All posts by h716a5.icu

Tonight is set to be the the biggest nigh in Tottenham Hotspur’s season, if not the biggest this decade.

Ange Postecoglou and his side have the chance to make amends for their horrendous Premier League campaign and write their names into the history books by winning the Europa League tonight.

However, to do that, the North Londoners have to get past Reuben Amorim’s equally desperate Manchester United.

So, to ensure this team have the best chance of winning the club’s first piece of major silverware since 2008, Postecoglou must make some changes to the team who lost on Friday night, starting with Djed Spence.

Why Spence should be dropped

So the first thing to say is that throughout the season, Spence has probably been one of the few players who has increased his reputation.

His impressive blend of attacking and defensive abilities made him one of the team’s most effective players in the months after Christmas.

However, while the former Middlesbrough gem has started the last ten league games for the club, the team have been seriously poor in those matches.

Chalkboard

For example, they’ve won only one, drawn two and lost the other seven, with the games away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool and Aston Villa being particularly underwhelming.

Moreover, while he wasn’t the worst offender at Villa Park, the 24-year-old was underwhelming at best, with the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick writing that it was another display demonstrating he’s ‘lost his mojo in the past month.’

So, with Postecoglou needing everyone to be at their very best tonight, he should take the Englishman out of the team and bring in Pedro Porro, who has shown his value in the last few European games.

For example, the “titanic” right-back, as dubbed by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, scored a goal in the first leg of the quarter-final, picked up an assist in the first leg of the semi-final and then scored another goal in the second leg as well.

In all, while Spence is a talented player, he should be dropped for tonight’s game, as should several other players.

The other Spurs star who should be axed

Now, while there are several players you could make a case for dropping from Friday’s lineup for tonight, the most obvious one is Sergio Reguilon.

The 28-year-old left-back made just his second start and sixth appearance of the season against Aston Villa, and while he wasn’t utterly terrible, he didn’t do anything to suggest he should remain in the team.

For example, in 74 minutes of actions, the “ridiculous” full-back, as dubbed by Gary Neville, amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.05, was dribbled past twice, lost 75% of his ground duels, lost the ball 13 times, completed just 17 passes, misplaced all seven of his long balls, and failed in 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

74′

Expected Goals

0.05

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.00

Assists

0

Clearances

4

Dribbled Past

2

Ground duels (won)

4 (1)

Possession lost

13

Accurate passes

17/26 (65%)

Key passes

0

Crosses (accurate)

2 (1)

Long balls (accurate)

7 (0

Dribble attempts (successful)

1 (0)

In short, it wasn’t a great showing from the former Real Madrid ace, and with tonight’s game being so important, he simply has to be dropped from the team.

Moreover, much like Porro on the right, the manager has made Destiny Udogie his go-to left-back in the Europa League in recent games, and it’s been a decision that’s paid off.

The team conceded just one goal in their last four games, and Alasdair Gold awarded the Italian with a 9/10 match rating following their incredible 1-0 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ultimately, while Spence and Reguilon were not the worst players in the team on Friday night, neither one did anywhere near enough to break into Postecoglou’s European starting XI, and therefore, both must be dropped.

He'd send Tel packing: Spurs race to sign £19m "future ballon d'Or winner"

The incredible talent would be an unreal signing for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2025

Liverpool are reportedly at risk of losing an off-field “genius” this summer, amid claims that a Saudi Pro League club are interested in snapping him up.

A busy summer awaits at Liverpool

After some relatively quiet summers in recent years, under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, this upcoming transfer window has the potential to be the busiest in a long time at Anfield, with lots of funds set to come the Reds’ way.

Jeremie Frimpong is believed to be closing in on a move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen, filling the upcoming void that will be left by Trent Alexander-Arnold, not to mention also being able to thrive as a right-winger.

Meanwhile, the Reds are said to have held talks with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez over a summer switch, with the Hungarian seen as the leading option to be Andy Robertson’s long-term successor on Merseyside.

