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His initial assessment of Patidar the captain was also promising, especially since he hasn’t changed his batting style this season

Shashank Kishore01-Apr-20253:42

Knight: RCB attack good for home venue, spin the only question

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) start in IPL 2025 has opened the rare possibility of starting the season with three straight wins, a feat they’ve achieved only once, in 2021. Ahead of their first home game of the year, team director Mo Babat emphasised the importance of a “statement start,” even if their record at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been patchy over the last two years.”We’ve definitely tried to focus in those first couple of games at making a statement start,” Bobat said ahead of Wednesday’s match against Gujarat Titans (GT). “Because going to two big teams [Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings] with good and proud home records is a good challenge. So, we use that as something to motivate the group. Similarly, we want to come back here [Chinnaswamy] and motivate the group to put on a show in front of their own fans.”One issue of RCB at home has been their bowling performances, despite trying to build a strong bowling core every year. Bobat, though, feels the line-up for this season is different.Related

Red-hot RCB bank on home advantage to make it three in a row

Prasidh on IPL return: The game has changed from 2022 to 2025

“We’ve recruited a team that we think is pretty powerful, with the batting line-up which we hope can exploit those batting conditions,” he said. “And we think we’ve got a bowling attack that’s particularly skillful and that can deal with the challenge of bowling here. Attacking here but also defending here.”So that’s been our focus from the moment we started trying to assemble our squad. And the way we played in the first two games, we’re building good confidence in those two areas with our powerful batting and skillful bowling.”Hazlewood has been RCB’s star performer with the ball•Associated PressThis season, RCB have been thrown a scheduling challenge: they don’t play two consecutive home games until the league phase ends. Bobat does not think it is an issue, but stressed on the importance of keeping his players fresh during the stretch of seven games across 22 days in the middle. Two senior fast bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, will be carefully handled. Bhuvneshwar missed the opener due to a minor niggle, while Hazlewood has only just recovered from a hip injury after battling side strain and calf issues during Australia’s Test summer.”He [Bhuvneshwar] probably could have played that first game if we really wanted him to, but we didn’t want to put him at risk,” Bobat said. “Josh came off the back of an injury with Cricket Australia, but they managed that pretty conservatively and then handed him over to us and we finished that rehab here. So, they’re both in a good place now.”It’s likely we’re going to have to think about keeping players fresh through the middle. I think that’s obvious. But right now, every game is important, so we’re not thinking too far ahead. We’ll take it on a day by day, week by week basis.”If you look at us, relative to probably other teams, we’ve not had too many soft-tissue injuries. [We aim to] try and keep them on the park because we know how good they are. If they end up needing a bit of a rest, we’re pretty relaxed about that too, because we’ve got a really good squad.”While the strong start has excited fans, Bobat emphasised on a single-minded focus on the next game. “We feel like we’ve got clarity on our strongest team,” he said. “If we play to our potential, the results take care of themselves. And you’ve just got to repeat that for 14 group games. And hopefully with some knockout games. We don’t really look beyond that.”‘Patidar has been very impressive’Rajat Patidar’s leadership in his debut season as IPL captain has also impressed Bobat, touching upon his authentic personality and tactical strength.”The main thing you want to see from any leader or captain is typically that they continue to let their personality come across. And I think he’s done that really well,” Bobat said. “We don’t want him to become a captain and be anybody else. We want him to be himself so, very calm, inwardly and outwardly. He rarely, if ever, takes a backward step. And we’ve seen that with his batting, particularly against CSK. Every time we lost wickets he continued to throw punches, which was really good.”And he seems to have coped with all the other stuff that comes with captaincy really well as well in some busy times. So, at the minute I think he’s been excellent. He’s done everything I hoped and expected him to be. We know it’s early days.”There’s a lot of cricket left to be played. And no doubt we’ll have some challenges at some point in the season. That’ll be a time where we’ve really got to be there to support him. But at the minute he’s been very impressive.”

