Veteran NSW and Sixers coach Greg Shipperd signs two-year extension

The 68-year-old doyen of Australian coaching is committed to helping a young NSW team return to the top of the Sheffield Shield

Alex Malcolm26-Jun-2025

Greg Shipperd watches on•Getty Images

Greg Shipperd, the doyen of coaching in Australian domestic cricket, has signed a two-year contract extension with New South Wales and Sydney Sixers for the BBL.Shipperd, 68, is one of the most renowned coaches in the country and has been a key mentor to swathes of Australian players and coaches including the current national men’s coach Andrew McDonald.Having coached Tasmania and Victoria with great success, including four Sheffield Shield titles, he was tasked with a caretaker role with New South Wales in 2022-23 in conjunction with his Sixers role that he has held since 2015.He was made the permanent head coach of NSW in May of 2023 and will extend his tenure in NSW to four years, and his time with Sixers to 12, after signing a two-year extension.”You have to be careful not to overstay your welcome,” Shipperd told ESPNcricinfo. “But I’m particularly thrilled in being involved with Cricket New South Wales. It’s steeped in history and it’s got high expectations, and I like to operate within that framework. We’ve got an exciting opportunity with an emerging group of players to build a foundation that can stand the test of time.”The mind still is going at 100 miles an hour, but the body’s slowing down. But I’ve got some wonderful support coaches around and the system itself behind the Blues team that represents in the Shield and other competitions is first-class.”Shipperd’s record with Sixers has been remarkable as they have not finished lower than third in the eight team competition over the last six seasons, and have finished top two on the table in each of the last five, winning the title twice and finishing runner-up once in that period after also losing the final in his second season in charge in 2016-17.But his work with NSW remains unfinished, particularly in the Shield. He took over when the Blues finished last in 2022-23 for the first time in 13 seasons. NSW have ended third and fourth in the last two Shield seasons having been in the hunt for the final in the last round of both campaigns. They also lost the final of the Dean Jones Trophy (Australia’s domestic 50-over tournament) in 2023-24 to Western Australia and just missed the final last year.”Progress is being made,” Shipperd said. “We had some real challenges in terms of the depth of our squad and our Australian player representation across the course of the year took away some of our next level players in [Sean] Abbott, [Ben] Dwarshuis, and [Tanveer] Sangha, and so for us to be playing off for a grand final spot in the last game of both competitions meant that we’re very, very competitive. And so I’m really pleased about that.”The next step for us is to win those crunch games more often than we did, in particular at the back end of last year.”

Dilip Doshi, former India left-arm spinner, dies aged 77

Dilip Doshi, the former India left-arm spinner, has died on Monday aged 77. ESPNcricinfo understands he died due to heart issues in London, where he was living for several decades.Doshi, who bowled with a classical left-armer’s action, took 114 Test wickets in 33 appearances, including six five-wicket hauls. He also picked up 22 wickets in 15 ODIs at an economy rate of 3.96. Doshi also played first-class cricket for Saurashtra, Bengal, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire.

Doshi followed in the footsteps of the famous spin quartet the 1970s, and made his Test debut at the age of 32. He was also heavily influenced by West Indies legend Garfield Sobers at Nottinghamshire. Doshi made a quick and silent exit from international cricket in the 1980s as he did not agree with the way Indian cricket was being run at the time. Doshi also wrote a honest and compelling account of his cricketing days in a revealing autobiography Spin Punch.“It is with deep sadness that we learn of the passing of Dilip Doshi,” BCCI president Roger Binny said in a board statement issued on Tuesday. “He was a true artist of spin bowling, a gentleman both on and off the field, and a dedicated servant of Indian cricket. His impact on the game was immense, and he inspired a generation of cricketers with his skill and dedication. His contribution to Indian cricket will always be remembered. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity during this difficult time.”In an conversation with ESPNcricinfo in 2008, Doshi said “spin bowling is a battle of wits.” Doshi was known as a thinking cricketer and brought those characteristics to the fore in the Melbourne Test of 1981 – which India won – in which he played one of the leading roles with a five-wicket haul. Doshi, who used to bowl sporting spectacles, played the famous Test with a broken toe. As treatment, at the end of the day, he would apply electrode every evening to keep the swelling down.Over the years, Doshi was a regular at cricket games, often spotted with Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, who became a good friend from 1976. Doshi is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan, who played for Surrey and Saurashtra, and daughter Vishakha.