There are also expected to be plenty of summer exits alongside Alexander-Arnold, with doubts over the futures of players all over the pitch, from Jarell Quansah to Darwin Nunez. It is going to be a busy period for the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes behind the scenes, but now a major update has dropped regarding the former.

Liverpool at risk of losing "genius" Edwards after Saudi approach

According to a worrying update from Give Me Sport journalist Ben Jacobs, Liverpool CEO of Football Edwards is wanted by Saudi club Al-Ahli, as they look to steal him away from the Reds this summer.

The report claims that the transfer guru has been “approached” by them to “discuss a senior role” there, adding that they “hold a firm desire to try and appoint Edwards, even though he is relatively new to his current job” at Anfield, having previously been sporting director there. Edwards isn’t actively looking to leave Merseyside, however, he “does see appeal in speaking to clubs wishing to overhaul their sporting department”.

Losing Edwards would be an undoubted blow for Liverpool and FSG, considering his reputation in the game, being considered as one of the best sporting directors of his generation, masterminding the signings of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, among others.

Virgil van Dijk

2018

£75m

Mohamed Salah

2017

£37m

Sadio Mane

2016

£34m

Alisson

2018

£67m

Andy Robertson

2017

£10m

Fabinho

2018

£39m

Gini Wijnaldum

2016

£25m

Joel Matip

2016

Free

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

2017

£35m

Takumi Minamino

2020

£7.25m

His influence hasn’t been lost on former Reds CEO Peter Moore, who has said of him: “Analytical genius. The ability to look at data and then look at the players. This is why I bring up the Dave Fallows and the Barry Hunters, it’s one thing looking at data but you need boots on the ground and eyes on the pitch.”

Hopefully, Edwards will feel that he is still new to his CEO role and has plenty more to achieve at Liverpool, but the financial lure of the Saudi Pro League is obvious.

Not just Quansah: Liverpool must axe 6/10 flop who was "so funny to watch"

Liverpool were defeated by Brighton in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

It would be a step in the wrong direction if he did decide to once again leave Liverpool for a new challenge, at a time when things are going so smoothly both on and off the pitch.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both ready to pay up to £50 million for a “quick” Premier League star who PSG have held talks over signing, according to a report this week.

Arsenal lose Champions League semi-final tie against PSG

Mikel Arteta watched on from the sidelines as his side succumbed to a crushing defeat at the Parc des Princes – a loss which ended Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first-ever Champions League crown.

Arsenal: Berta wants £119k-per-week PSG star after failed Atletico deal

Berta attempted to sign him for the La Liga side.

ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Arsenal’s 5-1 dismantling of Real Madrid in the last round had a lot of tails up around the Emirates Stadium, and the prospect of Champions League glory was made very real by their statement two-legged display against the 15-time European champions.

However, this year’s standout team in PSG, who many are backing to win the competition, ultimately outclassed Arsenal over two semi-final clashes where Arteta’s side weren’t quite ruthless enough in the final third.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

The Ligue 1 champions have now booked their place in this year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, with Arteta making a humble statement to the media in the aftermath of their 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

“I can take a lot of positives, and I’m very proud of the team,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s defeat to PSG.

“We have to arrive in the competition at this stage with a full squad, fully available, in the best condition. We haven’t got that, so let’s put that aside. It’s still the team that I’ve seen today against, probably one of the best, if not the best team in Europe. It gives me so much pride, but at the same time, I’m so upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it. And two things that are on us, probably not together. Another thing is that, obviously, the opponent at this level has the quality to deliver like Donnarumma has done today again.”

With Arsenal’s European adventure now officially over, attention is set to switch to the summer transfer window, and how new sporting director Andrea Berta will react to the Gunners’ disappointing 2024/2025 campaign.

Berta has been tipped to spend around £300 million on seven major signings (GiveMeSport), and one of them could be a new right-winger to alternate with Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal ready to pay up to £50 million for West Ham star Mohammed Kudus

Arsenal are believed to remain keen on Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane as an option to give Saka competition on that side, but West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus is also attracting their attention.