Christian Pulisic has earned high praise from AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta, with the USMNT star being told that there is no other player like him in Serie A. The United States international has starred across two seasons at San Siro, becoming a talismanic presence for the Rossoneri, and is now considered to be one of the leading lights in Italian top-flight football.

GettyUSMNT star Pulisic now a talismanic presence for Milan

Pulisic headed to Milan in 2023 when severing ties with Premier League giants Chelsea. He had become a Champions League winner with the Blues, but felt the time was right to embrace a new challenge. He settled quickly in Italy – with golf pro girlfriend Alexa Melton paying regular visits to Europe – and is now considered to be captain material with club and country.

Personal bests have been recorded on the goal front, raising that bar from 15 to 17 across the last two campaigns, and he has found the target on six occasions through eight appearances this term. That haul could have been even better had the 27-year-old not skied a penalty in Milan’s 0-0 draw with old adversaries Juventus.

AdvertisementNesta's take on Pulisic & Milan's attacking talent

Despite that miss, Pulisic has helped Milan to third place in the Serie A table and forms part of an attacking unit that has got Rossoneri icon Nesta excited. The World Cup-winning defender, who spent 10 years at San Siro in his playing days, told "I’m in love with [Rafael] Leao, I’d always like to have him in my team. He’s a difference-maker, [Massimiliano] Allegri needs to find a way to make him consistent. It’s true that with talented players, performance and consistency almost never go hand in hand. If you do special things, you can’t do them forever. Rafa can improve his attitude. [Christopher] Nkunku is also a good player. And who in Italy has a player like Pulisic? He’s very strong, impressive: he can play wide, behind the striker, or in the box. He offers a lot of options and provides goals, assists, and runs. You can’t ask for more. [Santiago] Gimenez? I think he’s better than what we’ve seen so far; he arrived at a difficult time. But if he wants to carve out space for himself, he needs to score more."

Getty ImagesBallon d'Or winner Modric can play until he is 70

Luka Modric is another superstar to have been added to Milan’s ranks, with the Ballon d’Or-winning Croatian joining as a free agent after 13 memorable years at Real Madrid. There is no sign of the 40-year-old midfielder slowing down, with Nesta adding: “Seeing him on the pitch is a beauty, he thrilled me. Not since the days of [Andrea] Pirlo has there been someone like him at San Siro. With him, Milan is certainly stronger. The team has lost Theo [Hernandez], but in many other positions they are more competitive. With two or three more players, it becomes even more interesting: I hope this is a starting point. Which ones? A defender, a striker, even though I understand it’s difficult to get good ones, and on the wings.

“About Luka, I’ll add that I didn’t think he’d run so much; with Napoli he’d come in and out, mess up the passing lanes and then get back into position. He has an intelligence that few have, he has football in his head, that’s where he’s different. As long as he has the ball, he can play until he’s 70.”

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Are Pulisic & AC Milan Serie A title challengers?

Despite being impressed by what he has seen from Milan’s class of 2025-26, Nesta is not convinced that they are “ready to carry the weight of having to win the Scudetto”. For now, Allegri is charged with moving them in the right direction – having missed out on European qualification last season.

Any kind of title challenge, while also remaining competitive in domestic cup action, should help to convince USMNT star Pulisic – who is working his way towards a home World Cup in 2026 – that a contract extension offer first put on the table several months ago needs to be signed.

Newcastle United have had a rough start to the Premier League season as they are one of only four winless teams and are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

This season has already seen them lose their star striker to Liverpool on deadline day, although the British record transfer fee may go some way to soothe that pain, as well as seeing midfielders Joelinton and Sandro Tonali having to go off injured against Liverpool with what have now been revealed to be serious injuries.

However, in his last press conference before the international break, Eddie Howe was looking ahead to the rest of the season and the club’s return to the Champions League:

“We’re just going to try to attack the fixtures in the best way we can. I believe we are more ready than we were last time because there is more experience in the squad and we have been through more together.”

With the manager looking forward to European fixtures, the club, and by extension owners PIF, are looking forward to the January transfer window and another striker signing.

