RCB went back to the drawing board ahead of IPL 2025, and their new plans have carried them into Qualifier 1 for the first time since 2016

Shashank Kishore28-May-20252:31

Will an 18-year-long wait end this season?

For once, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) aren’t just in the playoffs. They’re playing Qualifier 1 – a result that looked difficult when Virat Kohli was dismissed on on Tuesday night with RCB still a long way from victory. The spectre of past failings loomed, but their stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma emphasised why the RCB of 2025 is different.Jitesh finished unbeaten on 85 off 33 balls, his maiden IPL half-century. RCB won with eight balls to spare, underlining their batting depth. They now have a direct route to the final – and a second chance if they need it – which is significant because three of their previous four appearances in the playoffs since 2020 have ended in the Eliminator.Their deepest scar, however, is from 2016 – the closest RCB have come to winning the IPL title in 17 years. Chasing 209 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB were 114 for 0 in the 11th over, but unravelled after Chris Gayle, Kohli and AB de Villiers fell and finished nine runs short.Related

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• Will Hazlewood and Chahal come back for Qualifier 1?

• Evenly matched Punjab Kings and RCB fight for ticket to finale

This RCB, however, is no longer a team that lives and dies by its big three. They have displayed depth and versatility. They are the only team to have won all seven designated away games in a season in IPL history, and with the playoffs in Mullanpur and Ahmedabad, a familiar chant is growing a little louder.

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RCB’s loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Eliminator laid bare a sobering truth once the euphoria of the six-game winning streak that took them there had dissipated. Their game plan needed an overhaul.Prior to the mega auction last November, their director of cricket Mo Bobat made it non-negotiable that the franchise would assess players not by “how they play” but “how we want them to play.” His vision put role clarity over reputation. It was no longer about assembling the best players; it was about assembling the right ones.In the months that followed, Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, batting mentor Dinesh Karthik, and head scout Malolan Rangarajan used data, visual evidence and their collective experience to arrive at what they felt was would be a successful method.The objective was clear: build a batting line-up that had power and could impose themselves on bowling attacks. Like SRH and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had done so staggeringly in 2024. They deprioritised averages in favour of more impactful metrics like strike rate and boundary percentage, both in the powerplay and beyond.An ultra-aggressive opener to partner Kohli was on top of their wish list. Faf du Plessis, 40, was no longer a long-term solution. Will Jacks, who scored a 41-ball century against Gujarat Titans in 2024, was a strong contender but RCB’s management wanted Phil Salt.According to Karthik, Salt had the ability to “convert a good over into a big over”, and so they spent INR 11.25 crore to buy him. Salt currently has 331 runs at a strike rate of 171.50. He helped RCB take 30 runs off a Mitchell Starc over, took Pat Cummins and SRH apart with an innings of 62 off 32 balls, and set up RCB’s chase against LSG on Tuesday with a 61-run stand with Kohli in 5.4 overs. They are the third-most prolific opening pair this season, with the highest run rate among the teams who have made the playoffs.Kohli has constructed another 600-plus season for himself – his third in a row – but he too has bought into the aggressive philosophy. His last three innings have come at 170+ strike rates and all eight of his half-centuries have resulted in victories – an IPL record. He’s been less of an anchor and more of a storm at the top.Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have scored at 10.55 an over as an opening partnership•BCCIRCB, however, have always had plenty of runs at the top. Their point of difference this season is what’s happening down the order. Their ability to score, and score impactfully, is deeper than ever.Jitesh’s innings that sealed their place in the top two is only the latest example. Romario Shepherd blitzed the IPL’s second-fastest fifty from No. 7. Tim David is the joint highest for sixes between overs 17-20 with a strike rate of 203 in that phase. The 26 balls he batted against Punjab Kings (PBKS) were the most he has faced in an IPL innings and he scored his maiden fifty in the league.That friendly hug between Mumbai Indians (MI) and RCB at the auction table as they let go of Jacks, seemingly with an eye on David, has yielded desired results. They will hope David recovers from a hamstring strain to play some part in the playoffs.