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal and Liverpool are prepared to pay up to £50 million for Kudus, but have no intention of going anywhere near the Ghanaian’s £85 million release clause.

West Ham are apparently holding out for his exit clause to be paid in full, but neither side is willing to go that high.

Graham Potter’s men do hold some hope of an auction for Kudus, though, with other reports from Africa recently claiming that PSG have already held talks with the 24-year-old’s camp, as the Ligue 1 champions seek to bolster their own attacking options.

Teammate Aaron Cresswell is on record praising Kudus’ “quick” speed, branding him a “top” player, even if Ajax’s former sensation hasn’t enjoyed the best 24/25 campaign.

Kudus also bagged a stunning goal against Arsenal in the EFL Cup last season, so Arteta is fully aware of the winger’s quality when at his devastating best.

Manchester United would have been fearing the final outcome of their clash on the South Coast whilst the clock ticked down as ten-man AFC Bournemouth held onto their precarious 1-0 lead.

An embarrassing 16th loss of the Premier League for Ruben Amorim’s topsy-turvy Red Devils was on the cards but for Rasmus Hojlund.

The Dane has had many a vocal critic this season about his anonymous attacking displays but he managed to pop up with a last-gasp equaliser to hand the away side a dramatic share of the points.

With the Cherries seeing Evanilson sent off for a dangerous tackle in the second half, a point against a side that ended up playing with ten men for 20 minutes will still feel like somewhat of a poor result, with the likes of Andre Onana enduring another shaky afternoon.

Onana's performance in numbers

Ultimately, another game ended up passing Onana by without a Premier League clean sheet, with the often nervy goalkeeper only managing to amass a weak nine clean sheets from 33 total games.

The Cameroon goalkeeper would fail to make a single save across another choppy 90 minutes, with Antoine Semenyo’s first-half effort proving too fierce for the ex-Ajax shot-stopper to thwart.

Moreover, his ability with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired too, leading to the United number one only registering 23 accurate passes from 32 attempted, on top of only three accurate long balls being accumulated from 12.

Chalkboard

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

A new ‘keeper must be high up Amorim’s shopping list this summer but he will have to do better than he did in January.

After all, his only signing at Old Trafford hasn’t exactly set the world alight…

4/10 Man United dud must be axed after Bournemouth

Minus Bruno Fernandes showing his obvious class again with seven key passes tallied up, alongside Hojlund’s redemption arc being on show, there were a number of underperformers once more that would have irked Amorim watching on.

Indeed, Patrick Dorgu falls into this underperforming category, with his lackadaisical approach on the ball gifting Semenyo a chance to fire Andoni Iraola’s men into the lead.

Minutes played

89

Touches

61

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Accurate passes

25/30 (83%)

Accurate crosses

0/4

Possession lost

15x

Total duels won

9/14

Amazingly, this isn’t the first time Dorgu has fallen victim to a lapse in concentration this season, with one kamikaze back-pass versus Ipswich Town back in February gifting Jaden Philogene a fortuitous effort.

But, away from another costly error allowing Semenyo to score, the table above shows how his overall game was equally as shoddy, with the 20-year-old failing to register a single accurate cross down the left channel.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst would dish out his lowest match rating of the day to the ex-Lecce man subsequently, with Luckhurst stating that his 4/10 judgement was due to Dorgu looking “unsettled” by Bournemouth’s high press.

Thankfully, his blushes were spared by Hojlund being in the right place at the right time to fire home a late equaliser, leading to the 22-year-old presumably feeling that he deserves to start this coming Thursday when Amorim’s camp travel to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.

After all, United’s season rests on a potential success in this competition now, culminating in Dorgu perhaps being axed for the Red Devils’ upcoming Basque adventure. It’s a big game, but Harry Amass or even Luke Shaw are surely more deserving of a place over the final weeks of the season.

Their next Amad: Man Utd make huge swap offer for "outstanding" £42m star

Manchester United are making moves to land a new attacking star ahead of the summer transfer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 26, 2025

An “unbelievable” Everton player has provided a significant update on his future at the club, saying he is open to signing a contract extension.