Newcastle eye Mateta as third new striker

Newcastle United are still eyeing up yet another striker in the January transfer window as they contemplate a move for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Magpies are exploring this deal despite already having signed both Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade as Isak replacements in the final days of the transfer window.

Caught Offside have reported that Palace could be willing to let the French striker go for £40 million, and Newcastle, alongside Leeds United and Aston Villa, are the most interested parties and plan to make formal offers in the New Year.

Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer has previously praised Mateta when he bagged a brace against West Ham in the 2023/24 season:

“A centre-forward masterclass, scoring two terrific goals that any striker would be proud of. What a revelation he’s been under Oliver Glasner.”

Mateta followed that performance up with another brace, this time against Newcastle in what turned out to be his only goal-scoring performance in nine attempts against the Magpies.

Newcastle's moneyball replacement of Isak

The term “moneyball” gets thrown around a lot in football, but Newcastle, in their handling of the departure of Isak, are enacting the transfer strategy in its truest form.

The initial concept of Moneyball came from Billy Beane’s management of the Oakland Athletics, where, in an off-season where major players departed the club, he tried to replace them not with another superstar but with several players who, aggregated, could reach the same level of output.

Spending the money they received from Liverpool for Isak on Wissa, Woltemade, and now potentially Mateta as well, it seems like they are trying to make up Isak’s goal contributions in the aggregate.

Goal Involvements 24/25 Season

Striker

G+A per 90

Isak

0.95

Mateta

0.54

Woltemade

0.78

Wissa

0.71

Neither of their new strikers nor Mateta on their own match Isak’s output, but they all still have individually impressive returns. All three of them together would almost certainly make up the deficit that Isak leaves behind, but the difficulty for Howe would be managing the three strikers’ desire for game time.

Arsenal have been blessed with some utterly incredible players over the years.

Up top, the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, and Dennis Bergkamp toyed with Premier League defenders on a weekly basis.

Then, at the back, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and Martin Keown made defending look like a piece of cake.

Likewise, midfielders like Mesut Özil, Patrick Vieira, and Santi Cazorla have helped make the Gunners a team fans have loved to watch, regardless of the era.

Excitingly, the club now has another midfield superstar in the making on their hands, someone who could be looked at as a hybrid of former stars Cesc Fàbregas and Jack Wilshere.

What made Fabregas and Wilshere so special

Fàbregas made the move to Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer of 2003 for around £2m, which was quite a lot of money for someone who was still just 16 years old at the time.

It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to feature in the first team, as he started a League Cup clash with Rotherman United in October of that year, and by the end of the following season he had already made 49 first team appearances, more than justifying talent scout Jacek Kulig’s later claim that he was “one of the best U21s in Premier League history.”

The mercurial midfielder was named captain in November 2008, and while he was seen as the key player in the squad by many, he would eventually push for a move back to Barça in the summer of 2011, with a tally of 57 goals and 95 assists in 303 games for the North Londoners.

Appearances

303

Starts

266

Minutes

23847′

Goals

57

Assists

95

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156.88

Points per Game

1.99

A few years before the Spaniard left for his old club, Arsène Wenger gave a competitive debut to another promising young midfielder by the name of Wilshere in a game against Blackburn Rovers, who at just 16 became the club’s youngest-ever league debutant.

While the Englishman would make several appearances over the following couple of years, his real breakout campaign came in the 10/11 season, when he racked up 11 goal involvements in 49 games.

Moreover, it was this season that he’d have his sensational headline-grabbing game against Barcelona in the Champions League, a game in which, as a teenager, he bossed a midfield of Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after that legendary performance that he started to suffer from ankle injury after ankle injury that ultimately scuppered his chance of becoming the world-beating midfielder so many expected him to become.

However, while his injuries are impossible to ignore, Wilshere still managed to make 197 appearances for his boyhood club, in which he produced 42 goal involvements and won two FA Cups.

While their Arsenal careers came to an end, Fabregas and Wilshere were some of the best midfielders Arsenal had during the late 2000s and early 2010s, so fans should be delighted that they’ve now got another player who feels like a hybrid of both.