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Bobat and Flower sounded out Rajat Patidar for the RCB captaincy this season as early as February 2024. Those conversations intensified in June when they met the franchise’s owners for a season review. When asked what he wanted to change if he became captain, Patidar spoke of the need for a gun pace attack. Flower and Bobat knew then that Patidar was the man.They waited for more evidence. Patidar needed to captain his state team, an opportunity he firmed up by speaking to Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Patidar led MP to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 and was also the tournament’s second-highest run-getter.Impressed by his decision-making and leadership, which they observed on a scouting trip to India, Flower and Bobat also met Kohli, who gave their choice his full backing. For the first time, RCB had a captain who wasn’t a superstar Indian or high-profile international.Rajat Patidar’s temperament as captain has passed the test this season•Getty ImagesOn captaincy debut, Patidar helped RCB beat KKR at Eden Gardens for the first time since 2019. His half-century was central to their first victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai since 2008. He helped RCB beat MI at the Wankhede for the first time since 2015.His decision-making has also had an impact. Against KKR, Patidar brought on Suyash Sharma against Andre Russell, perhaps not the most obvious choice, but it paid off. KKR finished with 172 when 190 had looked likely. With 34 to defend in three overs against CSK, Patidar once again backed Suyash and he conceded only six off the 18th over. He gave Yash Dayal the final over in that match despite him going for runs earlier and it paid off too.”The best thing is that he’s been calm,” RCB fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar had said of Patidar’s mindset. “That’s what is needed, especially in this format. “Because when you lose a match, the easy thing is to panic. And that’s what he has not done. We lost two matches [at home] but he’s been the same whether we won or lost. With the bowling changes and everything, he’s been superb.”Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma has delivered in Patidar’s absence due to injury•AFP/Getty ImagesPatidar, however, has not been able to field – and therefore captain – since the IPL resumed due to a hand injury. He shares a close rapport with Jitesh, who has stepped up to lead in two high-pressure games.Jitesh’s high-impact performance that took RCB into Qualifier 1 may have been the final piece RCB were looking for ahead of the playoffs. The game against LSG began with a mix-up at the toss – Jitesh handed over the batting-first XI when RCB were in fact bowling – which needed Rishabh Pant’s sign off to fix. He had another bit of luck on 49, when he was caught off a no-ball, and went on to close out the game.Jitesh’s rise has been the result of hard work behind the scenes. In January and February, he attended training camps led by Karthik and Flower, where he worked on developing shots that he previously believed were beyond him – like the reverse ramp that he now plays consistently.”It’s been a great journey till now because in the off-season, I really worked hard with DK [Karthik],” Jitesh had said during the season. “I think whichever shot I am playing right now is the replica of what he used to play. He is trying to create a new player in me, because he believes that I can play 360 degrees. I am really enjoying myself in this new role.”Another player RCB invested heavily in was Devdutt Padikkal, whom they earmarked as their No. 3. After struggling for role clarity at RR and LSG, he returned to RCB with his IPL career at a loose end. The message to him was clear: he could no longer be an accumulator of runs. Until his season-ending injury, Padikkal had scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.60. His previous best strike-rate in a season was 130.50 in 2023.Josh Hazlewood is likely to return after an injury layoff for the playoffs•Getty Images”If you look at the top order in the last few seasons, we had to do bulk of the scoring,” Kohli said after Padikkal scored a 35-ball 61 against PBKS. “But this time around, it feels like even if someone gets out, like in Chennai, guys can still keep carrying on with that momentum and keep counterattacking, like in Mumbai as well. It feels very balanced.”