Amorim loves him: Man Utd now readying January offer to sign £50m+ midfielder

With Ruben Amorim set to keep hold of his job at Old Trafford, Manchester United are reportedly preparing a January offer to sign a midfield star who he loves.

Ratcliffe defends making Man Utd staff cuts

After revealing that he’s willing to give Amorim as long as three years to make his mark at Man United, INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has defended his decision to make a number of staff cuts earlier this year. The British billionaire insisted that profitability is key to any success and used United’s recent record revenue as an example.

Alas, even as results begin to improve off the pitch, they’ve remained woeful on the pitch. Amorim’s side have won just twice in seven Premier League games and are yet to even win back-to-back league games under the former Sporting Club manager.

Alarm bells have been ringing all season, but Amorim maintains the faith of INEOS. In fact, instead of sacking the manager, the minority owners are reportedly prepared to back him in the transfer market once again and could even welcome a midfielder that he loves in 2026.

Man Utd preparing Hjulmand offer

According to reports in Spain, Man United are now preparing a €60m (£52m) offer to sign Morten Hjulmand from Sporting Club. The Denmark midfielder thrived under Amorim at Sporting and could now become the first player from his former side to complete a move to Old Trafford in 2026.

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Amorim has never shied away from praising the 26-year-old, either. The Man United boss told reporters after his final game in charge of Sporting, in which Hjulmand scored in a 4-2 victory: “It was a great goal by a fantastic player and captain who arrived at Sporting a year ago.”

The leader that the Red Devils are arguably lacking, Hjulmand would slot straight into Amorim’s midfield next to Manuel Ugarte – allowing Bruno Fernandes to move back to an advanced role in the process.

Minutes

720

626

Progressive Passes

50

61

Tackles Won

13

7

Ball Recoveries

50

43

When compared, it’s the Dane’s defensive traits that stand out and those traits would allow one of the best midfielders in the world to play in his best role under Amorim. If United can secure his signature for just £52m, then Hjulmand would simply be a no-brainer.

Upgrade on DCL: Leeds messed up letting "magnificent" striker leave for £0

Leeds United were busy throughout the summer transfer window as they looked to build a squad that was capable of competing in the Premier League.

Eight points in seven matches, despite playing Newcastle, Spurs, and Arsenal already, suggests that they have been competitive in their return to the top-flight.

There are still a few question marks over some of Daniel Farke’s summer signings, though, including first-choice number nine Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin needs to do more for Leeds

The former England international was brought in on a free transfer from Everton in the summer to lead the line for the Whites, and he scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, the experienced centre-forward has missed a whopping nine ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net in his other five appearances for the club, per Sofascore, either side of that header against Wolves.

This shows that the former Toffees star has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal, costing the Whites points. His missed ‘big chance’ against Spurs is a prime example of him costing the team points, as he blazed a huge opportunity high and wide in a game that they lost 2-1.

Therefore, Leeds need more from their main number nine because he has not been reliable enough in front of goal to suggest that he will score goals on a consistent basis to fire the team to safety.

His wastefulness in front of goal is particularly frustrating when you consider that the Whites once released Rafa Mujica, who now looks like an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.

Why Leeds United made a mistake with Rafa Mujica

In the summer of 2021, Leeds released the Spanish striker to allow him to join Las Palmas on a free transfer, per Transfermarkt, after two years in West Yorkshire that were largely spent out on loan.

The club did not give him a single minute of first-team football to prove himself, which turned out to be a mistake because his form since leaving the Whites has been exceptional.

After a season in Spain, the striker joined Arouca in the Portuguese top-flight and went on to score 37 goals in 68 matches in all competitions for the club, including 20 goals in 30 Liga Portugal matches in the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The former Leeds youngster, who was described as “magnificent” by former boss Pepe Mel, then made a move to Qatar-based side Al-Sadd in the summer of 2024, and outperformed Calvert-Lewin at league level.

24/25 season

Calvert-Lewin (Premier League)

Mujica (Stars League)

Appearances

26

18

Goals

3

18

Minutes per goal

543

84

Big chances missed

16

14

Conversion rate

6%

25%

Big chances created

1

3

Assists

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Mujica significantly outperformed the English marksman as a goalscorer in the 2024/25 campaign, albeit whilst playing in a different league.

In the last two full seasons, the Spaniard has scored 38 league goals for Al-Sadd and Arouca combined, which shows that he has been in incredibly prolific form, including in a respectable European league in Portugal.

Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin scored ten goals and missed a whopping 32 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League for Everton in those two seasons, per Sofascore. This is why it has not been a shock to see him struggle in front of goal as a finisher in the top-flight for Leeds this term.

