They added 148 in the chase of 286, after fifties from Harper, Peake and Rogers propelled Victoria
AAP02-Dec-2025Victoria’s One-Day Cup campaign is on the brink after a seven-wicket defeat from Western Australia (WA) at Melbourne’s Junction Oval. Top of the ladder and firing in the Sheffield Shield, the Vics sit on the bottom in the battle for the Dean Jones Trophy with a 1-4 win-loss record.WA motored home in their chase, cantering to victory with 32 balls to spare. After WA captain Ashton Turner won the toss and elected to bowl, the hosts had steady contributions through their innings to push them to a total of 285.Wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper (54), young gun Oliver Peake (54), and Tom Rogers (50) all passed fifty, but were unable to go on with the job as experienced seamer Joel Paris collected 4 for 62. Peake threatened to propel the Vics towards 300, but became young quick Albert Esterhuysen’s only victim of the day.Australia white-ball star Mitchell Marsh, who is an outside chance of featuring in this summer’s Ashes, struggled to get going in WA’s chase, and fell for 17 to Xavier Crone. But Marsh’s opening partner Joel Curtis picked up the slack, flaying 68 from 64 balls to send WA on their way towards the total.WA veterans Turner and Sam Whiteman steered the visitors home with a commanding unbeaten 148-run stand after coming together at 141 for 3. Turner blasted balls all over the quick outfield, finishing unbeaten on 71 from 61 deliveries. Whiteman (70 from 65 balls) got WA to the total by hitting a flawless cover drive to the fence.WA go into the BBL break with a 2-3 record, with the 50-over matches to resume in February. Victoria will seek to gain revenge on Thursday when their Shield match against WA begins at the MCG.
تعادل منتخب مصر أمام نظيره الإمارات، بهدف لكل فريق، في لقاء أقيم اليوم، في دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب 2025.
سجل منتخب الإمارات الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 60 عن طريق لوكاس، وتعادل منتخب مصر في الدقيقة 85 بواسطة مروان حمدي.
وكان منتخب مصر قد تعادل مع الكويت في الجولة الأولى بنتيجة 1-1، بينما كان منتخب الإمارات تلقى الهزيمة من الأردن 2-1.
وانتصر منتخب الأردن على الكويت، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، اليوم السبت، في الجولة الثانية، ليضمن منتخب النشامي التأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي بشكل رسمي قبل لقاء الجولة الأخيرة.
واستطاع منتخب الأردن الاستمرار في صدارة المجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب، برصيد 6 نقاط، ثم مصر ثانيًا بنقطتين، والإمارات ثالثًا بنقطة والكويت رابعًا بنقطة. ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس العرب 2025
William Saliba has hailed the impact of new first-team coach Gabriel Heinze, as the former Manchester United defender is the mastermind behind Arsenal's defensive dominance under Mikel Arteta. Heinze, who joined Mikel Arteta’s staff in July, has quickly become a driving force behind a Gunners side that have conceded just seven goals in 14 Premier League matches; the best defensive record in the division.
A new voice on the touchline transforms Arsenal’s back line
Heinze was appointed to replace Carlos Cuesta, who departed in the summer to take charge at Parma. Since stepping into the role, he has brought his trademark intensity and relentless energy, qualities that defined his playing days at PSG, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Marseille, straight into Arsenal’s training ground. For Saliba, that fire has made an immediate impact.
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Saliba hails Heinze's impact on Arsenal
Speaking to the Media Network, the French centre-back described Heinze as a constant presence around Arsenal’s defenders.
"Gabriel Heinze helps a lot, especially the defenders," he said. "He gives us energy because he’s always talking, always loud – even in training when we do simple things, he’s always loud. Even for nothing, he will be loud! He talks a lot and it’s good to have him close to us. I think this guy can help us a lot."
Saliba’s comments paint a vivid portrait of Heinze in his element of a demanding trainer with a booming voice, someone who builds his players’ standards through intensity.
Arteta recently shed light on the reasoning behind adding Heinze to his coaching staff, a decision rooted in personal history and professional trust. The two first crossed paths during Arteta’s loan stint at PSG in the 2001-02 season, forming a bond that has lasted more than two decades.
"He’s a winner," said Arteta. "He's won in many clubs he's been at. He had a very different education as well, we've known each other for 23 years, I'm very close to that, that brings something extra."
Arteta emphasised how Heinze’s personality and tactical insight complement the coaching group: "We complement each other really well, and everybody brings a different insight, a different character, a different personality, to the table that makes us a much better team. It makes me a much better coach as well, which is the intention to have the best resources to give to the players."
