أعرب ممدوح عيد، المدير التنفيذي لنادي بيراميدز، عن سعادته بعد التتويج بجائزة أفضل ناد في قارة إفريقيا 2025.

وقال عيد، خلال حفل جوائز كاف 2025: “الحمد لله، أشكر المملكة المغربية على الاستضافة الرائعة، وأريد أن أشكر موتسيبي رئيس كاف لاستقبالنا وجمعنا، وشرف كذلك لممدوح عيد أن يكون رئيس فيفا متواجدًا معنا، وأن أتواجد في هذا المكان اليوم وتحقيق إنجاز أفضل ناد للعام”.

طالع.. عاجل | كاف يعلن أفضل لاعب داخل إفريقيا 2025

وتابع: “شيء استثنائي بعد العمل الجاد الذي قمنا به في فترة طويلة، أشكر كل من كان جزءًا من رحلتنا، وأشكر فريقنا وكل لاعبينا وكل إدارتنا، وأشكر كذلك مدربنا على العمل الاستثنائي الذي قام به، وكذلك أشكر حارس مرمانا على مستواه الرائع الذي قدمه في البطولة”.

وأكمل: “الكل في مصر ساندنا وشجعنا لكي نبلغ هذا الهدف، نشكر كل من نافسنا ولعب ضدنا كي نبلغ هذا المستوى، لأنه دون كل خصومنا ما كنا لنبلغ هذا المستوى”.

وأتم: “أتمنى أن تكون رحلتنا رسالة صبر ومثابرة، نحن نعمل لمدة طويلة قدر المستطاع بكل ما لدينا من إمكانيات، وأنا شخصيًا فخور بالانضمام لقارة إفريقيا”.

 

 

 

 

Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus has seriously impressed since arriving in a £55 million deal from West Ham in the summer window, and he’s now drawing comparisons with a Spurs legend.

Kudus made headlines this summer as the first player to transfer from West Ham to Spurs since Scott Parker in 2011 — effectively ending a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo between the fierce London rivals.

The move generated plenty of buzz, and with it, a weight of expectation that Kudus has so far handled with a blend of flair, work rate and dynamism.

Since then, Kudus has set about proving he belongs at the heart of Tottenham’s rebuild under Thomas Frank.

His first telling contribution on paper came at Leeds, where a deflected low finish from the Ghanaian opened his goal account and delivered the Lilywhites a crucial 2-1 win — all whilst ending their pre-international break curse and the home side’s year-long unbeaten run at Elland Road in the league.

Used primarily as an inverted right-winger, Kudus has routinely tormented full-backs with an outstanding dribble completion rate — quickly becoming the side’s most dangerous attacking outlet.

Kudus has completed more successful take-ons per 90 than any other winger in the Premier League, according to WhoScored, and is currently the division’s fifth-best performer by average match rating.

Mohammed Kudus

3.6

Iliman Ndaye

2.7

Yankuba Minteh

2.6

Jeremy Doku

2.4

Bukayo Saka

2.3

via WhoScored

The former Ajax sensation also has five assists to show from his opening nine Premier League matches, outshining fellow new arrival Xavi Simons, who has struggled to match Kudus’ scintillating form in the final third.

The early signs are that Spurs have acquired a genuine difference-maker, and he’s now drawn a very intriguing comparison with ex-fan favourite Mousa Dembélé, even if the latter played a completely different role.

Supporters look back on Dembele and remember him fondly as a real linchpin of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield, with the Belgian making nearly 250 appearances before he departed for the now-folded Guangzhou City in China.

Mohammed Kudus draws Mousa Dembele comparison at Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham explained exactly why Kudus is a regen of Dembele at Tottenham — specifically talking about his strength on the ball.

Frank has been equally blown away by Kudus since his arrival at N17, calling his one-v-one ability “crazy”.

Like Dembele, Kudus is remarkably difficult to dispossess, with the agility to spin away from challengers and the power to carry the ball through deep midfield areas or wide channels.

The feeling among coaches and analysts is that Kudus could become a more advanced and goal-threatening Dembele, with journalist Alasdair Gold also making that comparison in early October.

The sky appears to be the limit for him right now, and midfielder Joao Palhinha has some stern competition for the ‘best summer signing’ accolade as we slowly approach the halfway point of 25/26.