The Arsenal player who's a Fabregas & Wilshere hybrid

There is an abundance all over this current Arsenal team, and the midfield is no different.

Chalkboard

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

Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are a nightmare to play against, Mikel Merino has gone up another gear in terms of his attacking prowess, and Martin Odegaard has the ability to change games.

However, when it comes to a player who’s a hybrid of Wilshere and Fabregas, there is only one star who comes to mind: Ethan Nwaneri.

For example, when he came off the bench against Brentford three years ago, he took the mantle of becoming the club’s youngest-ever league debutant.

Moreover, the Enfield-born gem hasn’t bulldozed his way into first-team football thanks to having freakish physical attributes, but instead through being incredibly technical.

Like the Spaniard was once able to, the 18-year-old gem has already shown an ability to play a pinpoint accurate pass from the middle of the park or play quick one-twos with teammates.

However, he is also unbelievable with the ball at his feet, and as Arteta has already pointed out, he has the ability to dance his way out of tight areas a bit like “Wilshere used to do.”

On top of that, being from London and coming up through Hale End from a very young age, the 18-year-old has something of that connection to the fans that his compatriot used to have during his playing days.

Finally, with a brilliant tally of nine goals and two assists in just 40 appearances, the £48m-rated star has shown he can be as influential on proceedings as Wilshere and Fabregas were as youngsters. As Arsenal writer Adam Keys noted, “Arteta is creating a monster”.

Ultimately, while he still has plenty of developing to do, Arsenal look like they have a future superstar on their hands in Nwaneri.

Arsenal have struck gold on £32m "monster" who's a hybrid of Xhaka & Ramsey

The international star could be a difference-maker for Arsenal and Arteta in the Premier League this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 8, 2025

Mooney smashed an unbeaten 75 off 42 in her 200th international, Voll made 51 as Australia mowed down New Zealand’s target after Kerr’s unbeaten 51

Alex Malcolm21-Mar-2025Australia sent a statement to the current world champions New Zealand as to why they are still ranked No.1 with stunning twin half-centuries from Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll and a frugal bowling performance setting up a dominant eight-wicket win with 36 balls to spare in the opening T20I in Auckland.The only dampener on the victory was a significant right index finger injury to star allrounder Ashleigh Gardner who was sent for scans after copping a blow trying to take a return catch while bowling.She would not have batted in any case but she would not have been required if she was fit as Mooney and Voll mowed down New Zealand’s target of 138, which was underpinned by Amelia Kerr’s 51 not out off 46 and Sophie Devine’s 39 not out off 36.But their unbeaten 90-run stand off 76 balls proved too slow as Australia’s opening pair set a slew of records with a staggering display of sustained boundary hitting with Mooney finishing with 75 not out from just 42 balls while Voll made 51 off 30.They posted 77 in the powerplay, which was the most Australia’s women have ever produced in a T20I. They brought up their century stand in 8.2 overs and posted the highest opening partnership, 123, by an Australian female pair against New Zealand in a T20I.Mooney celebrated her 200th international for Australia across all formats by racing to her 26th half-century in T20Is from 28 balls, to go with her two centuries. Voll cruised to her maiden T20I half-century in 30 balls but played second fiddle as Mooney accelerated past her by facing more of the strike.Mooney was brutal going both off side and leg side with trademark lofted cover drives mixed with pick-ups over midwicket. Voll was savage on anything straight, mowing it repeatedly over the leg side with her powerful bottom hand until she finally picked out deep square off Lea Tahuhu with just 15 runs to win.New Zealand’s total was always well under par after winning the toss and batting first. Australia’s attack, which did not feature Ashes star Alana King who was left out of the line-up, was frugal throughout. They could have restricted New Zealand even further had they not dropped two catches and missed three clear-cut run out chances.Darcie Brown made the first breakthrough, claiming Suzie Bates caught behind for a run-a-ball 14, and bowled superbly to finish with 1 for 22 from four overs with 13 dot balls. Georgia Plimmer briefly threatened, accelerating to 27 off 23 but then picked out long-on trying to loft Tahlia McGrath down the ground.Devine, playing her first game since January after taking a mental health break, showed clear signs of rust as she battled for fluency. She was 16 off 27 at one point as all of Australia’s bowlers tied her down. Annabel Sutherland was particularly tough to get away in the middle overs, conceding just 21 off her four.Gardner’s dropped catch seemed to spark Devine. Gardner left in clear pain with blood flowing from a cut on her right index finger and was unable to complete her third over due to the power of Devine’s strike. She found the boundary four more times after that, having scored just one across her first 27 deliveries.Kerr was more consistent across her innings but only found the rope five times in her fourth T20I half-century. New Zealand scored just 17 boundaries in total with Kerr and Devine striking five each. Mooney struck ten fours herself, plus a six, while Voll crunched nine boundaries.Australia claim a 1-0 series lead, with matches to come at Mount Maunganui on Sunday and Wellington on Wednesday.

