Category Uncategorized

The allrounder has had immense success in the last month, and Zimbabwe are winning because of it

Mohammad Isam08-Aug-2022Sikandar Raza’s shriek from the middle as soon as Tony Munyonga struck the winning runs in the second ODI on Sunday pierced through the din at the Harare Sports Club. His excitement was understandable. Raza had just led Zimbabwe to their first ODI series win against Bangladesh in nine years, nailing two tough chases in the space of three days. It was Raza’s weekend and his month, as he enjoyed the sort of batting form rarely seen in Zimbabwe.In just four weeks, Raza has scored 607 runs across formats at an average of 101.16, with two centuries and four fifties, coupled with 11 wickets at 22.18 apiece. Along the way, he was part of two record partnerships, bagged figures of 4 for 8 in the final of the T20 World Cup qualifiers, and took some key catches.Simply put, Raza has been the main reason for Zimbabwe’s transformation from a side that suffered shattering defeats against Afghanistan and Namibia earlier this year to one that has beaten Bangladesh in both T20Is and ODIs. He was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, the Player of the Series for the T20Is against Bangladesh, and must be the frontrunner for the award in the ODIs too.When Raza was playing a T20 tournament in Rajshahi, in Bangladesh, this June, little did he know how much his life would change in the coming months. At the time, qualifying for the T20 World Cup was his only concern. He fretted thinking about the heartbreak of 2019. At the age of 36, this was his make-or-break moment. And how he has pulled it off will likely become part of Zimbabwe cricket folklore.After his unbeaten 135 ensured Zimbabwe chased down 304 in the opening ODI against Bangladesh, Raza raised his game in the second match. Along with the new captain Regis Chakabva, he took Zimbabwe from 49 for 4 in the 15th over to a win with 15 balls to spare on Sunday. Raza had earlier taken 3 for 56 to restrict Bangladesh in the death overs.The big crowds in Harare and Bulawayo were witness to Raza’s heroics in the last four weeks. He started with a 40-ball 87 against Singapore in a T20I and his last knock was 117 not out on Sunday. A bowling attack strengthened by left-arm spin couldn’t stop him. He methodically took apart the Bangladesh attack – going after the best bowler of the day Hasan Mahmud – and rotated the strike consistently to ensure his partners never got stuck at one end.Sikandar Raza did another repair job on Sunday, for the second ODI in a row•Associated PressIn all these recent matches, Raza helped Zimbabwe stay ahead in the game, giving the impression that a big over was just around the corner. That threat made opposition captains and bowlers think, rethink, and overthink their plans against him. Luck, too, played its part. Raza survived chances in the 40s in both ODIs against Bangladesh but as the saying goes, fortune favours the brave. And Raza has been brave.What has made this success sweeter for Raza is how it has helped his team, and how he has overcome personal difficulty. Last year, Raza had a bone marrow infection in his right shoulder that was suspected to be cancerous. His return three months later was fraught with doubt because he wasn’t sure whether he could bowl or even throw properly. Raza changed his bowling action to accommodate the problem, and he has recovered to a great degree.Now, he is in line to win his third successive Player-of-the-Series/Tournament award. If he does, he will become only the third Zimbabwean to win four series awards, after Heath Streak and Andy Flower. In a recent interview, Raza said he never compares himself to those legends, including Brendan Taylor, but his performances do warrant some comparison.Flower’s 540 runs against India in the 2000-01 Test series certainly comes to mind. He rose to No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings later that year, and is considered Zimbabwe’s greatest batter of all time. Taylor’s two centuries in the 2015 ODI World Cup, averaging over 72 in the tournament, were celebrated, while Neil Johnson had a dreamy 1999 World Cup campaign. Current coach Dave Houghton played historic knocks, so did Duncan Fletcher way back in 1983.Zimbabwe’s struggles in the last 15 years adds more sheen to Raza’s runs and wickets. They don’t play a lot of high-profile cricket: they haven’t toured England since 2003, and Australia are hosting them for the first time this year since 2004. The ICC had even suspended Zimbabwe briefly. They failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup.Raza is now giving Zimbabwe cricket fans something to cheer about, and his form bodes well ahead of tougher assignments against India and Australia later this month, but breaking Bangladesh’s run of five straight ODI series wins is an achievement too. Raza did it without most of Zimbabwe’s senior players around him but his form helped the other batters: Innocent Kaia and Chakabva both scored their maiden ODI tons in this series.Raza’s personal success is a fine example of perseverance and self-belief shining through. But his success has led to success for Zimbabwe. And that’s perhaps the biggest deal.