Tottenham told Xavi Simons "reality" as Thomas Frank already gets one thing wrong

Lauren Bell, Mady Villiers restrict Originals to 95 for 8 before Laura Wolvaardt sees visitors home

ECB Reporters Network06-Aug-2025

Lauren Bell struck to leave Manchester Originals in tatters•Getty Images

Southern Brave started life after Charlotte Edwards with a convincing win over Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford.The damage was all done with the ball, as Lauren Bell took 3 for 28 and Mady Villiers 2 for 19 to limit the hosts to just 95 for 8 from their 100 balls.Seren Smale fought a lone hand for Originals on a wicket that none of her team-mates ever looked at home on, making 40 from 34 balls to give her side the faintest hope at the halfway mark but no side has ever defended fewer than 109 in the Hundred women’s competition and their total never looked like enough.And while Brave were rarely fluent, they were always comfortable – easing to a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare. Former Originals batter Laura Wolvaardt, a direct signing for Southern Brave this season, showed her old team what they were missing with an assured and unbeaten 42.She was supported by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made 32, as Brave’s batting line-up eased over the line in first gear. Having endured a surprising eighth-placed finish last summer, with just one win, Brave – and their new head coach Luke Williams in particular – will have been pleased to start the campaign with a victory.For Originals it was a disappointing start to the season and, Smale’s innings aside, a day of few positives – they’ll hope to demonstrate it was mere blip next time out at the Kia Oval on Saturday.Meerkat Match Hero Bell said: “It’s great to get our first win on the board. In tournament cricket it’s really important to get a good start, and it was a good team performance.”The girls stuck in. The wicket was a bit tricky but we’ve got a great line-up and the batters did the job. We’ve had a lot of really good chats about being really confident, backing our strengths, and having fun out there.”

Netherlands have handed a maiden call-up to 17-year-old batter Cedric de Lange and recalled right-arm quick Sebastiaan Braat and allrounder Sikander Zulfiqar for the upcoming T20I series in Bangladesh starting August 30. The changes had to be made after Ryan Klein and Fred Klaassen were ruled out with injuries, while Saqib Zulfiqar withdrew due to personal reasons.De Lange has been a consistent performer at the Under-19 level as well as for his club and in the recent Pro Series, the domestic T20s in the Netherlands which concluded on August 20.”It’s always exciting to bring a youngster into the squad,” captain Scott Edwards said. “Cedric has been impressive all summer and he’s really earned this call-up. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can offer us on this tour and, hopefully, across a long career ahead of him.”Related

• Vikramjit back in Netherlands squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Braat returns to the Netherlands side for the first time since 2021, when he played T20Is against Nepal, after solid numbers in domestic cricket as well as club cricket.Sikander Zulfiqar’s absence from international cricket was even longer, having last turned out in T20Is in 2019.”It’s also great to welcome Sebastiaan Braat back into the side,” Edwards said. “It’s been a couple of years since he last played for us, but he’s had a very strong summer at club and domestic level, and we’re looking forward to having his experience back in the group as well.”Sikander has been a valuable member of our national team before and I’m glad to see him back in orange. He’s got phenomenal ability to clear the fence late in the game and I can’t wait to see him back and amongst the group.”Netherlands have only played five T20Is against Bangladesh and this will be their first time touring Bangladesh. The series acts as a preparation ground for Netherlands, ahead of the T20 World Cup early next year, while Bangladesh will use the series as an opportunity to finalise their line-up for the Asia Cup starting September 11.Netherlands train in Sylhet for three days before their first T20I on August 30, the second on September 1, and the third on September 3.

Netherlands squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Scott Edwards (capt & wk), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Sikander Zulfiqar, Cedric de Lange, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, Shariz Ahmad, Ben Fletcher, Daniel Doram, Sebastiaan Braat, Tim Pringle

Manchester United are four games unbeaten in the Premier League. Since Ruben Amorim last tasted defeat, Anfield has been conquered, and it was goals galore during that thrilling win over Brighton at Old Trafford.

Here have been the first baby steps in a long and arduous journey toward the future, and with that exciting thought dancing at the back of the fans’ minds, we are inevitably turned back to the past.

Because it’s been a long, long time since the Red Devils enjoyed consistency at the top of the table, battling year on year for the biggest titles. Sir Alex Ferguson has not celebrated a Premier League or Champions League title from the stands.