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In hindsight, the restraint RCB showed during the auction, refusing to get caught up in bidding wars for Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul, was important. Except for an audacious bid for Venkatesh Iyer that didn’t go their way, they stuck to carefully considered spending brackets, choosing structure over stardom. This clarity helped assemble an effective pace attack in Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar and Dayal, whom they had retained.Until his previous game at the end of April, Hazlewood had the second-best economy for a fast bowler in the powerplay among those who bowled at least five overs in that phase. He was also in the running for the Purple Cap until a shoulder niggle kept him out of their last three league games. His 18 wickets have come with an economy of 8.44 and are spread out across phases: seven in the powerplay, five in the middle overs, and six at the death.”I think we’ve got highly skilled quicks in particular,” Hazlewood had said during the season. “To bowl with someone like Bhuvi, who has been around for so long, he’s so skillful at the start and end, it’s great to learn from him. Just the variety we’ve got, we [him, Bhuvneshwar and Yash Dayal] are all a bit different.”RCB’s biggest weakness from the outside was their spin attack, but Suyash has delivered impactful spells and Krunal Pandya has taken 15 wickets, his best returns in an IPL season. Pandya is among their eight different Player-of-the-Match award winners this season.Two wins stand between them and their goal, but in a format as fickle as T20 cricket, as long as they stay true to their new ethos in upcoming challenges, it should be recognised that RCB’s class of 2025 has been different to all that has come before.

Thanks to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s reverse-swing heroics, they might just have found the blueprint to win even outside spin-friendly conditions

Danyal Rasool15-Oct-2025Twenty wickets. Pakistan captain Shan Masood has concerned himself with no other number ever since England inflicted a chastening innings defeat on his side a year ago, running up the fourth highest total in Test history in the process. It was, according to Masood, the only way to win Test matches, and thereafter, Pakistan began preparing spin tracks which would just about guarantee the fall of 20 wickets.It has turned around the fortunes of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who took almost every one of those wickets in the past four home Tests, but Masood will take those wickets however they come. The denouement to the first Test, which Pakistan won by 93 runs, was dominated by Shaheen Afridi, who exploited the old, reversing ball, taking four in the innings – more than Pakistani pace bowlers have taken in the last four home Tests combined. It included the final three, Afridi trapping Kyle Verreynne before making a mess of the stumps for the final two.Related