Another impressive Everton result under Moyes

The Blues picked up one of their best results since David Moyes returned as manager, winning 1-0 away to third-place Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the only goal of the game in the dying seconds, netting a 94th-minute winner amid scenes of joy among the travelling Everton supporters.

Moyes continues to do a superb job in his second stint in charge at Goodison Park, steering his team comfortably away from the relegation zone, and he will now be eyeing the right summer signings to come in and take the Blues up a further level next season.

Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin is one player who has been linked with a move to Everton recently, following an impressive season that has seen him score three goals and register two assists in the Championship. Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko is another rumoured target for the Merseysiders, as they eye potential replacements for Jarrad Branthwaite, should he depart this summer.

Everton hero drops big update on his future

Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday night [via Goodison News], Doucoure claimed that he would “love” to stay at Everton beyond this season, saying he is open to signing a new deal:

“I can’t talk too much about that but obviously you know it may be my last few months here at the moment. Everything is quiet from the club side. Obviously I love the club, I always said. Let’s see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”

When further pressed about signing a new deal with the Blues, he added: “Why not? To be honest I love this club. I always said I wanted to stay. Obviously my contract is running out but I love the club.”

The £130,000-a-week Doucoure is a vital player for Everton, as highlighted by his winner at the City Ground on Saturday, so the majority of supporters would surely love to see him stay on.

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season, and while he isn’t getting any younger, a new deal makes complete sense, given his continued influence.

Doucoure has been such an asset for Everton so long, not least after he scored the goal that kept them in the Premier League against Bournemouth in 2022/23, leading to Jamie Carragher to heap praise on him:

“Unbelievable goal. He’s had a huge influence on the team since he’s come back into the team under Sean Dyche. You think of how many special goals Everton have scored to get them big points, we’ve seen another one today that’s got Everton three points.”

Moyes must instantly drop Everton star who lost the ball every 2 touches

Everton sealed a late victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Apr 13, 2025

Doucoure has made it clear that he is keen to stay on at Everton, so it’s now a case of The Friedkin Group giving him what he wants, within reason.

Contracts have been the talking point around Liverpool football club in recent months, with three of Arne Slot’s key players out of contract at the end of the season.

Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah have all been regular starters this campaign, but all three of the stars’ current deals are set to expire in June.

However, there has been progress with the Dutchman and Egyptian, with the pair both set to sign new deals until the summer of 2027 – undoubtedly a huge boost to their ambitions for Premier League glory next season.

As for Trent, he looks set to depart and join Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the season, ending his 20-year affiliation with his boyhood club, to the disappointment of the fanbase.

Such a departure could leave a huge hole in the first-team backline, but it appears the hierarchy have wasted no time in landing a player who could potentially fill any void next campaign.

Liverpool set to make £85m bid for defensive star

According to one Spanish outlet, Liverpool are set to make a €100m (£85m) summer bid for Barcelona star Ronald Araujo in an attempt to strengthen the defensive department.

The 26-year-old has made 16 appearances across all competitions, notching four combined goals and assists, being able to feature in a centre-back or right-back role.

The Uruguayan international has had an injury-hit campaign, but has still managed to impress, as seen by the Reds’ willingness to fork out big-money for his signature.

The report claims that the opportunity to play in England’s top flight could be too good to turn down, but that it will be up to the LaLiga outfit whether they want to part ways with Araujo.

It may be a huge investment from the hierarchy, but it would be a worthwhile one for Slot’s side – especially if his figures from the current campaign are anything to go by.

Why Araujo is the perfect Van Dijk & Trent hybrid for Liverpool

The Reds’ backline is in need of investment with Trent’s pending departure and Andy Robertson’s decline in recent months, making this summer vital for Slot.

Van Dijk has often been the shining light within the back four over the last few years, with his performances helping the side win five major honours since his move in January 2018.

However, he’s often lacked that partner at the heart of the defence, with Ibrahima Konate prone to a mistake, as seen during last weekend’s defeat against Fulham.