If Amorim hopes to lead United back to such elusive glory, he will need more than just a string of favourable results to his name. He will need to rethread the Fergie feeling into the club’s DNA.

Curiously, there are signs this is taking place, with a number of United stars showing elements of that bygone era in recent weeks.

The Fergie-esque Man Utd stars

Topically, Amad Diallo would fancy himself worthy of a place in one of Ferguson’s one-time squads. The Ivory Coast international has developed something of a penchant for late goals, after all.

In fact, all ten of Amad’s Premier League goals have come in the second half.

However, he’s not alone in that regard. The frontline has been a place of contention for the Theatre of Dreams in recent years, and especially so since Amorim arrived and ousted the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho.

Matheus Cunha looks a cut above, and even though the Brazilian has not yet found his Midas touch in front of goal, his quality is undeniable, with writer Wayne Burton claiming he has the “potential to be an all-timer”, so talented that he might be “the best player we’ve had since Fergie retired”.

Lofty praise, but undoubtedly wearing a ring of truth. This is all to say that there are promising signs at Old Trafford. Bryan Mbeumo looks a star, and given that he has singled out Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his biggest influences, you can see him succeeding in the long run. The Cameroonian plays with the same kind of robust potency as CR7 once did when cutting his teeth under Fergie’s wing.

United still need to make more improvements though, and the current struggles of wing-back Diogo Dalot emphasise the need for new blood on the flanks to help Amorim realise his lofty ambitions.

Once, Gary Neville dominated for the elite outfit; so underrated nowadays, the retired Three Lions star is one of the finest full-backs of his generation.

Dalot, 26, doesn’t look like he’s going to make that grade after once arriving from Porto as a teenager with such promise.

He’s not the only one, though. This is a recurring problem, and one which recalls a time when Sir Alex felt he had landed the next version of Neville, only for this player to fail to kick on.

The Fergie flop who was billed as the next Neville

The Fergie era at Manchester United was defined by meteoric highs. On the transfer front, the Red Devils had the ascendancy within the English game, but a few potential stars fell by the wayside.

One of which would be Rafael Da Silva, who did spend seven seasons at Old Trafford after graduating from the Carrington ranks, but perhaps failed to ever reach the potential his manager saw in him.

Time was when Rafael was viewed as having the potential to become a superstar. He and his twin brother Fabio had been brought over from Brazilian club Fluminense in February 2007, and he would make 170 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying 14 assists.

Rafael’s time at the club could hardly be defined as a failure, but he probably served as more of a bit-part player than an instrumental cog in the machine.

14/15

10

590′

13/14

19

1,418′

12/13

28

2,317′

11/12

12

914′

10/11

16

1,201′

09/10

8

682′

08/09

16

1,055′

A three-time Premier League champion he may be, but Ferguson believed he was destined for greatness. The retired manager said in 2012, “I think Rafael will eventually be compared to Gary Neville.”

This didn’t end up being the case. Rafael ended up leaving when under louis van Gaal’s management, at odds with the Dutch manager, and several contentious career events beforehand, coupled with injuries, left his former manager’s prediction untrue.

There’s no question that he is fondly remembered, even considered by some supporters to be something of a cult hero, but Rafael was abundantly talented, and there really was a chance that he could have filled the void that was left when Neville wound down.

A fearless and tenacious attitude, coupled with a burning desire to make things happen and excite the crowd, won the Manchester crowds over instantly, and maybe why we look back now with an air of ruefulness about Rafael’s fizzled-out finish at the club, leaving for French side Lyon in 2015 for a small £2.5m fee.

In any case, it’s funny that you might say his robust and dynamic profile would be well-suited to the current Amorim-led system, but this only emphasises the need for a Neville-esque figure to ensure this new chapter at the club keeps moving forward after such interminable turmoil.

Because sadly, it feels like Dalot has fallen down a similar route, with content creator Liam Canning saying recently that the Portugual international is “becoming a worry long term”, given that he “doesn’t look like he suits the wing back role”.

Neville might be modest about his ability as a Premier League footballer, but it would take to knock him off that all-timer pedestal.

Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd

Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 3, 2025

Ryan Reynolds has praised Wrexham’s “heart” after the club’s impressive rise continued with a determined 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Josh Windass’ penalty extended the Red Dragons’ unbeaten run to five matches and lifted them to 13th in the Championship, just four points off the play-off spots, capping off a strong turnaround that has left the Hollywood co-owner beaming with pride.