Just over four months after Arsenal stunned Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final to win their second European crown, the most prestigious club competition in the women's game is back this week, with the Gunners partaking in perhaps the most eye-catching fixture of matchday one as they prepare for a clash with eight-time winners Lyon, in a rematch of last season's semi-final.

The UWCL has a different look this year, having moved to mirror the men's edition by adopting a league phase rather than a group phase, and it will feature some new teams as well, with Manchester United and OH Leuven both making debuts in the main portion of the competition. Atletico Madrid, too, return to this stage for the first time since the UWCL moved away from a straight knockout format in 2021.

They join the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and more in a campaign packed full of eye-catching clashes, not least the rematch of last season's other semi-final, between Chelsea and Barca, which will take place next month.

So, as the action prepares to begin, what should you be keeping an eye on in the 2025-26 Women's Champions League? Let GOAL walk you through the big talking points…

Getty ImagesArsenal's change of role

After causing a serious upset in the Champions League final back in May, Arsenal will go into this campaign with an entirely different status. Last time around, they were so often an underdog. This time, they are the holders. It carries a greater weight of expectation for a team that hasn't often been a favourite in Europe or even in England in recent years, because of Chelsea's dominance of the domestic game. How will the Gunners cope with that?

It's not been an easy start to the season for Renee Slegers' side, who many would've had high hopes for in the Women's Super League title race given their European triumph. Arsenal have already dropped points in three of their first five games, leaving them five behind leaders Chelsea. They'll need to improve quickly, too, because their UWCL defence starts with a bang, as they host eight-time winners Lyon on Tuesday evening in a rematch of last season's thrilling semi-final.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesA vulnerable Barcelona

One of the stories of the summer came in Barcelona, where financial restraints that have proved a concern to various sections of the club over the last few years finally made a telling impact on the women's team. Champions League finalists in each of the last five seasons, winning three of those, the Catalans have been the team to beat on the continent for several years now but the likelihood of rivals doing so certainly feels like it has increased over the last few months.

That's because Barca's squad decreased massively in size during the transfer window, owing to the one incoming and four outgoings in the first-team squad, plus the departures of another seven youth prospects, some of whom could've been in line to make the step up. It leaves a squad of 18 senior players ahead of the Champions League's return, one much smaller than the likes of Chelsea and Lyon.

Of course, the flip side is that Barca still have one of the best XIs in the world, featuring six players who just made the top 13 in the Ballon d'Or voting, and a thriving academy which it has now dipped into for some added depth. What happens if there are a couple of key injuries, though? Can those young players develop into difference makers? And will the squad have enough to maintain the club's usual charge across four competitions?

Getty ImagesChelsea's credentials

One of the main teams looking to pounce on any potential vulnerability from Barca will be Chelsea, who have so often been eliminated by the Catalans over the years. After being beaten 4-0 by them in the 2021 UWCL final, the Blues have lost in the semi-finals to Barca in each of the last three seasons, last year by a damning 8-2 aggregate scoreline.