Unless the English forward can turn things around and become the reliable goalscorer that he has failed to be in the last few years, the Whites may look back and regret releasing Mujica back in 2021.

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The Al-Sadd star’s form in recent seasons in Portugal and Qatar suggests that he could have been an exciting centre-forward option for the club if they had given him a chance to prove himself in West Yorkshire, instead of releasing him.

Arne Slot changes assessment of his Liverpool squad after depth complaint despite summer spend as dire form continues

Arne Slot has changed his assessment of Liverpool's squad after he bizarrely claimed that it lacked depth despite the Reds spending more than any English club in the Premier League in the last transfer window. The Merseysiders underwent a major overhaul after winning the Premier League last season but they find themselves in a serious rut in the 2025-26 campaign.

Liverpool's sloppy run of form continues

After winning seven games in a row across all competitions, the Reds have now lost six out of their last seven outings, including four league defeats in a row. A 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt is Liverpool's sole victory in that dire run of form. And things don't get much easier for Slot and Liverpool, who take on Aston Villa on Saturday night. 

The defending champions then welcome Real Madrid in the Champions League next week, with a Trent Alexander-Arnold reunion on the cards. The Reds travel to rivals Manchester City in their final game before the November international break as Liverpool look to rescue their sub-par season. A four-game losing run in the Premier League means Slot's side are now seven points behind leaders Arsenal and sit behind rivals Manchester United after the opening nine games.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSlot changes squad assessment

After heavily rotating his squad during the Carabao Cup clash loss to Palace in midweek, the Dutch coach had claimed that he was forced to use youngsters to keep his first-choice senior players free from injury as he told : "Everybody can have [their] opinion about it but with the squad we have – maybe 15, 16 first-team players available – this is the choice I've made. It's not of Liverpool's standards to lose five out of six, or six out of seven. Last time we played Southampton here in the League Cup, Giovanni Leoni got injured, and we don't have such a big squad as people might tell, because there was so much focus on the amount of money we spent [in the summer]. 

"People all of a sudden think we have 25 players available, but we mainly have 20 players then we have four injuries. I only have one right full-back, Conor Bradley, as an example, and every time I had to play him twice in three days or three times in seven days [last season], it led to him… that I had to take him off with a hamstring injury or something else. Are you willing to take that risk with such a big week coming up? Last time I played a player that wasn't fully prepared – we thought he was prepared but it was the first time – Alexander Isak, he got injured."

However, in his latest statement, Slot mentioned: "We miss nothing. I am completely happy with the team and with all the quality that we have."

Will Liverpool sack Slot?

Despite the horrible run of form, it is unlikely that the Reds would part ways with their head coach as their hierarchy have "full trust" in Slot and they believe that he will turn things around quickly, according to . BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty has also claimed that there is "no chance" that Slot would lose his job at Anfield any time soon.

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AFPSlot responds to sack talk

Slot has also opened up on the sack talks as he claimed that he is not worried about getting sacked and that he feels supported at the Merseyside club. "[I feel supported] not only in this period but also when things go well," he said. "I'm a firm believer all the squads I had were 20-21 players that can play because if you have too many it's already a struggle to make a squad. But then you have to keep them fit."

The Reds will next face Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday night.

Crystal Palace in touch with "unsettled" England international as January deal possible

Crystal Palace are facing a pivotal season as the Eagles look to build upon what has been an absolutely excellent 2025 — a year which has seen them go on an unprecedented unbeaten streak whilst ending their history-long wait for a major trophy.

Crystal Palace face an uncertain future after stellar 2025

Oliver Glasner masterminded an historic win over Man City in the FA Cup final in May, delivering the club’s first ever piece of silverware, with the Eagles also tasting defeat for the first time in 20 games against Everton last weekend.

Palace’s club record 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions is testament to the phenomenal job done by Glasner with very limited resources, all whilst coping with the departures of key stars like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze since his arrival.

Palace 0-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)

Arsenal 2-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (FA Cup)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Tottenham 0-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Man City (FA Cup)

Palace 4-2 Wolves (Premier League)

Liverpool 1-1 Palace (Premier League)

Crystal Palace (3) 2-2 (2) Liverpool (Community Shield)

Chelsea 0-0 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad (Conference League)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace (Conference League)

Aston Villa 0-3 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)

Palace (4) 1-1 (2) Millwall (Carabao Cup)

West Ham 1-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Palace (Conference League)

However, while the Eagles are currently riding high, and still sit unexpectedly near the Premier League top four, this era is seriously threatened by Glasner’s uncertain future and a potentially imminent exit for star defender Marc Guehi.