Heinze's playing days were defined by a winning pedigree. After joining Manchester United from PSG in 2004, he quickly became a fan favourite for his hard tackling and relentless duels. His United career ended controversially when he attempted to engineer a move to Liverpool, only for the club to refuse and send him to Real Madrid instead. He spent two seasons at the Bernabeu before moving to Marseille, where he added yet another league title to his collection. Since his retirement in 2014, Heinze carved out a coaching career spanning stints at Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors, Velez Sarsfield, Atlanta United and Newell’s Old Boys, the club where he started and ended his playing career before departing in 2023.
Injury crisis puts Heinze’s coaching to the test
Heinze’s influence is being felt at a time when Arsenal’s defensive department has been hit by significant injuries. Both Saliba and Gabriel, Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing, are currently unavailable. Against Brentford, the manager fielded new recruits Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, only for Mosquera to be forced off just before half-time, with Jurrien Timber being asked to fill in. Despite the upheaval and reshuffling, Arsenal emerged with a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka. The win restored their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League and served as another testament to the defensive organisation and resilience Heinze has helped instil, as even makeshift partnerships held firm.
Ahead of the Brentford clash, Arteta shared: "He (Saliba) had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days, so let’s see if he’s able to be there tomorrow. Well, the ankle one was a really random and a very unlucky action that kept him out for a few weeks. He tried at Anfield, he wasn't comfortable, and he had to stay away and this one as well, very bizarre. But hopefully it will be a matter of days."
On Gabriel, Arteta added: "Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well."
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Arsenal looking ahead to Aston Villa test with confidence
The Gunners now prepare for a challenging away test against Aston Villa on Saturday. With injuries still restricting defensive choices, Heinze and Arteta will again be required to patch together solutions that maintain Arsenal’s title momentum. They have suffered heartbreak in the last two Premier League title races, fading late despite promising starts. Yet this season feels different as it is increasingly being defined by their defensive solidity.
Arsenal’s worst fears on the injury front have been confirmed, with Mikel Arteta announcing that Cristhian Mosquera is set to spend “weeks” out of action. The full extent of his fitness setback has been revealed, with the Spanish defender joining fellow centre-halves William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the treatment room. The Gunners are having to get creative with their team selections.
Getty Images SportMosquera injury: Saliba and Gabriel already ruled out
Highly-rated Spaniard Mosquera, who moved to Emirates Stadium from Valencia over the summer, picked up his unfortunate knock during a Premier League clash with Brentford on December 3. He was among those providing cover from stricken defensive colleagues.
He is now taking in a rehabilitation programme of his own, with Arsenal set to be without the commanding 21-year-old for the remainder of 2025. It is being suggested that Mosquera could be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
Arteta has not put a timescale on his recovery, but has said when asked for an update on Mosquera’s condition – having seen him land awkwardly after competing for a high ball against the Bees: “He’s going to be out for weeks, unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected. But the player was feeling it, so he’s going to be out for weeks.”
AdvertisementPack shuffle: Norgaard used as a makeshift centre-half
Arsenal opted to move Dutch full-back Jurrien Timber inside alongside Ecuador international Piero Hincapie against Aston Villa, but suffered a 2-1 defeat in that contest as their lead at the top of the Premier League table was cut to just two points.
Arteta shuffled his pack again in a Champions League clash with Club Brugge. Hincapie is still being asked to provide some form of leadership at the heart of Arsenal’s back four – as a recognised centre-half – but was joined in Belgium by Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard.
They helped to keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Brugge, with versatile Italian Riccardo Calafiori replacing Hincapie midway through the second half.
Arteta told reporters afterwards of the effort on show from his side: “It's a really positive evening and I think it's very difficult to win away from home in the Champions League. We've done it with a lot of absences, especially in the backline and even this morning we lost two players. I love the way the team reacted to that, collectively, individually, for example what Christian Norgaard has done just talks about how much better he makes all of us with his attitude, with his commitment in the manner that he prepares and is able to perform. So yeah, overall a really positive night.”
Arteta was also able to hand a debut to 16-year-old academy graduate Marli Salmon – with the youngster capable of operating at centre-half or right-back. Arsenal’s head coach said of that decision: “Well, the thought was as well from yesterday, the fact that we had to play Christian as well, we had to really consider it because we were playing a really good side that had some really good results in the Champions League at home as well, but we knew that at some point we had to use him. So, he was ready, he was prepared, he can play as a centre-back or as a full-back and I'm delighted. He's so young, 16 still, and he's playing in the Champions League. So yeah, what a great night for him as well.”