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For Masood, this offered evidence that there was more than one way of breaking through on this surface. “It’s simple for me,” he said after the game. “Shaheen took four wickets [in the fourth innings]. He’s put in the effort and bowled extraordinarily well. He’s shown why he’s in the world’s best fast bowlers. On these pitches, fast bowlers don’t vanish, their role changes.”The World Test Championship will not be played in uniform conditions; they will be played in different conditions against different teams. We can’t look at one Test and extrapolate to the next two years. We have to play in England and the West Indies with the Duke ball. Bangladesh beat us in seam-friendly conditions so maybe they’ll give us seaming conditions there too. Fast bowlers’ role is not being phased out; we’re expanding the ways we can win Test matches. That’s why we played two fast bowlers, and Shaheen showed us exactly how.”On more than one occasion in the fourth innings, Masood admitted to some degree of “anxiety” after Pakistan had repeatedly failed to put the visitors away once and for all. Overnight, Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi had gutsed their way to an unbeaten overnight stand after the pair offered the most potent resistance in the first dig. Masood started the day with Afridi, who found reverse to bring the fourth ball in, hitting de Zorzi dead in front.Three hours later, South Africa had begun to sneak back into contention with another little stand for the eighth wicket, compiling 29 runs as the target neared double digits. Once more, Afridi’s introduction brought immediate relief; he would need 11 balls to take three wickets.”When we were discussing the game on the field, Shaheen said “I will turn this match around for you”. We waited for the ball to get older. Obviously not bowling him with the new ball is a big decision. We trusted him, and he demanded the ball, and then he delivered for us. The way he bowled, we’re all excited; it was a superb fast bowling display.”Masood also pointed to his team’s composition as evidence that Pakistan were not looking only to spin their way to victory. He said they had unwittingly ended up going overboard in the series against the West Indies, where prodigious turn on surfaces in Multan that broke up right from the outset ended up with the side that won the toss winning the game. Spin operated almost exclusively from start to finish that series, which ended square 1-1.In Lahore, Pakistan believed there was enough in it for the quicks to field two of them, with Hasan Ali also taking part. It is a combination Masood hinted they might stick with for the second Test in Rawalpindi, calling them “the best exponents of reverse swing in Pakistan.””We’ll collectively admit that the conditions against the West Indies were too extreme. The bowling attacks were evened out because of the conditions. Batting was difficult, and the toss and the first innings lead mattered a lot. This pitch was very similar to the Test we played in Pindi. When a batter set himself he had an opportunity to go on and get good runs here. South Africa also showed when batters are set, it looks like batting is straightforward.Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early on day four•Getty Images”When Brevis and Rickelton were batting and the target dropped below 150, that felt like a stressful situation. But the bowler’s always in the game. Our pacers also contributed. Shaheen bowled extraordinarily well. If you want to do well in the WTC and the Test team, we will need performances from all departments, and we got that this Test.”Masood knows the challenge his side has just overcome, and while much of it does come down to the toss, South Africa are coming off the best winning run in their team’s history. They had won 10 Tests on the trot, including two against Pakistan at home as well as the World Test Championship final against Australia, and gave Pakistan the biggest fright of a side losing the toss since Pakistan started preparing wickets of this nature.For the Pakistan captain, it was proof both of the strides he is convinced his side is making, as well as the notion that the toss does not decide the game. “Our focus has always been on how we’re improving as a side. Getting a result is a huge deal. We’ve taken a strong start in the WTC final, and we need to build on it.”In the last year, when we played against England in Multan, we won the toss on a used pitch. When we won the match, England said it’d be interesting what happens when Pakistan lose the toss, and then we still beat them. The toss isn’t in our hands or South Africa’s hands. It evens out in cricket long-term. In Pindi, I challenged the side to reveal their character even if we lost the toss. And we did showcase that with one of our best Test performances last cycle with Saud Shakeel playing an excellent knock and the lower order complementing him. I’ll always tell the side to show how we can play our first innings well even when we lose the toss. If we lose the toss, we’ll have a plan for how to win the next game.”Whatever that plan is, 20 opposition wickets is set to be at the heart of it.

Pakistan unravelled after Babar fell on the fourth morning, all down to a plan Harmer had in memory from a county game back in 2019

Danyal Rasool23-Oct-2025While Pakistan preferred to keep their lead left-arm spinner away from the left-handers during South Africa’s last-wicket stand, the visitors had no such qualms about spinning the ball into the batter. With Pakistan having put up late resistance on the third evening after a bruising day, they began the fourth with Babar Azam, one shy of a half-century, along with Mohammad Rizwan in the middle. Faced with two right-handers , Aiden Markram gave the ball to offspinner Simon Harmer.Harmer began the fourth morning with 996 first-class wickets. He’d bowled to just about everyone in every situation over his 16-year first-class career. That included Babar when he had a stint with Somerset in 2019, and remembered what had discomfited the Pakistan batter.”I just felt it was probably more dangerous for him and made him less comfortable when I was bowling from around the wicket,” Harmer said after South Africa’s eight-wicket win in Rawalpindi.There were more game-specific considerations, too. Pakistan had erased South Africa’s lead by now, and were mindful of the value of runs. South Africa knew they could not pack the close field with more men. “In the subcontinent, as an offspinner to a right-hander, you’ve got a lot of turn from outside the line of the stumps,” Harmer said. “So batters can easily take modes of dismissal away. We were obviously very mindful of the lead. We didn’t want it to get away from us. We were trying to attack and not leak runs. So you can’t carry extra catchers around the bat.Related