Glasner is out of contract at the end of 25/26, and is attracting attention from top-flight rivals like Nottingham Forest amid his excellent work at Selhurst Park.

Guehi, meanwhile, was on the verge of joining Liverpool last summer only for Palace to pull out of the deal in dramatic fashion. The England star, who’s established himself as a Three Lions mainstay and proven Premier League defender since joining the South Londoners in 2021, will have his pick of new clubs once his deal also runs out in 2026.

It is absolutely imperative that Steve Parish shows a statement of intent to back Glasner if he hopes for the Austrian’s extended stay, and January could be vital in this respect.

Crystal Palace in contact with Conor Gallagher and could strike January deal

£150,000-per-week Atlético Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who dazzled at Palace on loan from Chelsea in 2021/2022, is apparently a potential winter target.

The England international has been in and out of the Atlético starting eleven under Diego Simeone this season, and journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Palace are in contact with Gallagher’s representatives ahead of a possible January swoop.

The 25-year-old was one of Palace’s star performers of the 21/22 season, bagging eight goals and three assists over 33 Premier League starts, and his contribution stretched far beyond the numbers going forward.

Gallagher’s loan spell at Palace was widely regarded as a breakthrough period in his career, showcasing his immense talent and versatility in midfield.

Arriving from Chelsea, Gallagher quickly became a key figure, impressing with his energy, work rate, and technical ability. His box-to-box style of play combined relentless pressing with intelligence, making him a versatile asset both defensively and offensively.

The ex-Chelsea man’s performances earned praise from teammates, managers, and pundits alike, with many highlighting maturity beyond his years. Gallagher’s impact was so pronounced that Palace even sought to extend his stay, but while those attempts fell through, he could still make a sensational return.

Not just George: Maresca must start Chelsea teen who's "similar to Palmer"

Losing Cole Palmer to injury had the potential to completely derail Chelsea so early into the new Premier League season.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues did lose 3-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in what was their first game without their star man at the start of September, but since then, the West Londoners have picked up five straight wins in all competitions to flex the quality oozing throughout their squad, even with Palmer missing.

Thankfully for the Italian, many a new star has been unearthed in his absence, with Chelsea youngster Tyrique George – in particular – making his presence known last time out as the Blues humbled Ajax 5-1 on their own patch in the Champions League.

Why George is pushing for a Chelsea start

Rumours had begun to surface recently that one of Chelsea’s own in George was looking for a move away, with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both ahead of him in the Stamford Bridge pecking order in the striker department.

But, with Pedro suspended and Delap still out injured for the mid-week clash with the Amsterdam giants, the 19-year-old seriously impressed as a second-half substitute in the main striker position, as a first-ever goal on Europe’s grandest stage fell into his lap.

Just a matter of minutes after being introduced into the contest, George would power home this fine effort past a hapless Remko Pasveer, with the night very much belonging to Chelsea’s rising stars, as both Marc Guiu and Jamie Gittens also got in on the act with goals and assists.

This emphatic display mid-week could well mean Maresca is wracked with some selection headaches heading back into Premier League action later today versus Sunderland, with George no doubt pushing for a start ahead of the aforementioned Guiu, even if Pedro is now back, too, from sitting out the clash against Ajax.

George isn’t the only starlet who will be demanding first-team minutes against the Black Cats, however, as this fellow Stamford Bridge prodigy has an even more compelling case to remain in the Italian’s starting XI for the test of Regis Le Bris’ visitors.

Maresca must start teen who's "similar to Cole Palmer"

If Chelsea can keep up this sterling run of form moving forward, Maresca and Co. could well be viewed as outside challengers for the Premier League title, especially when Palmer is also reintroduced into the first team fray.

Until then, however, the Blues do arguably possess another Palmer-like talent in Brazilian superstar Estevao, with Maresca himself even declaring that the 18-year-old is “similar to Cole Palmer” in terms of potentially becoming a future number ten option in time, away from being an out-and-out winger, which is extremely high praise, indeed.

Games played

11

Minutes played

443

Goals scored

2

Assists

1

Such outlandish praise is unlikely to backfire, too, with the South American teenager very much used to such latherings of praise by now, having been branded as “world-class” when still on the books of Palmeiras by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He has slotted in nicely at Chelsea, too, much like Palmer managed when leaving Manchester City behind, with two goals and one assist already coming his way in England, despite being afforded just 443 minutes of action.