• Reynolds praises Wrexham as they extend unbeaten run

  Wrexham continued their impressive surge up the Championship table with a 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic, further cementing their place as one of the division’s most inspiring stories. The decisive moment came in the 77th minute when substitute Onel Hernandez was penalised for handball, allowing Josh Windass to calmly convert from the penalty spot for his fifth goal of the season. The goal was enough to secure Wrexham’s third consecutive home win and fifth match unbeaten in the league.

  The result carried even more significance given the quick turnaround from a midweek fixture against Portsmouth, where Wrexham had ground out a gritty draw. Despite the fatigue, Phil Parkinson’s side maintained their energy and resilience, keeping Charlton’s attacking threats largely quiet. It was another display of maturity from a squad that had once looked out of its depth early in the campaign but now appears to be growing stronger with each passing week.

  The atmosphere inside the Racecourse Ground was electric once again, with fans fully embracing their side’s newfound confidence. The energy in the stands, mirrored by the team’s intensity on the pitch, reflected a club that has rediscovered its belief at home. The full-time whistle was met with jubilant scenes, while Ryan Reynolds’ short Instagram post — “This Town. This heart. Forever.” — summed up the pride that has defined Wrexham’s remarkable rise.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Intensity' key to Wrexham's return to form in the Championship

  Wrexham’s resurgence has come at a good time. From a nervy start to life back in the Championship — their first appearance in the second tier since 1982 — to now sitting four points off the play-offs, the Red Dragons’ transformation has been a testament to patience, structure, and spirit. The early-season growing pains, marked by defensive errors and narrow defeats, have given way to a side that plays with organisation, confidence, and self-belief.

  As Parkinson put it, the “intensity” has returned — a feeling long associated with Wrexham’s ascent through the divisions. The Wrexham boss said:  "I think the atmosphere now and the feeling in the stadium is what we've been used to. Those early games, we didn't quite create that intensity in our play. We had some really good periods in all those games but we got punished in key moments.

  "The Oxford game, I thought the support was great. Coventry was special and today, what an atmosphere. We've always spoke about making this place difficult for the opposition to play and I think we've got it where we need it to be, and we've got to keep it there. That comes with the supporters obviously playing their part like they've done so well today, but also the manner of the performance, the physicality.

  "I think Issa Kabore kind of typifies that really in his fighting spirit and the defenders winning headers when they needed to and playing with that physicality, and teams know if they come to Wrexham, they're in for a tough afternoon." 

• Wrexham's remarkable story from non-league to Championship

  Wrexham’s return to the Championship marks one of football’s most remarkable modern success stories — a story written not only through investment but through culture. Since Reynolds and Rob Mac took ownership in 2021, the club has undergone a complete transformation, combining Hollywood ambition with genuine community spirit. What began as a bold experiment has evolved into a model of sustainable growth, media influence, and sporting ambition.

  The documentary Welcome to Wrexham introduced the club to global audiences, but it’s their on-field progress that continues to astound. Three consecutive promotions — from the National League to the Championship — were achieved through smart recruitment, shrewd management, and the unwavering backing of the fanbase.

  Financial investment from the owners has undoubtedly been key, with improved training facilities, global sponsorships, and Racecourse Ground redevelopment projects all elevating the club’s infrastructure. Yet, beyond the money, Reynolds and Mac’s genuine emotional connection to Wrexham remains the defining factor.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Wrexham will look to maintain form after the break

  Wrexham enter the international break sitting comfortably in 13th place. Phil Parkinson will use the next fortnight to rest key players and prepare for a challenging run of fixtures, beginning with a trip to Ipswich Town on November 22. Maintaining this momentum could turn a season of survival into one of genuine promotion contention.

  For Reynolds and Mac, the latest chapter in Wrexham’s journey is further vindication of their long-term vision. The club’s trajectory continues to defy expectation, with performances on the pitch matching the ambition off it.