Arteta added on continuing to blood home-grown stars: “Well, that's great, that's what we want. That's why we put so much work and everybody in the academy puts so much enthusiasm and work. And for a long time, you have to prepare those talents. So, thanks to them, because when we need them, they are there, they are ready to perform. So that's great.”
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Arsenal fixtures: Next up for the Gunners
Arsenal may decide to stick with Norgaard when taking in a home date with rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday. They have five more fixtures – including a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace – to take them through to the end of the calendar year.
Milwaukee Brewers rookie starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski’s first trip to the majors has been a whirlwind.
Just over a week ago, Misiorowski pitched five innings without giving up a hit in his MLB debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, walking four batters and striking out five.
Then on Friday, he took things up a notch, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins, throwing pitches like this one along the way.
The dream ended in the seventh inning, when he gave up a walk and a two-run home run to finally tarnish his professional ERA for the first time.
After the two-run shot, Misiorowski got pulled, receiving a massive ovation from Brewers fans that had made the trip to Target Field for the game as he returned to the dugout.
While his pursuit of perfection was cut short, Misiorowski still made a bit of history with his second stellar start.
He’s the first starting pitcher to begin their career with 11 hitless innings since 1900—and the only pitcher in that timeframe to have more wins (2) than hits allowed (1) in the first two starts of his career.
"I think this is exactly how I ever dreamed of it coming along," Misiorowski said after the game. "It's exciting."
Standing at 6'7'' and carrying a fastball that tops out north of 102 mph, it sure looks like the Brewers have an ace on the rise in Misiorowski.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was not too pleased after failing to get the ball out of the infield during his first at-bat against the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
The Toronto Blue Jays star popped out to second base in the first inning, and he took out his frustrations on his bat while walking back to the dugout.
Without so much as altering his facial expression, Guerrero casually leaned forward and snapped his bat like a twig over his left leg before depositing the two pieces of splintered lumber into a garbage bin in the dugout.
Have a look:
It's not uncommon to see an exasperated player let loose their frustrations in the dugout. It's the casualness in which Guerrero handled his business that makes the clip so stunning. Snapping a baseball bat over your leg is not an easy thing to do, but Guerrero did it effortlessly after his disappointing first trip to the plate.
After scoring one goal and missing ten ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, in his first 12 appearances for Leeds United, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has finally found his feet at Elland Road.
The former England international has scored in successive games, against Manchester City and Chelsea, to take his tally to three goals in the Premier League.
Calvert-Lewin joined the Whites on a free transfer from Everton in the summer transfer window, and had looked to be a poor signing after his dismal start to the campaign in front of goal.
Daniel Farke will now be hoping that these two quickfire goals from the striker are not a flash in the pan and are a sign of things to come from the experienced forward.
Leeds offered the chance to sign Serie A striker
Despite Calvert-Lewin’s upturn in form in the Premier League in recent days, the Whites have been linked with a possible move for a player in his position in the January transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Leeds United have been “offered” the chance to sign AC Milan centre-forward to bolster their options in the final third.
The accompanying report from TEAMtalk adds that Sunderland, Fulham, and West Ham United have also been contacted by intermediaries, who are looking to secure a January move for the striker.
It reveals that Milan are open to approaches for the Mexico international, almost a year on from his move to Italy from Feyenoord, but it remains to be seen how much they would demand for his services.
TEAMtalk also does not outline whether or not Leeds are willing to take up the offer to pursue a deal to sign the Mexican marksman, who could come in as an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
Why Leeds should sign Santiago Gimenez
The Whites should push to bring Gimenez to Elland Road when the January transfer window opens for business because he could add more quality to the manager’s options in the number nine role.
It has been a difficult year for the 24-year-old marksman since his move to Milan, with just five Serie A goals in 2025, per Sofascore, but that could make this the perfect time for Leeds to sign him.
If he were still at Feyenoord and scoring over 20 goals a season in the Netherlands, Gimenez would be unattainable for Farke’s side. That is why his disappointing form for Milan should be viewed as an opportunity for Leeds, rather than something that should put them off a move for him.
Based on his form for Feyenoord in the previous three seasons, the Mexico international has the potential to arrive at Elland Road as a big upgrade on Calvert-Lewin, whose goal return is nowhere near as impressive as the Milan flop’s.