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“I felt that the ball from that end specifically was spinning from straight. So if I came around the wicket and if they didn’t want to score square, it kept the stumps in play, whereas from over the wicket they could get outside the line.”It also made it trickier for Babar to get himself onto the front foot off any length. Babar clipped the second ball of the day off the back foot into the onside to get to 50. But when Harmer pitched it slightly further up, he still went back. The ball kept low, hitting him beneath the knee roll.With Harmer starting around off, there was enough room to land the ball on middle and spin away from Babar’s bat without deviating too far out of the line of the stumps. Babar reviewed, but the DRS returned three reds. It was the 29th ball Harmer had bowled to Babar around the wicket this Test, conceding nearly a run fewer per over from that angle than from over the wicket.Pakistan’s offspinner Sajid Khan, meanwhile, does not enjoy the same comfort coming around the wicket to the right-hander. He had by far his most subdued series since Pakistan’s turn to spin tracks, taking six wickets across the two Tests and just 1 for 134 in Rawalpindi. Against right-handers, he went around the wicket for just seven balls all Test, and 11 all series. Pitted against Harmer’s experience, Sajid’s ideas for creating opportunities looked rather pedestrian.Babar’s dismissal, though, was only the beginning of a near-perfect day for Harmer. He went on to take six in the innings, getting to 1000 first-class wickets along the way. But it was all unlocked thanks to a little memory holed away from a game in Chelmsford in the late English summer, deployed to clinical effect in the early Pakistani winter.

Manchester United have kept their unbeaten run going by the skin of their teeth. The Red Devils drew 2-2 away to Tottenham Hotspur, and it took a late goal from Matthijs de Ligt to secure the point and extend the unbeaten run to five games.

Indeed, the Dutchman’s strike in the 96th minute was enough to bail his side out of yet another defeat under Ruben Amorim, although they had previously led in the game.

Bryan Mbeumo scored a header which put United 1-0 up at halftime.

However, Spurs struck back after lots of pressure in the second half. First, Mathys Tel fired home, with his effort flicking off De Ligt’s foot and into the back of Senne Lammens’ goal.

Richarlison thought he had won it in the 91st minute with a clever header, before United’s number four cancelled his goal out moments later.

It was a largely uninspiring performance from United. They played an incredibly passive game, happy to let Spurs dominate the ball. In total, Amorim’s side had just five shots, with the only two that were on target ending up in the back of the net.

Their first goalscorer, Mbeumo, continued his fine form in front of goal.

Bryan Mbeumo’s stats vs. Spurs

October’s Premier League player of the month is off the mark in November. Mbeumo has been one of the signings of the season, and now has seven goals and assists in just 12 games for the Red Devils.

His strike on Saturday lunchtime away to Spurs was one of good centre-forward play and a deft touch.

The United number 19 got in between two Lilywhites defenders, before glancing his header home into the back of the net.

That was not Mbeumo’s only positive contribution against Spurs, though. He was a constant problem for the opposition defence, having 44 touches and making three passes into the final third.

The attacker was excellent off the ball, too, and made four recoveries.

As well as the 26-year-old played against Spurs, however, there was a United player who arguably outshone him.

United’s standout player vs. Spurs

United’s draw away to Spurs was certainly frustrating. Amorim was critical of his side post-match, explaining that “we should do better, be more aggressive, feel the environment in the stadium, the three points were there.”

Chalkboard

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

However, one player, like Mbeumo, who stood out, was Amad. It was a different role for the Ivorian from the start today, operating as the right number 10 rather than at wing-back.

However, he was his usual energetic self, posing a threat going forward and worked hard defensively.

In fact, it was the attacker’s cross from which Mbeumo scored. What a delightful ball it was, too. Amad picked the ball up just inside the Spurs’ penalty area, lifting his cross from a standing position to the back post for his teammate to guide home.

That was one of two chances he created, on an afternoon where he also played four passes into Spurs’ third.