Araujo could provide that fellow world-class option the club have been searching for, with current boss Hansi Flick labelling the Uruguayan international as “one of the best in the world”.

His ability to feature at right-back too could make him an option to cover should Trent leave, producing figures better than the aforementioned pair in numerous key areas.

Defensively, Araujo has outperformed the current Reds stars, winning more tackles per 90, whilst also coming out on top in more aerials – offering that added solidity they’ve been hunting for as of late.

Games played

16

28

31

Goals & assists

4

8

2

Pass accuracy

93%

74%

92%

Tackles won

1.3

1

0.5

Aerials won

3.9

0.2

3.2

Shot-on-target accuracy

67%

18%

32%

Passes completed per game

90

63

74

In possession, he’s been just as impressive, completing more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also achieving a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – highlighting the quality he possesses at both ends of the pitch.

Whilst it may be another huge fee to spend on a new signing, it’s one that could provide added quality into the backline, further strengthening Slot’s chances of winning trophies on Merseyside.

It’s unclear whether Barça would be open to selling one of their key players, but it’s evident that from the stats he’s produced in 2024/25, he would be a superb addition – partnering Van Dijk and softening the blow of Trent’s pending departure.

£70m PL star wants to sign for Liverpool & he'd be a better move than Isak

Liverpool may decide to make a move for a player who would be a better addition than Alexander Isak.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 9, 2025

Manchester City have now hatched a plan to sign a “deadly” Paris Saint-Germain striker, who is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to a report.

City set to pursue striker this summer

A new striker may be viewed as an unnecessary signing for Man City, given that any addition is unlikely to displace Erling Haaland in the starting XI, but Pep Guardiola has set his sights on a new forward ahead of the summer transfer window.

Lille marksman Jonathan David is the latest striker to be linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with the Canadian expected to leave the French club on a free transfer, amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United.

David’s availability on a free transfer could make him an attractive option, but there may also be an opportunity to sign Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who has reportedly made it clear he would favour a move to City this summer, despite widespread interest in his signature.

That said, it is difficult to see where another top striker would fit into Guardiola’s team, given that Haaland is surely unlikely to be dropped, so it could make sense for City to pursue an up-and-coming forward this summer, rather than a top striker.

According to a report from RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), Man City have now hatched a plan to sign PSG striker Mahamadou Sangaré, who is set to leave the French champions upon the expiration of his contract this summer.

The Sky Blues plan to sign Sangaré for free, before potentially loaning him out to sister club Troyes, although there could be competition for his signature, with some unnamed German clubs also in the picture.

The 18-year-old is attracting widespread attention, having impressed in the UEFA Youth League this season, picking up hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid.

Move over Nunes: Man City begin work on signing the new Joao Cancelo

Manchester City could land their next Joao Cancelo in this attack-oriented defender.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 2, 2025 "Deadly" Sangare could be perfect signing for City

The idea of signing Gyokeres or David sounds good on paper, but it could ultimately do more harm than good, should Haaland become unsettled by a potential lack of game time.

As such, signing a young striker who could spend a couple of seasons out on loan could be ideal for City, and there are plenty of indications the PSG starlet could be a long-term success at the Etihad Stadium.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has been impressed by the teenager’s performances at youth level this season, praising the partnership he has struck up with fellow forward Ibrahim Mbaye.

Having picked up nine goals and two assists in 11 UEFA Youth League games this season, Sangaré is clearly one for the future, and it is exciting news that City could snap him up this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has sparked a fresh wave of Real Madrid outrage after declaring that Los Blancos “represent power” while Barca embody “freedom”, intensifying tensions at a time when relations between the clubs have sharply deteriorated. His remarks come amid ongoing clashes between the boardrooms as both sides accuse the other of political and sporting hypocrisy.