25/26
1
3
24/25
22
3
23/24
26
8
22/23
23
2
21/22
9
5
As you can see in the table above, Gimenez scored 22 goals or more in each of his last three full seasons, whilst the English striker has not hit double figures for goals since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, which suggests that the former could offer significant more in front of goal.
The Milan forward, who was hailed as a “machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has a particularly impressive record in European games, with six goals in 11 Europa League outings and eight goals in 11 Champions League appearances, per Transfermarkt.
Gimenez, as illustrated in the first goal in the clip above, is a penalty box striker who has the strength and composure to hold off physical defenders to get his shot away, which suggests that the physicality of the Premier League would not be an issue for him.
The Mexican number nine won 57% of his aerial duels in the Eredivisie last season, per Sofascore, whilst Calvert-Lewin has won 41% of his aerial contests in the Premier League this term for Leeds.
This suggests that he has the potential to be an excellent option for the Whites as both a goalscorer and as a physical presence up front, if he can get back to the form that he displayed at Feyenoord, which would make him a big upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
Gimenez, who scored 22 goals from 15.77 xG last season (Sofascore), is at a low point in his career, with one goal this season, but that is why this could be such a shrewd deal for Leeds.
Leeds star was looking "bang average" this season, now he's undroppable
This Leeds star has shone in their last two games
ByJoe Nuttall Dec 5, 2025
The 49ers and Farke could gamble on the striker and hope that this has just been a blip in what has otherwise been a prolific career, which would see him arrive at Elland Road in January and get back to his best as an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
Tottenham have been given some encouragement over the prospect of signing a Brazil international as his agents work to find him a new club.
Tottenham targeting new attacker in January amid creativity issue
Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure at Tottenham just six months into his tenure, with serious questions surrounding the Dane’s future.
Spurs sit 11th in the table with just 19 points from 13 games, and their home record tells a catastrophic story.
With only one Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all season, not to mention 10 home defeats this calendar year, they currently boast the joint-worst record in that regard in the club’s history.
Winless in five matches across all competitions, including losses to Arsenal, PSG and Fulham, their controversial 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday evening prevented a fourth straight defeat.
16. Burnley
2
1
4
7
-2
17. Nottingham Forest
2
1
4
7
-5
18. West Ham
2
0
5
6
-9
19. Tottenham
1
2
4
5
-1
20. Wolves
0
1
6
1
-11
Cristian Romero rescued Frank with a dramatic stoppage-time overhead kick. The Argentine scored twice at St James’ Park, his header and acrobatic finish earning a vital point, and his heroics seriously spared Frank’s blushes.
Dressing room unrest is reportedly growing, with reports suggesting players are confused by Frank’s constant tactical tinkering.
Fabrizio Romano shares Thomas Frank update amid mounting Tottenham pressure
The reliable journalist has some information.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025
Summer signing Xavi Simons symbolises Frank’s struggles. The £55 million playmaker has started just six league games, relegated to the bench for crucial fixtures despite Spurs’ creative drought, and former defender Ramon Vega has accused Frank of “changing his mind every two seconds.”
Frank apparently retains board backing until at least new year, but improvement must arrive quickly.
January reinforcements remain crucial, with FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa heavily linked alongside Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has a tantalising £65 million release clause in his contract which will be active next month.
If Spurs cannot win the race for Semenyo amid interest from Man City, then RB Leizpig’s Yan Diomande is believed to be an alternative, with Sky Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri reporting they’ve already held advanced discussions on the player’s side.
Tottenham given Rodrygo boost as agents work on Real Madrid exit
Now, according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, the north Londoners have been given a boost in their pursuit of Real Madrid star Rodrygo.
It is believed that Tottenham have emerged among the Premier League clubs that Rodrygo would consider joining, with his representatives actively working to secure a January departure from the Bernabeu.
The Brazilian has seen his situation deteriorate dramatically since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti over the summer, becoming the most high-profile casualty.
Only four of his 15 appearances this season have exceeded 45 minutes, with Rodrygo regularly deployed as an impact substitute and falling behind Arda Güler in the pecking order.
Intermediaries representing the 24-year-old are working diligently to identify potential destinations, with Arsenal and Liverpool already engaged in discussions.
Rodrygo himself has made clear he would welcome moves to Man City, Man United, Chelsea or Tottenham too, though currently only Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Spurs are actively monitoring his availability.
Real value him between £70-79 million, and the Spanish giants ideally want to retain Rodrygo until the summer, when Nico Paz’s expected return will likely accelerate his departure.