Interestingly, the league phase draw has thrown up a clash between these two sides in November, in what will be their first one-legged meeting since that final over four years ago. It could prove to be a great litmus test for Chelsea's Champions League title credentials this time around and a chance for them to regain some psychological ground in what has been an incredibly one-sided head-to-head.

After all, the Blues are definitely one of the main contenders for this season's trophy, as they have been for a while now. But have they got what it takes to make that final, and most difficult, step to get their hands on the silverware for the first time?

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Getty ImagesA rejuvenated Lyon

Another incredibly interesting contender for this UWCL title is Lyon, the eight-time winners having had a terrific summer. Jonatan Giraldez, who guided Barca to two European triumphs in his three years in charge, has taken over in the dugout for the French giants, while the transfers made have been extremely eye-catching.

In have come Marie-Antoinette Katoto, PSG's all-time top scorer and one of the deadliest strikers on the planet; Jule Brand, who had a terrific Euro 2025 with Germany to remind everyone of her potential; Lily Yohannes, the United States international and one of the most exciting teenagers in the game; and Ingrid Engen, who had one of the best seasons of her career under Giraldez at Barca, among others.

With experienced stars such as Eugenie Le Sommer, Amel Majri and Dzsenifer Marozsan going out the other door, all of whom played crucial roles in the club's ascension to the very top of the European game, it has been a big summer of change and there may be some teething pains as a result. However, it does feel like an exciting transition for the most successful team in UWCL history, as they pursue a record-extending ninth title.

Here’s how things look on the run-scorers’ and wicket-takers’ tables after Saturday’s double-header in IPL 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-20251:36

‘Not long before Sudharsan is an India regular’

Orange Cap leaderboardThe top three on the run-scorers’ table after Friday are the top three on the run-scorers’ table after Saturday, but it’s not quite the same. Nicholas Pooran, still the No. 1, has gone past the 300-run mark after his latest hit: 61 in 34 balls against GT. He is at 349 runs now.Yesterday’s No. 2, B Sai Sudharsan, remains today’s No. 2, but breached the 300-run mark even before Pooran with his 37-ball 56. So, for a while on Saturday afternoon, we had a new No. 1 as Sai Sudharsan went past Pooran before Pooran snatched the cap back. Sai Sudharsan is at 329 runs, just 20 behind Pooran.Mitchell Marsh, unfortunately, didn’t get a go against GT since his daughter is unwell, but remains in third spot with 265 runs.What’s happening beyond the top three is equally engrossing. Six other batters are now over the 200 mark: Shreyas Iyer (250 runs), Jos Buttler (218), Travis Head (214), Shubman Gill (208), Ajinkya Rahane (204) and Aiden Markram (202). And Abhishek Sharma, after his 55-ball 141 against PBKS, is suddenly at 192 runs.Purple Cap leaderboardShardul Thakur added two wickets to his kitty on Saturday, and that has brought him right back into the top three, at No. 2, with 11 wickets, just one behind the leader, Noor Ahmad.Where Thakur made the most of his opportunity, Mohammed Siraj and R Sai Kishore couldn’t, going wicketless against LSG and staying on 10 wickets, the same as Hardik Pandya, Prasidh Krishna and Khaleel Ahmed.Highest batting strike ratesBest bowling economy ratesMost sixesBest bowling figures in a match

Former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere accepts that he is a “risk” when it comes to managerial appointments, with the ex-England international accepting a challenging first full-time coaching job. At just 33 years of age, and with limited experience under his belt, Wilshere has taken the reins at League One side Luton Town – with that move ensuring that his career has gone full circle.

Wilshere's career: How he ended up at Luton

Wilshere, who earned 34 senior caps for his country, started out in the academy system at Luton before moving on to Arsenal in 2001. He would spend 17 years tied to the Gunners, taking in 197 appearances and scoring 14 goals. Unfortunate injuries prevented him from making more of an impact at the very highest level.

Once it became apparent that his body could no longer handle the demands of playing, Wilshere moved into coaching. He led Arsenal’s U18 side to the FA Youth Cup final in 2023 – where they lost to another of his former clubs, West Ham – before leaving north London in October 2024 to become a first-team coach alongside Johannes Hoff Thorup at Norwich City. Two games – a goalless draw with Middlesbrough and a 4-2 win over Cardiff City – were taken in as caretaker boss of the Canaries when Thorup was sacked.