Nottinghamshire batter Matthew Montgomery joins Derbyshire on three-year contract

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2025Gloucestershire’s England Lions fast bowler Ajeet Singh Dale has agreed a move to Lancashire at the end of the season, signing a three-year contract, while fellow seamer Matt Milnes has opted for a return to Kent after three injury-hit seasons with Yorkshire.Singh Dale, 25, is regarded as one of the quickest bowlers on the county circuit and was subject to interest from several counties after entering the final summer of his contract with Gloucestershire, whom he joined from Hampshire in 2022. Across four seasons at Bristol, he took 81 first-class wickets at 38.24, as well as being picked for the Lions in 2024 and 2025.Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, described Singh Dale as an “exciting young fast bowler with genuine pace and a real hunger to keep on developing and improving his game” who would help add depth to the attack at Old Trafford.Singh Dale said: “I’m really excited to be joining Lancashire and can’t wait to get started with the club in November. Lancashire has an exceptionally strong squad, which can compete across all formats, and I’m looking forward to pushing myself in a new environment while contributing towards success for this great club.”I have heard great things about the set-up and facilities at Emirates Old Trafford and I’m confident it’s the right place for me to take the next step in my career with the Red Rose.”Matt Milnes claimed his maiden five-wicket haul for Yorkshire this week• Allan McKenzie/SWPIx.comMilnes, 31, has opted to head back to Kent on a three-year deal in order to be closer to family, having failed to make the expected impact after signing for Yorkshire in 2022. He only managed five County Championship appearances across three seasons, due to a series of back problems, with his best figures coming in their most-recent match – victory over Sussex at Scarborough that lifted hopes of the club avoiding relegation.A member of the Kent team that won the 2021 T20 Blast, Milnes said he was “excited to come back to Kent and join this new project under Adam Hollioake”. In a successful first spell at Canterbury, he claimed 126 first-class wickets at 27.15, as well as 37 in T20.Simon Cook, Kent director of cricket, said: “We’re delighted that Milnesy has chosen to come back to Kent. He was an extremely big part of our bowling attack during our sustained periods of success in his first time here, and he is an extremely talented bowler in both red- and white-ball cricket.”As we plan for the future in our ethos of producing Kent talent, his experience will also be a great boost to us, too.”Montgomery to join DerbyshireMatthew Montgomery’s offspin has been successful in T20•Getty ImagesNottinghamshire batter Matthew Montgomery will make the switch to Derbyshire on a three-year contract. He will join the club initially on loan for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup (although will be ineligible to face Notts).Montgomery, who was born in South Africa but has a German passport, made his Notts debut in 2021 and scored the first of his two first-class hundreds the following summer. Although he has only played once in the County Championship this year, he became an integral part of the T20 side, topping the bowling averages with 15 wickets at 18.06.”Matt has chosen to join our project at Derbyshire and we’re delighted to welcome him to the club,” Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire’s head of cricket, said. “He’s a batter with real ability in all formats, and he will get the opportunity to show what he can do. His bowling will also be a real asset for us in T20 cricket.”Montgomery said: “I’m excited to work with Mickey and join a group that is moving in the right direction. I look forward to taking this next step in my career and hope I can contribute to Derbyshire’s success across all formats.”

Juan Soto's free agency continues to command the rest of the market, as teams await the seismic decision from the 26-year-old. According to reports, multiple teams have already submitted offers for Soto after meeting with the outfielder and his agent Scott Boras.

After meeting with teams last week, MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed a report from NJ.com's Randy Miller which stated five teams had made offers for Soto's services. Those teams include the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

It could be a while until Soto makes his decision, and it's also possible those teams send improved offers as they look to outbid one another. Other teams could also enter the mix and submit offers of their own. It has been reported that Soto's looming deal could eclipse $700 million. It could also include deferred money similar to the deal Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers in December of 2023.

Last season, Soto enjoyed a career year with the New York Yankees, launching 41 home runs and recording a .989 OPS. It's still possible he re-ups with the organization to remain in the Bronx where he and Aaron Judge could be a dynamic duo for the foreseeable future.

Major League Baseball has finally started experimenting with robot umpires, but it might be a while until we see them in regular season games.

During 2025 spring training, MLB has adopted the Automated Ball-Strike system minor league teams have been using. So far, it seems to have been a success, with only minor interruptions to gameplay.

What Is ABS?

The ABS, or Automated Ball-Strike system, is a pitch-calling system that utilizes Hawk-Eye technology to track pitches on their path to the plate. The system is capable of pinpointing where the ball was in relation to the strike zone as it crosses the plate. It is similar to the line-calling system used in tennis.