Touches

48

Passes completed

23/32

Duels won

7

Ball recoveries

5

Passes into final third

4

Chances created

2

Assists

1

Amad’s excellent performance certainly stood out, with journalist Liam Canning saying it was an “unbelievable” showing from the Ivorian attacker, while lauding him as the actual man of the match.

There is certainly a case to be made that Amad is becoming Amorim’s new version of Bruno Fernandes. Often, it is the Portuguese attacker who has shouldered the creative burden at United. Yet, it has been different this season, with the captain’s three assists matched by Amad.

A reason for that could be the role United’s manager uses his skipper in. A number 10 by trade, Fernandes now plays deeper in the pivot, and with their number 16 operating high and wide at wing-back or in the pockets as a number 10. He is certainly far more involved in the final third.

This is not a bad thing for United, who have relied solely on Fernandes for too many years. But, Amad is certainly taking up more creative responsibility, and is slowly becoming their new version of Fernandes.

Forget Cunha & Mbeumo: "Explosive" Man Utd star is coded for the Fergie era

This Man Utd ace could have thrived under Sir Alex Ferguson

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 6, 2025

Hampshire heavily beaten after batting line-up misfires

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Aug-2025Worcestershire 196 for 5 (D’Oliveira 52, Jack 2-34) beat Hampshire 194 (Gubbins 60, Allison 6-35) Ben Allison’s career best figures of 6 for 35 helped Worcestershire secure a comfortable five-wicket win over Hampshire in Group A of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Allison bowled with pace and control from the outset, as regular wickets stunted Hampshire’s progress, with Nick Gubbins’ half-century the highlight in Hampshire’s total of 194 all out.In reply, a composed 52 from Brett D’Oliveira and thirties from Kashif Ali and Jake Libby put the hosts in control of their chase as Hampshire’s bowlers struggled. A quickfire cameo from Ethan Brookes saw Worcestershire ease their way to a convincing five-wicket win and continue their unbeaten start to the group stage.Allison pushed the home side in front early as he drew Ali Orr into an unnecessary waft at a full delivery outside his off stump in the first over of the contest, shortly before producing a peach of a delivery to account for the vital wicket of Tilak Varma, without scoring. Hampshire rallied from 14 for 2, with Gubbins taking his side past 50 without further cause for concern in sublime batting conditions at New Road.Scotland’s Brandon McMullen (29) gave his wicket away after a promising start, but Gubbins continued his fine solo efforts, raising his bat after passing fifty for the second time in this year’s One-Day Cup. Joe Weatherley’s afternoon was brought to a premature end when he was in single figures, as he retired hurt, unable to continue having been struck on the hand earlier in his innings.Gubbins’ classy knock saw him relatively unphased, stroking nine boundaries on his way to 60, but when Ethan Brookes trapped the opener LBW in front with a darting, full ball, the home side were back on an even keel, with Hampshire 115 for 4.Worcestershire youngster, Jack Home, making his first appearance of the season for the Rapids, returned to the action after a turbulent two-over spell earlier on in the piece to spark the biggest reaction from the crowd of the day when he zipped a ball through the defences of England U19 teammate Ben Mayes, watching a shard of middle stump fall victim of his pace, as the home side tightened their grip on the first-innings.File photo: Ben Allison takes the plaudits•Getty ImagesAt 121 for 5 and faltering on the back of the metronomic Brookes’ spell, a sixth-wicket partnership of 62 between Tom Prest and Felix Organ provided some stability for the visitors.But Worcestershire hit back, with the impressive Allison taking the wickets of both aforementioned batters in the 38th over, with a stunning caught and bowled spelling the end for Prest on 36. The seamer capped a sensational day with two more wickets in his final over, as he returned career-best figures of 6 for 35 to bundle Hampshire out for a below-par 194.Isaac Mohammed fell early in the reply when he was LBW for 10, but Kashif Ali and Brett D’Oliveira put on 59 for the third wicket, with Kashif continuing his excellent run in the competition as he searched for a third consecutive half-century.He perished 14 runs short of the milestone however when he found Prest at mid-off, but his departure didn’t halt Worcestershire’s momentum as they batted on past 100 in the 22nd over.D’Oliveira made his way to a composed half-century from 79 balls as Worcestershire strolled through the middle overs, but Hampshire had a brief moment of optimism McMullen struck in the 30th over to see the back of D’Oliveira.Brookes’ quick fire cameo of 35 from 24 balls propelled the home side up to 168 for 4, as the late loss of he and Libby (32) did not derail what was a comfortable chase with the Rapids securing a five-wicket win with more than ten overs in tact.