Having accepted that he was not in contention to fill that role on a permanent basis, Wilshere left Carrow Road over the summer. He has completed his pro-license course and finds himself back in the dugout after being appointed as successor to Matt Bloomfield at Kenilworth Road. He will have experienced former Southend United and Charlton Athletic manager Chris Powell alongside him, with Wilshere excited to be taking on a new challenge.

AdvertisementCoaching gamble: Element of risk in Wilshere appointment

Quizzed on whether he could be considered a gamble by the Hatters, Wilshere said: “I’m sure whenever he (CEO Gary Sweet) hires a manager there’s probably an element of risk. I made it pretty clear to Gary and all the staff here which I think is important because as it does feel like a family, and Gary wasn’t the only one who needed convincing, it was a real unity in the staff I felt, but my experiences as a player, I’ve thought about this a lot, is very important. Chris Powell will be next to me, but my experience of being in top environments, high pressure environments since I was 16 years old, I think that experience is very beneficial

“Of course there’s different challenges and I’ve had really good experiences of coaching so far and I’ve had some tough experiences as well. There’ll be many more new experiences, but I think the most important thing is am I ready for this? Yes. Am I ambitious? Yes. Do I want to achieve great things with Luton and get back to the Championship and really make that clear? Yes. And I feel like I’m ready. It’s a very, very proud moment for me, for my family, a massive, massive honour.

“Maybe it hasn't sunk in just yet, I know about this club, I started here, I've had a connection with them for many, many years, recently going back to train, but I’m really excited and really honoured. As soon as the opportunity came up, I was excited. I spoke to Gary first, Gary was excited, we were both excited and the process has been really good and good for both of us as probably he’s got to know me a bit more, I got to know a little bit more about what’s happening at the club and it was very good. It was intense at times, but I’ve enjoyed it.”

Ex-England star Wilshere eager to impress

Wilshere is eager to separate his playing career from a new coaching venture, with a fresh start being embraced. He added: “I’ve said before many times that I don’t want people to think about my playing career. There’s many things that I can use from my playing career, my experiences with different coaches, good, bad and try and make me the coach I am today, but the first week at Arsenal when I was there with the 18s, I quickly realised that this is something that I’m going to have to get better at.

“Being a good player doesn’t make you a good coach. There’s many things that are quite different and you have to understand that. You have to understand how the club works internally and I wanted to be clear that I didn’t want to step to a first team until I was ready to do that. I wanted to learn about it, and when I did, I went to Norwich and that taught me so much.

“I was in the real world, I was competing for three points. It wasn’t always easy, we had a tough spell, so of course all those experiences and as a player as well, but now this is a new Jack Wilshere, a different Jack Wilshere, who is hungry to achieve great things and I’m so grateful to Gary at the club for giving me the opportunity.”

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GettyWhy Luton need Wilshere to make an immediate impact

Wilshere is following former England colleagues such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney into the world of management – with other high-profile figures experiencing some mixed results in coaching.

Luton need Wilshere to make an immediate impact as – having graced the Premier League in 2023-24 – they have suffered back-to-back relegations and now find themselves languishing 11th in the League One table. Wilshere’s first game at the helm will be a home date with Mansfield Town on Saturday.

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to suggest West Ham United are already in something of a crisis this season.

The fans staged a sizable and understandable protest outside the ground on Saturday afternoon, and the team are in freefall.

Graham Potter has overseen six games so far, losing five and winning just one, which has left them out of the League Cup and near the bottom of the Premier League.

In short, the club need to find a replacement for the manager, and fortunately, it looks like they have someone who could be perfect for Lucas Paqueta.

West Ham target Potter upgrade

With how badly they have been performing, it’s not been a surprise to see West Ham linked with a host of managers in recent weeks.

Manager Focus

One of the less inspiring names touted for the role has been Gary O’Neil, who has been out of work since being fired by Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.