One of those efforts did come about during the rampant display against Ajax, with the breakout number 41 backing up his last-gasp goal against Liverpool by confidently dispatching this spot-kick with ease.

Pedro Neto does have a strong argument to hand to return to the XI against Sunderland on Estevao’s right-hand side, however, with a goal and assist tallied up last time out, enough to push Ange Postecoglou off his precarious Nottingham Forest tight-rope.

Subsequently, this showdown with the Wearside titans could be the perfect opportunity for Maresca to experiment with Estevao as a number ten option, to try to begin his journey to become the next iteration of Palmer, with both Andrey Santos and the aforementioned Guiu failing to do much from this role at the City Ground.

Maresca will, of course, feel more secure with Palmer back in his lineup when he’s finally rid of his injury troubles.

Yet, the future looks extremely bright at Stamford Bridge, away from Palmer, with Estevao leading the way as the brightest light of Chelsea’s next generation.

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Better than Rodon: Leeds star who was "anonymous" is now undroppable

With three wins from their opening nine Premier League matches, Leeds United have already gone against the label that often falls onto newly promoted sides as being relegation fodder.

It might not be as spectacular as Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka-led efforts, but Daniel Farke’s Whites now find themselves on double digits in terms of points collected, with a much-needed 2-1 home win against West Ham United on Friday night also seeing the West Yorkshire outfit get one over on a potential relegation rival.

Yet again, Joe Rodon put in a valiant effort in the heart of Farke’s defence, with his standout display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors further cementing his tag as Leeds’ “most important player”, as was handed to him at the start of the month by journalist Isaac Johnson.

Rodon's performance vs West Ham

The Welsh “warrior” – as he has also been lovingly labelled in the past by his manager – has gone on to be an ever-present part of the German’s side, ever since Rodon was just a much-loved loan option from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodon didn’t miss a single Championship game last season as Leeds were crowned champions of the tricky division, and he has remained as one of the first names on the team sheet in the league above, too, and for very good reason.

The 28-year-old powerhouse would ensure the three points were sealed when heading home this corner unmarked, but it wasn’t just this effort beating Alphonse Aréola in the Hammers’ net that cemented his position in the Whites’ good books.

Indeed, Rodon would also finish the contest with a 92% pass accuracy intact as a calm and controlled operator on the ball, on top of nine clearances also being registered to ensure the likes of former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville were kept quiet.

If Leeds want to establish themselves as a formidable Premier League outfit and beat the drop come the end of the long campaign, they will need Rodon to keep up these imperious levels, with Farke very much aware of how much of an integral component he is to his team, having also once lauded him as “unbelievable” rock defensively.

However, another Leeds first-teamer is also deserving of his flowers, too, away from all the praise being dished out to the Swansea-born battler, with the star in question arguably putting in an even better performance than Rodon on Friday night.

The 9/10 star who was even better than Rodon

Ultimately, it was a team effort that got the narrow win over the line, with Lucas Perri in between the sticks, having to make sure he stayed alert, with two saves tallied up on his return to Farke’s starting lineup.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also tirelessly threw himself into the contest, even if he didn’t add to his solitary Leeds strike, with the easily scapegoated number nine winning eight duels in total.

But, as much as everyone did largely play their part in a second home win of the season being secured, Brenden Aaronson stood out as an extremely bright spark with his sublime individual display.

Aaronson would steer his side to their third three points of the Premier League season when being in the right place at the right time to convert a rebound after just three minutes. Yet, on another day, he could have also been remembered in even more glowing terms for being the audacious ace who fired home this sensational solo effort.

Unfortunately, the crossbar would then intervene.

But, this well-worked effort agonisingly scraping the crossbar shouldn’t detract from Aaronson’s otherwise near faultless night, with the American – who was labelled as “anonymous” by journalist James Marshment just last season – arguably standing out even more than Rodon when judging his all-round game.

Aaronson’s performance in numbers

Stat

Aaronson

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches

38

Shots

3

Accurate passes

11/15 (73%)

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

3/3

Recoveries

4

Total duels won

8/12

Stats by Sofascore

Across the 90 minutes, away from grabbing his early goal, the revitalised number 11 would also successfully complete all three of his dribbles as a constant menace for West Ham to contain, on top of also winning 80% of his ground duels to further reinforce his liveliness.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth would reward Aaronson for his standout showing with a 9/10 rating post-match, with Smyth stating that the 25-year-old put in a “tonne of hard work” to help the 2-1 win be secured.