Players who discovered that home isn’t where the art is

Mohammad Isam27-May-2020Gehan Mendis
Born in Colombo, Gehan Mendis moved to the UK when he was 12. His prime as a cricketer coincided with Sri Lanka’s ascent as a Test team, but despite his vast first-class experience and his widely regarded skill against fast bowling, Mendis never represented his country of birth. Part of that was because he held out hope of playing for England, but also, he did not want to lose his status as a local player in county cricket. Between 1974 and 1993, he played 366 first-class games and 313 List A games in England, for Sussex and Lancashire, scoring more than 20,000 first-class runs, with 41 centuries.Cardigan Connor
Professional cricket did not pick up in the Caribbean island of Anguilla until late 2007. The first competitive cricket recorded in the island was in 1977, so when an 18-year old Cardigan Connor decided to take his fast-bowling skills to England in 1979, the move made sense. Since Anguilla is a British overseas territory, he was eligible to play county cricket as a local, and he became one of the lesser-known feel-good stories from the 1980s. After making his first-class debut in 1984, Connor took more than 1000 wickets for Hampshire in all competitions, was briefly considered for an England one-day spot and walked away with £147,000 ($180,250) from his benefit year. Connor was much loved in Hove. Later in life, he coached Anguilla before becoming an administrator and politician there.Basil D’Oliveira, seen here batting in a Test against Pakistan in 1967, played 44 Tests for England after moving there from South Africa at the age of 29•Getty ImagesKevin Pietersen
The poster child of modern-day migrant cricketers, Pietersen moved from South Africa to England in 2000, aged 20. When, in December 1999, he bowled 55.5 overs for KwaZulu-Natal against a touring England side, dismissing Michael Vaughan among four wickets, he would not have known what an important figure he would end up becoming for the opposition. Less than a year later, he signed for Nottinghamshire as a Kolpak player, and made his county debut in 2001.Pietersen’s decision was fuelled by worries that he may not get to represent South Africa due to their diversity targets. He found support in mentor Clive Rice, then director of cricket at Notts. His success in England paved the way for many other South Africans – Kyle Abbott, Simon Harmer, Rilee Rossouw and Duanne Olivier among them – to make the move to England in later years.Basil D’Oliveira
Before Kevin Pietersen, there was Basil D’Oliveira, whose journey from Cape Town to England’s West Midlands made him one of the most important figures in cricket history. Being a Cape Coloured, D’Oliveira was not permitted to play for South Africa during apartheid, but on broadcast-writer John Arlott’s insistence, Middleton, a Central Lancashire League club, signed him as a professional in 1960, when he was 29, rescuing his career. Worcestershire contracted him four years later, and in 1966 he made his Test debut for England.The most significant moment in D’Oliveira’s career came when, after scoring a match-saving 158 at the Oval in the 1968 Ashes series, he was expected to be a part of the MCC squad to tour South Africa in 1968-69. His initial omission sparked an outcry in the England, and when he was later picked as a replacement, the South African regime declared it a political move and said they would not admit the team’s entry into their country. The MCC ended up cancelling the tour, and the cricket world boycotted South Africa until the end of apartheid.D’Oliveira, who passed away in 2011, said he never intended to set so many wheels in motion. His on-field performances ensured he would be remembered for more than just the controversy that surrounded him. With nearly 2500 Test runs and 47 Test wickets to go with his 19,490 first-class runs and 551 first-class wickets, he is considered one of cricket’s great allrounders.Billy Ibadulla (left) opened the batting for Warwickshire alongside Bob Barber for long stretches in the 1960s•Getty ImagesKhalid Ibadulla
An opening batsman and offspinner, Khalid “Billy” Ibadulla was born in Lahore but ended up playing more matches against Pakistan than for them. At just 17, he was picked in a Pakistan touring squad, but missed out on the 1954 Pakistan tour of India, which, according to Peter Oborne’s , left him “bitterly disappointed”. He sought a career in England and became Pakistan’s first professional cricketer in the county circuit, debuting for Warwickshire in 1954. After success in England, Ibadulla did make his Test debut for Pakistan, in 1964, and scored 166 against Australia in Karachi. But he played just three more Tests for his home country, owing to first-class commitments in England and New Zealand, where he played for Otago.He played many matches against Pakistan, as part of a Commonwealth XI tour in 1963, and one for Otago in January 1965 in the Plunket Shield. Just a month later, he switched sides and played for Pakistan in a Test against New Zealand. He repeated the feat during Pakistan’s England tour in 1967, when he played for Warwickshire in a tour game and then for Pakistan during the Test series. He ended his career with more than 17,000 first-class runs and 462 wickets.Jofra Archer
One of the hottest young talents in world cricket might have played for West Indies if Barbados-born England seamer Chris Jordan hadn’t alerted Sussex to his abilities in 2013. By then, Archer had played three matches for West Indies Under-19 and seemed on track to play in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup. Instead, he moved to England in the spring of 2014 and declared his intention to play for his new country. Within five years, he would become one of the stars of the 2019 World Cup and make his Test debut for England too.