It isn’t an easy deal to do by any means, with Spurs potentially needing to break their transfer record whilst fending off elite competition from their rivals.
However, there is little doubt this would be a statement move by the Lewis family as they look to usher in a new era post-Daniel Levy.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl should be delighted with the way that his team ran out 3-0 winners against Kilmarnock with relative ease on Saturday night.
Two goals from Bojan Miovski and a strike off the bench from Mikey Moore sealed all three points for the Gers, who had drawn their previous two games to Dundee United and Falkirk in a frustrating manner.
The German head coach should be particularly pleased with Miovski’s two-goal burst because it will provide the centre-forward with some much-needed confidence after a poor start to life at Ibrox
Why Bojan Miovski has been Rangers' most frustrating player
Out of all of the club’s summer signings, the Macedonia international has been their most frustrating player because he has not delivered at the level that everyone knows he is capable of.
Unlike most of the other signings, Miovski arrived as a proven Scottish Premiership performer who is in the prime years of his career, at 26, after a return of 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen.
Prior to Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock, though, the left-footed forward had only scored one goal in nine league starts for the Light Blues, per Sofascore, and has lost 68% of his physical duels in the division.
Miovski was much improved against Kilmarnock, with two goals, which makes his poor form up to that point all the more frustrating, because that is the kind of performance that he can deliver.
It’s a display that Rohl recognised too. In quotes taken from PA Media, the manager said: “We had a conversation with each other and then he made step-by-step a huge step forwards against Dundee United. He had some good chances. He’s more adaptable at the moment, not just staying on the last line, it helps in building up as well.
“I’m happy when a striker scores two goals, it’s fantastic. In general, we spoke about what I demand from him. He told also what he is thinking at the moment. And then I think, especially after the Falkirk game, we spoke about spaces, what I want to see from the centre-forward and big spaces.”
The 26-year-old marksman is not the most improved player under Rohl, though, as that title has to go to Nasser Djiga, who has stepped up in recent weeks.
Why Djiga is the most improved Rangers player under Rohl
After Rohl’s fourth match in charge, against Celtic in the League Cup, Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar described the Wolves loanee as a “rotten” signing.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Football FanCast even suggested playing James Tavernier at centre-back at the start of November because of Djiga’s poor form for the club up to that point.
That criticism was fair after several high-profile errors, including a red card against Dundee, an inexplicable defensive mix-up against Club Brugge, and Four Lads Had A Dream claimed that he “genuinely looks lost” during the loss to Celtic in the semi-final defeat that led to Edgar dubbing him “rotten”.
It did not seem like there was any way back for the Premier League loanee, who was as ‘rotten’ as Miovski was, but his run of form since John Souttar and Derek Cornelius picked up injuries has been an impressive response to that criticism.
Because there was an argument, due to his high-profile mistakes, that Djiga was the worst performer in the club, it is only logical that his recent showings make him the most improved player in the squad.
Whilst Miovski scored two goals against Kilmarnock, the striker had not scored in his previous 11 games and is yet to show his quality consistently, and the Wolves defender has now strung several performances together.
Since John Souttar’s injury
Premiership
Nasser Djiga
Appearances
4
Sofascore rating
7.3
Clean sheets
2
Tackles won
6/8
Clearances
18
Ground duels won
14/18
Aerial duels won
7/14
Error led to shot or goal
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Djiga has really stepped up in the right-sided centre-back role since Souttar picked up an injury on international duty with Scotland, winning an eye-catching 14 of his 18 ground duels in four league outings.
The Burkina Faso international has shown that he can be reliable at the back for a stretch of games, with no direct errors leading to shots or goals, whilst being dominant in his defensive duels.
Rangers have kept two clean sheets in the last four league games with Djiga at the heart of the defence alongside Emmanuel Fernandez, and Rohl will be hoping that his new defensive partnership continues to shine over the festive period.
The 23-year-old loanee, in particular, needs to prove that his current form is not a flash in the pan and that he has put the mistakes that he made earlier in the season behind him to be a reliable option for the German manager moving forward.
Rangers prioritising move to sign "strong" 6ft 4 box-crasher after scouting mission
He could be Rohl’s first signing.
By
Tom Cunningham
Dec 6, 2025
On current evidence, Djiga is the most improved player under Rohl, going from “rotten” to reliable, but now he needs to do it over a prolonged period of time.
The 2025/26 season has been one full of inconsistency for Newcastle United. Whether it be on the field or in the treatment room, they cannot seem to string a positive period together.