Tottenham Hotspur have some painful attacking teething problems under Thomas Frank. Everything is relative, and there are variables at play, but the struggle to impress on the playmaking front is becoming an unwelcome narrative for the club this season.

But that aside, there is also the sense that purses may need to be pulled out for a new centre-forward in 2026. It feels like Richarlison’s days are numbered at number nine, and Dominic Solanke hasn’t fared all that well since his £55m move from Bournemouth last year, too often injured and too often unconvincing.

Both strikers are 28 years old, and while service has proved thin in recent months, Tottenham will need to consider their options in January.

There is another solution, of course. Randal Kolo Muani appears to have replaced Richarlison as Frank’s first-choice frontman, having started two games in a row in the Premier League.

But, unless a formula is discovered to support him, the Frenchman’s season-long loan spell is going to be a forgettable one.

Randal Kolo Muani's opportunity to shine

Tottenham have more than their share of issues at the moment. It’s an interesting one. They are more stable with Frank at the helm, competitive at the upper end of the Premier League and unbeaten on their return to the Champions League, three games in.

But we cannot ignore the depletion of creativity that has left things feeling rather pedestrian, and even with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined since the start of the campaign and a distance away from returning, there is much to improve upon down N17.

Kolo Muani has not scored or assisted across his six outings in a Spurs shirt so far, and the 26-year-old may well feel somewhat aggrieved by the lack of service that came his way against Chelsea, taking only 16 touches across 76 minutes of action, creating a chance and getting stuck in but failing to unleash a single shot (as per Sofascore).

One content creator acknowledged the Les Bleus star for his exciting, progressive efforts when on the ball. However, such efforts were, as stated, few and far between, and he said it “must be absolutely horrible playing up front for this team”.

(1) Crystal Palace

13

18.2

(2) Man City

18

17.8

(3) Man United

15

17.5

(4) Chelsea

18

17.1

(5) Arsenal

18

16.9

(=5) Liverpool

18

16.9

(15) Tottenham

16

10.1

Tottenham don’t create enough chances, and this is impeding Kolo Muani in his desire to get going in white. However, given that he’s only here for the season, it’s unlikely a permanent deal would be explored if things continue as they are.

Especially when the Lilywhites have an exciting up-and-comer making his way toward the surface.

The Spurs talent who could end Kolo Muani's stay

Tottenham have long boasted one of the most efficient production lines in Europe, and Mason Melia is set to make his way as the latest in this long line of hopefuls.

However, while the pathway from youth to professional football is long and treacherous, Melia is regarded as a rising star with the potential to nail down a place under Frank’s wing, with The Athletic’s Connor O’Neill saying he’s “easily the best young talent I have seen in the League of Ireland”.

The 18-year-old striker has already played 98 senior matches for St. Patrick’s Athletic, scoring 25 goals and registering eight assists. Across the 2024/25 campaign, he posted 14 goals and four assists. As a Republic of Ireland U21 international, he has bagged three goals from just four caps so far.

Both confident in front of goal and athletic enough to drive into the danger area himself, not reliant on his creative teammates, Melia could provide a tonic to Spurs’ current tactical pecadillos, lacking as they are in attack.

He is very young, of course, and could hardly be expected to waltz in and prove an instant upgrade on an established European star like Kolo Muani, but Harry Kane proved in the past that a young striker stands a chance of succeeding where senior peers fail.