مع اقتراب موعد قرعة كأس العالم 2026 في الولايات المتحدة والمكسيك وكندا، وصل ليونيل سكالوني مدرب منتخب الأرجنتين إلى واشنطن لحضورها وتحدث عن المنتخب الأرجنتيني بطل مونديال 2022 في قطر.

وأكد سكالوني بأن يركز فقط على أن يصل لاعبو المنتخب الأرجنتيني إلى كأس العالم بحالة جيدة، وعلق على موعد مباراة نهائي الفايناليسما أمام منتخب إسبانيا.

وقال سكالوني في تصريحات نشرتها “TYC SPORTS” الأرجنتينية: “بالمقارنة مع القرعة السابقة أشعر براحة أكبر، لم تكن جميع حساباتنا في مصلحتنا في كأس العالم الأخيرة”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. كولينا يوضح موقفه من استخدام تقنية الفار في الركلات الركنية خلال كأس العالم 2026

وأضاف: “الأهم أن ندرك أنه إذا كنت تريد تحقيق أي شيء يجب مواجهة الأفضل وفي كأس العالم ستكون هناك العديد من المنتخبات الجيدة”.

وكان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم قد قرر أن الفرق الأعلى تصنيفاً قبل القرعة ستتجنب مواجهة بعضها البعض في المراحل الأولى من البطولة ولذا لن تلتقي على سبيل المثال الأرجنتين ضد إسبانيا إلا في نهائي افتراضي بشرط أن يحتل كل منهما المركز الأول في مجموعته، ومع ذلك لم يهتم سكالوني لهذه الميزة: “هناك العديد من الفرق الجيدة، انها غير مقتصرة فقط على المنتخبات الأربعة الأولى، هناك الكثير من المنتخبات القادرة على المنافسة، من ربع النهائي فصاعداً سيكون هناك دائماً خصوم أقوياء”.

وواصل سكالوني عن حالة لاعبيه البدنية: “نحن بخير، إن كان علي أن أقول شيئاً يسعدني، هو أننا مازالنا نكافح كما لو أننا لم نحقق أي فوز بعد، الآن همي الوحيد أن يصل اللاعبون في حالة بدنية جيدة”.

وسئل سكالوني عن قرار ميسي بالمشاركة في كأس العالم 2026: “سيقرر، وسندعم أي قرار يتخذه، في الوقت الحالي كل شئ يسير على ما يرام ولكن لا يزال هناك وقت، على الرغم من أن الأمر أصبح قريباً، إلا أن ستة أشهر في عالم كرة القدم تعتبر فترة طويلة، نأمل أن يكون ميسي بصحة جيدة وأن يتخذ قراره الأمثل، هو يستحق حقه في اتخاذ القرار”.

وأعرب سكالوني عن أسفه لعدم إقامة نهائي الفايناليسما ضد منتخب إسبانيا حتى الآن :”كان من الممكن أن تقام في وقت مبكر، الآن ننتظر ولم نتلق أي اخبار، سافرت مع لويس دي لا فوينتي وهو صديقي والذي منحني دورة تدريبية، ليس لديه تأكيد حتى الآن أيضاً، لذا دعونا ننتظر ونرى”.

The San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 21-0 on Saturday night. With the latest embarrassing loss, the Rockies have fallen to 6-33 on the season. But as bad as things have gotten, at least the social media team can still get a win by dunking on Bill Belichick.