Laporta's latest comments incite Real Madrid outrage

Laporta made headlines during a La Vanguardia event on Thursday when he was asked about Real Madrid’s VIP box and the political figures frequently seen alongside Los Blancos president Florentino Perez. He responded by framing Madrid as a club aligned with institutional power while presenting Barcelona as the opposite, positioning his side as defenders of democracy, openness and freedom. These remarks immediately reignited tensions that had already grown following Perez’s attacks during Real Madrid's General Assembly, particularly relating to the Negreira case.

His comments also came at a moment when both clubs have been moving further apart, especially after Barcelona distanced themselves from the Super League project that once united their leadership with Perez. Supporters and pundits in Madrid reacted angrily to Laporta’s claim, interpreting it as an attempt to weaponise historical narratives in the present-day rivalry. The situation adds another layer of controversy to a relationship that, only a few years ago, had been unusually cooperative.

AdvertisementAFPBarcelona president claims Barca represent 'freedom' unlike Madrid

“Real Madrid represents power and Barca, freedom. I don’t know if business deals are made in the Bernabeu’s VIP box. There is power,” Laporta said at an event. “Here it’s a different story; we’re more for democracy and freedom. We have a proper and cordial relationship with Florentino Perez.”

“At Barca, we’re not even considering any of this. I’ve been hearing for four years that we’d become a public limited company. We guarantee that Barca will always be owned by its members. It’s an added value we have and it connects us with the community.”

Laporta continued: “The investors who Goldman Sachs secured for the stadium liked the fact that we weren’t a public limited company. We’ve created a financial structure to avoid mortgages. We haven’t even considered it. It would hurt us a lot because it’s part of our very essence. Some people don’t see Barca in its entirety.

“Barca isn’t a business, it’s an institution. We have different rules. We’re a modern institution, committed to sustainability, equality, and diversity. We’re a Catalan institution, open to the world. All of this leads me to believe that Barca should always belong to its members. My fellow board members and I are the only ones who can guarantee this.

“We want peace and sustainability in football. I came across the Super League and went ahead with it because I thought there were many differences with state-owned clubs. It has dragged on, and all this uncertainty doesn’t benefit us. We reached an initial agreement with the Unify platform, but then I found out that Real Madrid were behind it. We should always give peace a chance. It’s better if we’re all on board. Conflict certainly doesn’t benefit anyone.”

Barcelona and Real Madrid's massive political standing in Spain's history

Laporta’s refusal to privatise Barcelona also aligns with the club’s self-identity as a member-owned institution that ties sport to community rather than private capital investment. His framing of Barça as an institution rather than a business is a continuation of its “Mes que un club” ethos, which emphasises cultural responsibility beyond sporting performance

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AFPBarcelona and Real Madrid's relations at an all-time low

Laporta’s remarks are likely to inflame tensions further and may prompt an official or informal response from Real Madrid, who have repeatedly rejected the narrative that they benefit from political power. The already fragile relationship between the clubs, strained by the Negreira case, the Super League split and continuous boardroom sniping, appears set for another confrontational chapter.

As both teams continue their domestic and European campaigns, the off-field ideological battle may prove just as intense as anything on the pitch. Currently, Real Madrid sit behind Barcelona in the Liga standings after their drop in form in November.

There have been 120 World Series before this one, and while those Series have included pinch-hit home runs (Kirk Gibson!) and grand slams (Freddie Freeman!), the Fall Classic had never seen a home run that met both criteria.

Until Friday.

In the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night, the Blue Jays' Addison Barger stepped to the plate to hit for left fielder Davis Schneider. On a 2-1 pitch from Emmett Sheehan, Barger parked an 84 mph slider over the center field fence to give Toronto a 9–2 lead over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series.

Barger's swing was, remarkably, the first pinch-hit grand slam in the 122-year history of the competition. It served as the centerpiece of a nine-run inning that blew open a tie game.

The 25-year-old Bellevue, Wash., native owns 28 home runs in his two-year career. None has been a grand slam.

The postseason is a different animal, however, and on Friday Barger—a .286 hitter in the postseason entering Friday—gave Blue Jays fans a moment they'll never forget.

