances he has recently defended.
Why Leeds should drop Ao Tanaka
After the win over West Ham, the Japan international stated that he is “not good enough at the moment” and that he will be using these experiences to improve as a player.
Asked about Tanaka’s honest admission, Farke said: “He had a really good start to the season with us. I didn’t expect him to be man of the match [vs West Ham], being in his first match after injury back in the starting line up, but I think he was quite solid and showed a really, really good performance.”
In spite of his defence of the central midfielder’s comments and performance, the German head coach should drop the midfield maestro from the XI because Stach may be able to offer more quality against Brighton.
Appearances
7
8
xG
0.16
0.79
Goals
0
1
Key passes per game
0.6
1.8
Big chances created
0
2
Ground duel success rate
18%
52%
Aerial duel success rate
43%
77%
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.7
2.3
As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has struggled to influence games in the Premier League this season, as he has offered little in the final third whilst being dominated by opposition players physically.
The Japanese midfielder is seemingly still adjusting to the step up from the Championship, which is understandable, but Stach has shown that he can make an impact offensively and hold his own defensively in his eight starts in the division.
Given Brighton’s defensive struggles this season, conceding 15 goals in nine games, it could be the right time to bring the German central midfielder back into the starting line-up to give the Whites the best chance of causing their defence problems.
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Therefore, Farke should ruthlessly drop Tanaka from the XI, despite his defence of the midfielder’s display against West Ham, because it may improve the team’s chances of winning this afternoon, given the context of the opposition.