Likewise, former Everton manager Sean Dyche, who has also been out of work for a while, has been linked with the club.

However, there is yet another free manager who has been linked with the job, someone who now looks to be one of the frontrunners.

At least that is according to a recent report by journalist Jacob Steinberg, who claims West Ham are still interested in Slaven Bilic.

In fact, he goes further, revealing that those near to David Sullivan are urging him to hire the Croatian and that.

However, Steinberg also makes it clear that the club’s former manager would only join on an interim basis as Nuno Espírito Santo remains their primary target.

In all, while some might be underwhelmed, we believe this would be a great short-term hire and a move that could unlock more from attacking players like Paqueta.

Why Bilic would be good for West Ham and Paqueta

So, the first thing to say is that even if some would be unimpressed by this appointment, Bilic would undoubtedly be an improvement on Potter.

After all, the Croatian’s record of 1.43 points per game when he was in charge of the club is far better than the Englishman’s current average of just 0.92 points per game.

However, when we dig a little deeper, we can see some of the other reasons he would be better than the former Chelsea boss, such as the attacking output of the club.

Games

109

25

Wins

42

6

Draws

30

5

Losses

37

14

Points per Game

1.43

0.92

Goals Scored

160

30

Goals Conceded

167

41

During his tenure in East London, the Croatian coach’s squad scored 160 goals in 109 games, which averages out to 1.46 goals per game.

For comparison’s sake, Potter’s side have scored just 30 goals in 25 games, which is a far less impressive average of 1.2 per game.

In other words, the “absolutely immense” Split-born manager, as dubbed by former professional Lee Hendrie, set up to entertain as well as win, and in the process, supercharged the offensive players in his side, notably, Dimitri Payet.

During his time in the capital, the Frenchman scored 15 goals and provided 22 assists in 60 games, working out to a goal involvement every 1.62 games.

Yet, it wasn’t just the output with the dynamic ace, as his overall play was a sight to behold, and even earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2017.

Now, we are not saying Paqueta would reach quite those levels, but he’s clearly not playing at his best under Potter, and as the former Hammers boss’s side was so much more entertaining, there is every chance the Brazilian would step it up a level under him.

Ultimately, West Ham need to make a change fast, and while he wouldn’t be a great long-term choice, Bilic would be a brilliant interim hire to steady the ship this season.

Allardyce 2.0: "Remarkable" coach desperate to join West Ham after contact

The vastly experienced manager would be a massive upgrade on Potter and is just what West Ham need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 23, 2025

Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, once hinted at which Premier League he supports in a chat with Arsenal fan Piers Morgan.

Donald Trump is a sport fanatic with love for golf, UFC, football and baseball

The 79-year-old, who is currently into his second term as president, has never hid his love for sport and recently made the trip to New York to watch The Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Trump regularly plays golf and through his holding company, the Trump Organization, even owns 17 different courses around the world.

Trump also enjoys watching UFC and his relationship with UFC president Dana White has been well-documented.

When it comes to American Football, Trump’s team is thought to be the New England Patriots due to friendships with CEO Robert Kraft and legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

Also a fan of Major League Baseball, Trump’s team appears to be the New York Yankees, although he does have appreciation for the New York Mets as well.

Over in England, Trump even appears to have a favoured football team in the Premier League, and it isn’t Chelsea despite being involved in the Blues’ Club World Cup celebrations.

Donald Trump hints at which Premier League team he supports

Talking to journalist and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan back in 2018, Trump was presented with a Gunners shirt with his name on the back. Trump’s son, Barron, is a fan of Arsenal, with Morgan looking to make the President a supporter of the north London side.

However, Trump admitted that his allegiance lies with another Premier League giant, Manchester United.

That “friend” in question appears to be Edward Glazer, co-owner of the Red Devils. In fact, it is claimed that Glazer donated £45,000 during Trump’s first ever US presidential campaign.

The American president isn’t the only famous Man Utd supporter from across the pond, with singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake also a huge Old Trafford fan.