Shortly after the game went final, the Rockies X account posted the screen-grab of Jordon Hudson interrupting Belichick's interview with to say they weren't going to talk about how they met. It's the perfect thing to post after a 21-run loss to a team in your own division.

For Belichick, this should be a moment worth reflecting on. Much like when Martin scored on Bart Simpson, it's the kind of thing that should make him think about how bad things are going. No matter what the official response from work is.

As for Colorado, they remain on pace to have maybe the worst season ever.

If you were to ask Chelsea fans which position of the team is the weakest, a good number would point to the defence.

After all, Enzo Maresca’s side have scored the second most goals in the Premier League this season, but six teams have conceded fewer goals.

However, to be more specific, the issue is not with the club’s world-class full-back options, but at centre-back, where the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have underwhelmed.

It seems the board are also dissatisfied with the work of their centre-backs, as reports have linked Chelsea with an international icon who could outright replace both of them by next season.

Chelsea target Tosin & Chalobah upgrade

With the transfer window starting to come back into view, more and more reports are linking Chelsea with potential signings.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The likes of the in-form Marcus Rashford and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have been touted for moves to West London in the last week or so.

However, while the pair of them would certainly improve Maresca’s squad, they wouldn’t be upgrades on Tosin or Chalobah, unlike Antonio Rüdiger.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are interested in signing their former defender, who left the club for Real Madrid in 2022.

More than that, the report has revealed that the Blues have already made an offer of around €8m, which is about £7m.

However, while Los Blancos are open to the German leaving as soon as January, they have turned down the offer, deeming it to be too low.

Fortunately, as the 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire in the summer, there is a good chance the two sides will be able to come to a reasonable agreement.

It would be a surprising move, but one Chelsea should follow through with, even if Rüdiger’s return would likely be bad news for Tosin and Chalobah.

Why Rüdiger would spell the end for Tosin and Chalobah

So the first thing to say is that neither Tosin nor Chalobah is a bad defender. In fact, the pair of them are more than serviceable Premier League players who have the track record to prove it.

However, while that might make them perfect players for sides like Fulham, Crystal Palace or even Everton, it’s not enough to see them start regularly for a club the size of Chelsea.

Playing for the Blues means every little mistake, misplaced pass, lapse in concentration is magnified tenfold and can be particularly costly in the pursuit of titles and trophies.

This is why Maresca needs a player like Rüdiger in his squad and why he would ultimately spell the end for the pair of them, as he is a centre-back who has been there, done it and won practically all there is to win.

During his time in West London, for example, he started ten of the club’s 12 games in their triumphant Champions League campaign in 20/21, and just a few years before that was just as vital in their FA Cup victory.

Since then, he has won another UCL title with Real, a La Liga title and a Copa Del Rey, while being called “the best defender in the world” by former teammate Mesut Özil.

Moreover, while he’s barely played this season, that is mostly down to injury, as across all competitions last year, he made 55 appearances, totalling 4539 minutes.

The Berlin-born titan is also still an important part of the national team, amassing 81 senior caps, in which he’s even scored three goals and provided five assists.

Appearances

55

Starts

50

Minutes

4539′

Goals

3

Assists

1

Points per Game

2.11

Finally, another important reason the 6 foot 3 monster would be an excellent signing for the Blues is that he’d be an incredible mentor for both Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong.

In other words, the former Chelsea star could come back and help create the club’s future centre-back partnership.

Ultimately, if Rüdiger returns to Stamford Bridge in January, it would be brilliant for the club, but it would likely signal the end of both Chalobah and Tosin’s time getting regular minutes.

Chelsea have signed an "alien of a talent" who could usurp Estevao & Palmer

The incredible talent could become a bigger star for Chelsea than Estevao and Palmer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 19, 2025

علق أحمد سيد زيزو، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، على الفوز أمام شبيبة القبائل 4-1، في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ولعب النادي الأهلي مع شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، اليوم السبت، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الأولى من عمر منافسات دور المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع|موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة في دوري أبطال إفريقيا بعد الفوز على شبيبة القبائل

وقال زيزو في تصريحات لقناة “بي إن سبورتس”: “نتيجة جيدة في أول مباراة بدور المجموعات، الفريق بدأ يتأقلم على طريقة لعب المدرب الجديد، والنتيجة كان من الممكن أن تكون أكثر لو استغلينا الفرص، لكنها إيجابية وسنبني عليها”.