Tottenham signed the teenager earlier in 2025 for a record-breaking £3m fee, making him the most expensive footballer to leave Ireland’s top flight. However, he has yet to wear the Spurs shirt in a professional capacity, having agreed to leave his homeland in January 2026.

St. Pat’s’ Young Player of the Year last season, he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Irish football, with his touch and speed and awareness in the final third all suggesting he has the bearing of a Premier League-level striker.

Given the paucity of reliable options in the final third at Tottenham right now, and with Richarlison among those slated to leave next year, Melia could find himself fast-tracked under Frank’s wing, earning regular opportunities in the first team and potentially even outperforming someone like Kolo Muani, who must continue adapting to the English game himself.

Tottenham might need to play the waiting game for now, but with Melia set to arrive in just a few months, he may find himself earning a string of opportunities before the end of the campaign.

And should he impress as if talent suggests is within his capacity, then it’s hardly out of the question to imagine that Melia could be leading the line in the not-too-distant future.

Not just Simons: Spurs dud is becoming one of their worst-ever signings

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have got it all wrong with the addition of one first-team member.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025

Across every major event in Carse’s professional career, there has been one recurring presence – Stokes

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Dec-2024There was a point on Saturday afternoon, as Brydon Carse was walking back to the top of his mark, that he turned to his captain. The fields were fine and the plans clear, but Carse had noticed something he wanted to relay.The grass banks were throbbing with anticipation, the air filled with that loud hum you get when a bowler is in the midst of a Test-tilting spell. This one in particular aimed at New Zealand’s middle order. “This is pretty cool,” said Carse – the man responsible – without breaking stride.”Just lap it all up and take it in,” replied Ben Stokes, “because this pretty special.”Related

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About 24 hours later, both Carse – player of the match gong in his possession – and Stokes were sat on the outfield of a now empty Hagley Oval, quiet but for idle conversation and the noise of team-mates kicking around a football. Beers in hand, smiles on the go. This, too, was something to lap up.England had beaten New Zealand – for just the second time in 11 matches on their patch – and Carse had driven it with a match-wide 10 for 106 of historical and cultural significance. All under the guidance of a close friend.An England bowler has not taken a ten-for overseas in the last 12 years before Carse took four in the first innings and added six in the second, with the final three arriving on the final day. You have to go even further back – to Ryan Sidebottom in Hamilton in 2008 – for the last time a seamer did so.Neither James Anderson nor Stuart Broad could manage it, and they played 151 away Tests between them. Carse has done it in just three attempts.

“He’s turned out to be the cricketer I always thought he could be.”Ben Stokes on Brydon Carse

His first three, by the way, which is part coincidence and circumstance. It has not been a straightforward journey.”Timing is obviously everything,” Carse said, reflecting on this first crack of Test cricket in which he currently boasts 19 wickets at an average of 17.10. “I’ve had my fair share of bad luck with certain things. I don’t want to say I knew this day would come, but I was always ambitious to think I can play cricket and I can play at that level. I’m just very proud of today’s performance.”The principle of time is an important one as far as Carse’s story goes. Because across every major event in his professional career, there has been one recurring presence – Stokes. Guardian angel might be lacing that with too much narrative. But Carse’s Test captain was also his first international captain, when a debut sprung out of the blue in 2021. Covid forced a complete squad change for a home ODI series against Pakistan. Stokes, who was recovering from a broken finger, was drafted in to run the ringers.A two-year central contract in 2023 came on merit, but it helped that Stokes had been tipping Carse as one to watch, particularly for Test cricket despite a modest first-class record for Durham, with an average of 33.25 from 44 domestic matches. Ironically, it was Stokes’ delay in returning from a hamstring tear that handed Carse his debut in the first Test of the Pakistan tour. Stokes had the honour of bestowing Carse with cap No. 717. Nine impressive wickets on tough decks underlined the qualities that had not been made clear on the county circuit.

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