The minor leagues have been using ABS since 2022, mostly with a challenge system in place. In that system, the home plate umpire calls balls and strikes, but each team can challenge three pitches per game. The hitter, pitcher or catcher can initiate a challenge immediately after the call is made. Once the challenge is called for, the umpire stops the game and announces the challenge, and the pitch's tracking is shown on a screen to reveal the correct call.

If the challenging team is successful, they retain their challenge. If their challenge fails, they lose it.

The system helps create more consistent and accurate calls behind the plate, while making umpire errors more rare. Though some complain removing the human element of an umpire calling balls and strikes is a bad thing.

Will MLB Use ABS in 2025?

Major League Baseball is experimenting with the ABS challenge system during spring training in 2025, but there are currently no plans to use it during the regular season. That said, it seems like the experiment has been well-received by fans and players alike, opening the door for it to be used in the future.

The fact that MLB is testing the system in spring training means the league is seriously considering its implementation. It could take another year or two for that to come to fruition, but the ball is certainly being moved in that direction.

Are things in danger of unravelling at Tottenham Hotspur?

Let’s cast our minds back to the Ange Postecoglou era. It all began at a rip-roaring pace before the Aussies’ chaotic team were found out.

Is the same now happening to Thomas Frank’s team? The Dane was enjoying a pretty perfect first few months in the hot seat and with Daniel Levy gone, a promising new era beckoned.

Yet, in recent months, results have not been up to scratch. Spurs have won just two of their last eight games in all competitions, and since their impressive 3-0 win over Everton a week ago, have endured a wretched week.

The Lilywhites crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Newcastle and then turned in arguably their worst performance of the Frank era to date in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

So bad were Spurs that Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher simply said as the game neared its end that they had been “absolutely awful”.

To make matters worse, clips emerged post-game showing two Spurs players walking straight past the manager at full-time.

That being said, at the front of their woes is the marquee summer signing, Xavi Simons.

Why Xavi Simons is struggling at Spurs

What a peculiar summer Spurs had. The big focus, particularly after James Maddison’s injury, was to sign a creative force.

They missed out on Premier League-proven talents in the shape of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze and were forced to turn their attentions elsewhere. How they must wish they’d got one of Gibbs-White or Eze.

Simons has been a wonderful talent out in the Bundesliga but much like fellow attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, has really struggled to make an impact in English football.

The Dutchman has failed to score across 12 outings in Spurs colours and has just one assist to show for his efforts.

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While there have been flickers of brilliance, he is clearly struggling with the physicality of the league and is suffering from the lack of time you are given on the ball.

That was particularly notable during the 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday evening, perhaps the nadir of Simons’ time in north London to date.

The Netherlands international wasn’t initially selected to start the game but was thrust into the action after just seven minutes when Lucas Bergvall went off injured.

To sum up his woes, Simons was then withdrawn from the action with 17 minutes of normal time to go.

He trudged off the pitch having not completed a key pass or provided an accurate cross. He also gave away possession 15 times and completed a solitary dribble from three attempts.

Aged just 22, Simons does at least have time on his side but he will need to improve quickly. Another of Spurs’ big underperformers may not be quite so fortuitous as far as time is concerned.

Spurs underperformer is as big of a problem as Simons

While the summer signing has become a large issue for Frank in recent weeks, so has one of the club’s most experienced players; Pedro Porro.

Donning the captain’s armband, more should be expected of the Spaniard but the fact of the matter is that his form is waning under the new regime.

While Porro has never been the most awe-inspiring from a defensive point of view, it’s not just been that aspect of his game to let him down in 2025/26.

Handed a 4/10 rating post-game by football.london, they wrote that he ‘struggled to make things happen with his passing loose for much of the encounter’.

Minutes played

73

Accurate passes

18/30 (60%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/6

Touches

51

Possession lost

23x

Shots

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Recoveries

2

Duels won

3/7

That was certainly showcased in the stats with the full-back not impressing in many of his duties at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He dismally completed just 60% of his passes, ceding possession on 23 occasions. The Spain international also failed to complete a tackle or make an interception.

It’s safe to say he didn’t leave a strong impression on the fanbase with one Spurs content creator describing it as Porro’s “worst performance in a long time.” Quite.

So, as Frank’s side get ready to face Copenhagen in midweek, perhaps it would be advantageous to drop Porro, moving Djed Spence to right back and bringing Destiny Udogie back in at left-back.