وتابع: “ما زلت أعاني من بعض الآلام لكن لعبت 75 دقيقة بشكل جيد وسأتابع مع الطبيب قبل المباراة القادمة”.

واختتم: “كل المباريات صعبة، ونحن وقعنا في أقوى مجموعة، ولكن سنأخذها خطوة بخطوة وسنغلق صفحة مباراة اليوم ونركز في المباراة القادمة”.

The Arizona Diamondbacks missed out on the postseason despite winning 89 games in 2024. With their fate out of their hands, the D-Backs found themselves on the outside of the playoffs looking in after the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves split their doubleheader on Monday, resulting in both NL East teams reaching the postseason.

Speaking candidly during an appearance on Arizona Sports radio's Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick took responsibility for one of the team's failed offseason signings.

When discussing the acquisition of starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery, Kendrick admitted that he was responsible for the signing, going as far as to call it a "horrible decision."

"Let me say it the best way I can say it. If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed. Because, I brought it to their attention. I pushed for it, they agreed to it. It wasn't in our game plan," said Kendrick.

"Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did. It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that," he added.

Montgomery, formerly a client of Scott Boras, signed with Arizona after spring training on a one-year, $25 million deal, which includes an option in 2025. He endured the worst campaign of his career, logging a 6.23 ERA across 25 appearances and eventually getting demoted into a bullpen role.

It certainly wasn't the production the Diamondbacks anticipated when bringing him on board. Rather than shift the blame elsewhere, Kendrick took ownership of what was ultimately a catastrophic acquisition for the franchise.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be looking for more of the same from his team when they come up against Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership this evening.

The German boss was serenaded by the Ibrox support last time out when his side beat Kilmarnock 3-1 in his first league match in charge of the Scottish giants.

A devastating 3-0 loss to Brann in the Europa League just days after his arrival last week would have been a real eye-opener for the former Sheffield Wednesday boss, who has walked into a difficult situation.

Russell Martin only won five of his 17 games in charge of the club, conceding 24 goals in that time, and Rohl is tasked with turning the club’s fortunes around, months before any transfer window is available to make changes to the squad.

The German head coach has to work with what is currently available to him, which means that he will have to make ruthless calls for team selections.

For example, he should ruthlessly remove Bojan Miovski from the starting line-up for tonight’s trip to Hibernian after he struggled last time out.

Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped

The Light Blues signed the 26-year-old centre-forward from Girona during the summer transfer window, possibly with the hope that he would carry his form for Aberdeen in Scotland over to his time at Ibrox.

Miovski, as shown in the graphic above, enjoyed a prolific time with the Dons in his two years there, proving that he can score goals on a consistent basis, even against the top teams, like Celtic and Rangers.

Unfortunately, though, the left-footed number nine has only scored one goal in six appearances in the Premiership so far this season for the Light Blues, which came in a 1-1 draw with Falkirk in Martin’s last game in charge.

Rohl opted to go with a front two of Danilo and Miovski for the clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox last time out in the Premiership on Sunday, and the Macedonia international failed to deliver a quality performance before being withdrawn at the break.

Minutes

45

Shots

0

Key passes

0

Touches

9

Possession lost

5

Passes made

2/6

Duels won

1/4

As you can see in the table above, the summer signing from Girona struggled in and out of possession throughout the half, as he offered little in the final third, lost the ball from more than half of his touches, and lost 75% of his physical duels.

It was not a surprise to see Rohl decide to take him off after 45 minutes, because he did not do enough in his time on the pitch to suggest that the second half was going to be better.

Therefore, the German tactician should take him out of the starting XI for this evening’s clash against Hibernian at Easter Road, in the hope that it will motivate him to come off the bench and make an impact, to prove that he deserves to be starting games.

Chalkboard

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

If Miovski is dropped to the bench for Rangers tonight, Rohl could replace him with a like-for-like option in order to keep a front two alongside Danilo, who scored on Sunday.

With this in mind, the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach should unleash summer signing Youssef Chermiti for his first Premiership start.

Why Youssef Chermiti should start for Rangers against Hibernian

The Portugal U21 international should be unleashed from the start in the hope that he is able to kick on after his first goal for the club against Kilmarnock.

Chermiti’s powerful drive from the edge of the box, which was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle, found the back of the net and marked a notable moment in his young career.