In time, Aaronson will hope that he’s viewed as an undroppable Rodon-like cog in the Leeds machine, with his blistering display against the Hammers very much boosting his position in Farke’s first team, moving forward into a busy November.

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What Frank is really thinking as concerns rise about Xavi Simons at Tottenham

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is believed to be privately unimpressed with summer signing Xavi Simons.

Simons’ arrival for £52 million in the summer window brought serious excitement with it, especially after James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of 2025/2026 with an ACL injury he sustained in pre-season.

With Dejan Kulusevski also still on the recovery trail from a knee problem, which forced him to miss Tottenham’s Europa League triumph, Simons was viewed as the answer to Frank’s shortage of creative options in the final third.

However, it has been a slow start for the Dutchman.

Thus far, Simons’ only goal contribution has come from a dead-ball situation, with the 22-year-old setting up Pape Sarr to head home from a corner away to West Ham in September.

This was during Simons’ Premier League debut for his new side, but since that glorious moment at the London Stadium, the ex-PSG sensation has largely struggled to make an impact.

His north London numbers are in stark contrast to his final campaign at Leipzig. Simons bagged 17 goal contributions in just 25 top flight outings, all while averaging a solid two shots on goal per 90 minutes.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

Frank has repeatedly stood up for Simons when asked about his dwindling form by the media, with the Spurs head coach even making a comparison to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

There have even been suggestions that Simons isn’t actually a playmaker at all, and Frank apparently needs to realise this sooner rather than later.

Perhaps the forward’s best position is out wide.

Simons played seven of his last 2025 Bundesliga matches for Leipzig on the left — a position which Frank has also utilised him.

The former La Masia gem was used as a winger against West Ham, Wolves, Everton and Villarreal in the Champions League, but again, he struggled to contribute in the final third.

How Thomas Frank really feels about Xavi Simons at Tottenham

In any case, he needs to start delivering sooner rather than later, with Dutch analyst Johan Derksen criticising the attacker on Vandaag Inside this week.

Derksen believes that Simons is “failing” at Tottenham and Frank is “unhappy” with his summer signing, going on to state that he lacks the speed and strength to succeed in England.

There is still plenty of time for the Netherlands international to adapt, and you can make a serious case that all the comments aimed his way are pretty harsh considering he only arrived a couple of months ago.

There is a settling in period for some foreign players, but the same cannot be said for Dominic Solanke.

According to other reports, Frank has seen enough of the experienced Premier League striker, despite Solanke playing just 49 minutes in total since the Dane arrived.

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قائمة برشلونة لمباراة سيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني

أعلن الألماني هانز فليك، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة قائمة فريقه لمواجهة سيلتا فيجيو ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه برشلونة نظيره سيلتا فيجو مساء اليوم، الأحد، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”.

ويستضيف ملعب “بالايدوس” مباراة برشلونة وسيلتا فيجو، والتي من المقرر إذاعتها في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة الحادية عشر بتوقيت مكة المكرمة.

اقرأ أيضًا | تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام سيلتا فيجو اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

ويمتلك برشلونة 25 نقطة في المركز الثالث بشكل مؤقت خلف فياريال الذي لعب مباراة أكثر، في حين أن سيلتا فيجو لديه 13 نقطة في المركز الثالث عشر في الوقت الحالي، في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني.

ويأمل برشلونة في تحقيق الفوز على سيلتا فيجو من أجل صُنع دفعة إيجابية قبل الدخول في فترة التوقف الدولي المقبل.

وشهدت القائمة عودة المدافع الدنماركي أندرياس كريستنسن، من الإصابة لأول مرة منذ فترة طويلة، لكن لا تزال مشاركته محل شك.

ويستمر غياب كل من بيدري وجافي وخوان جارسيا ومارك أندريه تير شتيجن ورافينها عن التواجد ضمن قائمة برشلونة. قائمة برشلونة لمباراة سيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني

في حراسة المرمى: فوتشيك تشيزني – كوشين – إدير ألير.

في خط الدفاع: جول كوندي – بالدي – رونالدو أراوخو – باو كوبارسي – أندرياس كريستنسن – جيرارد مارتن – إريك جارسيا – تشافي إسبارت.

في خط الوسط: فيرمين لوبيز – كاسادو – داني أولمو – فرينكي دي يونج – بيرنال – درو فرنانديز.

في خط الهجوم: فيران توريس – روبرت ليفاندوفسكي – ماركوس راشفورد – لامين يامال – روني باردجي.

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