England’s No.1-ranked batter was in the mood to turn the tables, but picked the wrong option at a key moment

Matt Roller13-Jul-2025

Harry Brook got a couple of boundaries on the scoop, then got it wrong•Getty Images

First the sublime, then the ridiculous. Harry Brook had Lord’s purring as he scooped Akash Deep over fine leg for consecutive fours, and then dumped him over long-off for six as England counter-attacked before lunch. When he lost his middle stump two overs later, bowled around his legs trying to sweep an 86mph half-volley, the response was stunned silence.It was an extraordinary passage of play, one which summed up Brook’s series. He is England’s second-highest run-scorer, averaging 52.33, and played outrageous, dominant innings at Headingley (99) and Edgbaston (158). It was enough for him to leapfrog Joe Root, his team-mate and fellow Yorkshireman, to go top of the ICC’s Test batting rankings this week.But Brook has also been infuriating. Before he had scored a run in the series, he pulled Jasprit Bumrah to short midwicket in the final over of the day, only to be reprieved by a front-foot no-ball. On 99 at Headingley, he pulled a short ball straight to long leg and threw his head back in frustration. At Lord’s, Kumar Sangakkara described his shot selection as “arrogant”.Related

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Washington and Carse light up Lord's as gripping finish looms

Manic Monday awaits with both teams on edge

Fundamentally, Brook’s batting philosophy is as simple as it gets: “I like to hit the ball where the fielders aren’t,” he has explained. It was that mantra that informed his shot selection: after twice scooping the ball into a vacant fine-leg region, he saw Shubman Gill move a fielder there and lined up the fresh gap at square leg instead.If there was some logic to it, the shot was always fraught with danger: playing cross-batted left him with less margin for error in the event of variable bounce, and vulnerable to a ball as full – and fast – as the one Akash Deep delivered. Brook was late on the ball, beaten on the bottom edge, and left down on his haunches as Akash Deep celebrated with multiple fist-pumps.The most frustrating part of Brook’s dismissal was that he had worked a near-identical ball through wide mid-on for an effortless, low-risk boundary between Akash Deep’s two overs. Facing Nitish Kumar Reddy, he played with a straight bat to flick a similar straight half-volley into the leg side with a simple roll of the wrists; it was proof that there was another way.”It was a poor option, as if [to say], ‘I can just do what I want,'” Alastair Cook said on BBC’s “People will say, ‘he was playing the ramps and you were applauding him’, but I liked those shots because there was an element of control to it… He’s a brilliant player; I think he got the shot wrong today.”Much of England’s recent success stems from encouraging batters to play with freedom, so it was notable that Marcus Trescothick, their batting coach, said he had addressed Brook’s shot selection with him: “We’ve already discussed it. You could see that the ball was moving around… He chose that [as] the best way to try and counteract what was going to happen.2:16

Trescothick: It’s going to be an amazing final day

“When you scoop two for four and then hit the next one for six, we were all sitting back and really enjoying it,” Trescothick said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth and you’re going to get it wrong [and] you’re going to get it right. It is what it is. Obviously, you missed the ball today, and it was bang on target.”It is fitting that when Brook was growing up, his favourite England batter to watch was Kevin Pietersen. Both of them face a similar problem of plenty: they are so richly talented, so blessed with brilliant hand-eye co-ordination, that they have countless shots available to them for any given ball. They are so brilliant at their best that they are exasperating when they fall short of it.And it is worth dwelling on just how good Brook has proved himself to be. At 26, he has already scored nine Test hundreds – one every 5.2 innings – and his average of 57.67 slots him neatly in between Wally Hammond and Jack Hobbs in England’s all-time list. He has done all of that while scoring at a strike rate of 87: nobody has scored as many runs so quickly in Test history.But his dismissal on Sunday was a stark reminder of the fact that Brook is still learning his trade, and that his attacking style will demand a thick skin across his England career. It is largely unfair, but there remains a perception that he is yet to prove himself in tough conditions: this was a wasted opportunity for him to demonstrate that he is so much more than a flat-track bully.