It was his first goal at club level since a strike for Sporting against Pacos Ferreira in the Liga Portugal in May 2023, which means that it was his first goal in over two years.

In those two years, Chermiti signed for Everton and failed to provide a single goal or assist in 24 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side, per Transfermarkt, before an £8m move to Rangers in the summer.

Speaking after the win over Kilmarnock, Rohl praised the Portuguese striker: “We will improve him (Chermiti) step by step. He has something special and you saw the goal today.

“He has things to improve, especially in the pressing and intensity and which moments he needs to drop to cover inside and in the middle. But he should enjoy today and the goal and then tomorrow we will work on the next parts of his game.”

It was not just his goal that caught the eye in his cameo against Kilmarnock, though, as the powerful centre-forward showcased what his all-round game can look like at its best.

Minutes

21

45

Shots

1

0

Goals

1

0

Touches

15

9

Possession lost

2x

5x

Key passes

1

0

Pass accuracy

100%

33%

Duels won

2/3

1/4

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti had more touches, fewer losses of possession, more key passes, more duels won, and a higher pass accuracy than Miovski, despite only playing 21 minutes.

These statistics show that the Portuguese youngster provided a presence in the number nine role that the Macedonia international failed to during his first half showing.

This is why Rohl should look to unleash Chermiti from the start against Hibernian, having only made five appearances as a substitute in the league so far, in the hope that his performance last time out will give him the confidence to kick on.

Rohl must drop Aasgaard for star who "was Rangers’ best player" pre-Martin

Danny Rohl must drop Thelo Aasgaard for this Rangers star this evening.

ByDan Emery Oct 29, 2025

Hibs are currently third in the Premiership table and will not be an easy team to face away from home, which is why having the physical presence that Chermiti could provide could be incredibly important for Rohl and Rangers in the game this evening.

Wolves have endured a bruising start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

Six matches in, they sit bottom of the table after losing five and drawing once, that solitary point coming in heartbreaking fashion against Spurs when Joao Palhinha struck a 94th-minute equaliser.

A goal difference of -9 reflects the struggles Vítor Periera’s side have faced both in attack and defence.

The Carabao Cup has offered a rare glimmer of light, with Wolves progressing past Everton to set up a fourth-round clash against Chelsea.

But in the league, their attack remains toothless: their expected goals tally ranks fifth-worst in the division, better only than Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Burnley.

Burnley

4.5

Aston Villa

5.0

West Ham

5.0

Newcastle United

5.2

Wolves

5.6

Wolves must find a spark quickly, and they are already feeling the absence of their departed talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Cunha’s £62.5m exit was compounded by the sale of Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester City for £31m.

Though Wolves managed to retain Jørgen Strand Larsen – who contributed 22% of their goals last season and has since committed his future until 2030 despite heavy interest from Newcastle – Pereira’s squad is still adjusting.

Several arrivals, including Tolu Arokodare, Ladislav Krejci, and John Arias, add depth, but none will be expected to bear the same creative burden that Cunha once carried.

That responsibility may fall on the shoulders of a new arrival.

The loss of Cunha – the man who made it all tick

Cunha was central to Wolves’ survival push last season.

Arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2023, he went on to score 31 goals in 76 appearances across all competitions.

His 2023/24 league campaign was particularly vital: 15 goals and six assists in 33 appearances ensured Wolves had a fighting chance after a bleak first half of the season.

The Brazilian forward was not just about end product; his underlying numbers highlight how complete his game had become.

He averaged 0.48 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, ranking him among the very best attacking midfielders in Europe, and his 3.87 shots per 90 placed him in the 99th percentile.

That volume alone kept defenders occupied, but Cunha also created for others, producing 4.68 shot-creating actions and 5.30 progressive passes per 90.

He combined that with 2.05 successful take-ons per game, showing he could beat a man as well as pick a pass.

For a side that already struggles to generate quality chances, losing his mix of direct shooting threat, creativity, and dribbling power is a hammer blow.

Wolves have not only lost their goalscorer but also the man who made their attack tick.

His sometimes volatile personality – including controversial outbursts on social media directed at fans – was tolerated precisely because of the quality he brought on the pitch.

Wolves' perfect Cunha replacement

Into that void steps Fer Lopez.

Signed from Celta Vigo in the summer for £19m, the 21-year-old Spaniard is being backed to take on the creative mantle.

Still developing, Lopez has already shown at youth level why he is regarded so highly, earning his Spain U21 debut in September.