After drawing 2-2 in last-gasp fashion with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, it meant that Eddie Howe’s men have not won back-to-back games since the end of October.
In the Premier League, they are yet to win consecutive fixtures all campaign long. This cannot go on forever and sooner rather than later, the Magpies are going to need to sustain a period of form.
They have, of course, been hampered by Alexander Isak’s departure but in their bid to replace the iconic Swede, they have not been helped by Yoane Wissa. Signed from Brentford, the DR Congo striker is yet to be seen in the famous black and white stripes due to injury.
That said, he is nearing a return. Perhaps the former Bees forward could be the man to spark some extra life in this Newcastle team.
The tactical tweaks Eddie Howe needs to make at Newcastle
To cut Howe some slack, he has not been helped out by a number of his chief lieutenants this season.
In the last few weeks, Nick Pope has become something of a calamity between the sticks and even if he is now injured, it would not be a surprise to see Aaron Ramsdale replace Newcastle’s no.1 long-term. That feels like a necessary change if they are to improve at the back.
The defence has not been helped by injury either. Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have both missed games and if Howe can now keep the English duo injury-free, they will be key to any improvement Newcastle make in the future.
Hall, in particular, has been outstanding since returning. He was hailed as the “best player on the field” against Spurs by BBC North East correspondent Andy Sixsmith and looks every bit a left-back who should be in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.
Hall’s return has led to one key tactical tweak. Dan Burn is no longer playing at left-back. In that position, he had floundered and flattered to deceive, notably described as “the stuff of nightmares” in that role.
It’s in midfield and up top where Howe has struggled to find the most consistency. Summer arrival Anthony Elanga is still without a goal since arriving and Wissa’s injury problems are well-documented.
Anthony Gordon is arguably in the worst form of his Toon career too, scoring just once in nine league outings throughout 2025/26. It’s just as well they also have Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes to choose from in wide areas.
Gordon has been one of the biggest scapegoats of the ongoing campaign but there’s a bigger one in the middle of the park and it’s time for Howe to drop him to the bench.
Newcastle's long-term servant must no longer start regularly
This has been a hugely frustrating season for the likes of Elanga and Gordon but it’s arguably been a worse one for Joelinton, whose performances in the middle of the park are waning.
Signed as a striker by Steve Bruce in a then club-record deal, Howe has worked wonders with the Brazilian, turning him into a no-nonsense midfielder who loves a duel.
He’s been one of the most important components of Howe’s squad throughout the year, delivering his ‘greatest performance’ for the club during that League Cup win at Wembley last term.
Since then, however, it’s been a tale of woe for the former Hoffenheim man. Excusing his first term in England, this is arguably his worst since moving from Germany.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
In the words of journalist Mark Douglas in mid-October, he has been “nowhere near his best” in recent memory, leading to sections of the fanbase calling for him to be dropped from the XI.
He remained on the bench in the defeat to Marseille in Europe but has started the last three league games. His form, however, is not getting much better.
Journalist Charlie Bennett noted that Joelinton was “very sloppy” on the ball during Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Spurs on Tuesday. The club’s number seven lost the ball 11 times out of 49 touches and had a pass accuracy of only 83%.
Joelinton vs Spurs
Minutes played
90
Touches
49
Accurate passes
29/35 (83%)
Key passes
1
Crosses
0
Shots
1
Dribbles
0
Possession lost
11x
Duels won
3/12
Stats via Sofascore.
Judging by recent performances, which have been gritty but lacking composure, the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock must be wondering what they need to do to start more games.
There is no dislodging the likes of Sandro Tonali and skipper Bruno Guimaraes but there is an extra slot that is being filled, perhaps undeservedly, by Joelinton.
Willock, signed from Arsenal in a deal worth £25m has barely been seen this term. He’s fallen behind in the pecking order and the days of him running riot during that famous loan spell are now a distant memory.
Likewise for Ramsey. He joined from Aston Villa in the summer for a whopping £40m and even if he has struggled with injury, he should now be starting more matches.
The fact that error-prone Joelinton is starting ahead of them on a regular basis should leave the pair rather angry. Newcastle needed some extra drive and the ability to hold onto possession. Ramsey, in particular, with his ability to surge through midfield, could have offered this against Spurs.
Lewis Miley has started the odd game recently and was one of their best players in the win over Everton last weekend. Even he had a right to be fuming that Joelinton has started more games than him.
It’s time for a regular spot on the bench for the big Brazilian.
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