Wolves see him as a player who, like Cunha once did, can gradually grow into a leader in the final third.

Lopez’s statistical profile underlines his potential. In La Liga last season, he averaged 2.68 shots per 90, enough to place him in the 77th percentile for his position throughout Europe’s top five leagues.

More importantly for Wolves, he created 4.19 shot-creating actions per 90, showing he can be a reliable source of chances for teammates.

His passing metrics are particularly impressive: a completion rate of 83.4% puts him in the 94th percentile, while his 6.52 progressive passes per 90 are elite, ranking in the 93rd percentile.

Add to that 2.33 successful take-ons per 90, and you have a “tremendous ball-carrier” – in the words of one analyst – who is capable of driving through lines and committing defenders.

Matches Played

17

Goals

2

Shot-Creating Actions

30

Progressive Carries

27

Progressive Passes

43

Those metrics echo some of Cunha’s strengths.

Where Cunha was known for his shooting volume and chance creation, Lopez’s passing reliability and ability to progress play stand out.

His 6.52 progressive passes per 90, ranking in the 93rd percentile, indicate a willingness to move the ball quickly through midfield into dangerous zones – something Wolves badly need as their chance creation dries up.

Importantly, Lopez offers versatility. He can operate as an advanced midfielder, threading passes into the front line or drop slightly deeper to dictate play in possession.

His intelligence in tight spaces could become crucial against compact defensive blocks, a recurring obstacle for Wolves last season.

The task of replacing a proven Premier League attacker like Cunha is daunting, especially for a 21-year-old still adapting to English football.

If Wolves are to climb away from the relegation zone, giving Lopez responsibility sooner rather than later may be their best route forward.

With Strand Larsen carrying the goalscoring burden and Lopez supplying the creative spark, Wolves might yet find a way to recalibrate their faltering attack.

USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman opened up about how the upcoming 2026 World Cup influenced his $40 million summer transfer to Bayer Leverkusen, stressing the importance of playing at the highest level in Europe to secure his place in Mauricio Pochettino's squad. Tillman transferred to Leverkusen in July after a standout season at PSV.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  World Cup ambitions shape career decisions

  The 23-year-old midfielder's transfer to Bayer Leverkusen represents one of the most significant moves for an American player in recent years. Tillman, who scored 16 goals for PSV Eindhoven last season, joined the club following Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid. 

  “Obviously if you want to be at the World Cup you have to play as much as you can and be in the best shape possible,” Tillman told Sports Illustrated. “And then obviously it plays a role in coming to [Leverkusen], the surroundings I have here. The system we play, the coach. But then, yeah it’s not my decision if the coach picks me for the World Cup. I just have to give my best to be basically ready for the call up if it comes. I mean obviously that’s the big goal, but I’m here now, it’s about the club now.

  "It’s a long season and as I said, we want to be successful. And want to win titles. And we have to or I have to focus on this first and then the World Cup comes in eight months now, so it’s still a long time to go."

Advertisement

• Building connections within USMNT setup

  Tillman's journey with the USMNT began with a unique challenges as he transitioned from Germany's youth setup to representing the national team at the senior level, especially now under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

  “New team, new surroundings, everything’s new,” Tillman said. "I'd never been to the U.S. before my first camp, so it was also quite special. But yeah, by now I made some good connections there. I was lucky that I knew some guys from a time before, so this also helped me integrate in the team. And we have a new coach now. I have a good connection to him as well.

  “I think we’re very very close compared to other national teams also outside of the pitch, because a lot of guys play together since they’re pretty young. And every one is the same age, this helps connecting to the other guys."

• Gold Cup breakthrough strengthens team

  The 2025 Gold Cup proved transformative for Tillman. His performances in the competition, in which he scored three goals – including one in a crucial group stage win against Haiti – cemented his position as a key figure in Pochettino's plans.

  “If we are one team, if we have close connection and we fight for each other, then we can really achieve things,” Tillman said. “If you look at the squad that we had, maybe some people didn’t expect us to go this far. But as I said, we were very close. We had a lot of fun together, and then in the serious moments, we were serious enough. Also this was the last competitive matches that we had before the World Cup, so this was also very important for us.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tillman poised for World Cup impact

  Returning to Germany with Leverkusen represents a significant step in Tillman's career trajectory just months before the World Cup arrives on American soil.