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They have a tall and young left-arm seamer, and a batter reaching his prime to fill key roles for the future

Firdose Moonda29-Dec-20211:08

Rabada: ‘We just have to show belief’

It’s going to take an effort that we haven’t seen since Colombo 2014 or luck that last occurred in Hamilton in 2017 for South Africa to pull off a great escape or win in Centurion. Against this Indian attack on this SuperSport Park pitch, that seems unlikely. So it’s to the analysis we turn.We already know that this performance has shown South Africa the importance of starting well with the ball and has underlined the problems of inexperience in their top six but it has also shown them that in this XI, there are two relative unknowns with the potential to carve out successful careers. Marco Jansen and Keegan Petersen are part of the future and should be treated as such. In them, South Africa have a young bowler, and a batter reaching his prime to fill key roles in their rebuild.While finding promising quicks has seldom been an issue for South Africa, finding variation sometimes has been. Beuran Hendricks is the last left-arm seamer to play for South Africa after Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe in the last decade. None of them stuck for too long but Jansen, who is quicker, could be different. At 21-years-old and having already been courted by the IPL, South Africa have to manage him carefully and his call-up to the Test squad over the last year was seen as a means of clever planning without any strong indication that he would play imminently. Until Boxing Day.Jansen found himself in the spotlight after he was chosen ahead of Duanne Olivier, only for it to emerge that Olivier was unavailable for selection because of a hamstring niggle and the lingering effects from Covid-19. Confirmation on the reasons for Olivier’s omission, which came as a surprise given he is the leading wicket-taker in the first-class competition this season, only came from CSA’s selection convenor on day two, after South Africa conceded 272 runs and took just three wickets on the opening day. Jansen bowled 17 overs and finished with 0 for 61 on the day, including an opening over which cost 12.In the absence of any clear information on Olivier’s absence until then, comparisons were being made between Jansen’s performance and what Olivier could have offered. Those were unfair, because Jansen was not preferred over Olivier but was necessitated to play. ESPNcricinfo has learnt that the team management was concerned about the impact of early and harsh critique on Jansen but once the selection debacle was cleared up, they needn’t really have been. As Kagiso Rabada said, Jansen went on to “justify his selection” in the last two days.It was in India’s second innings that Jansen came into his own. He took a wicket with his first ball, which angled across Mayank Agarwal to take an edge, consistently bowled around 140kmph, exploited the uneven bounce with good use of the short ball. He dismissed the man he had impressed at the Wanderers nets almost four years ago as a teenager, Virat Kohli, had Ajinkya Rahane caught, who was unable to control the hook from chest height, and finished the Indian second innings with the perfect ball to a tail-ender.It was a moment to savour for Marco Jansen, as he removed Virat Kohli first ball after the lunch break•Gallo Images/Getty Images”He is a phenomenal talent as everyone has now seen,” Rabada said. “He is an awkward customer to face. He is tall and he’s got pace and he can swing the ball as well so there’s swing, bounce and pace coming at you. And he seems like he wants to learn. He is a hard worker. He is really keen on doing well for this team and for himself.”That’s the kind of player South Africa want to nurture and they must not make the same mistake they did with another young quick, Lutho Sipamla. At this same ground, Sipamla debuted a year ago and his first 10 overs in Test cricket cost 66 runs as questions about his readiness abounded. He went on to take 10 for 101 in the rest of the series against Sri Lanka, but has not played since.Despite being South Africa A’s leading bowler against India A and with good domestic returns this season, Sipamla is not even in the 21-player squad to face India and there has been no explanation why. Earlier this summer he told ESPNcricinfo that he understood there is a pecking order and he needs to bide his time but he considers himself part of the system, a system in which Jansen has now leapfrogged him. But Jansen could face similar uncertainty.Olivier is expected to be fit for the Wanderers Test, where he has taken 24 out of his 28 wickets this season, and has to come back into contention. Unless South Africa go all pace, that may mean Jansen has to make way and it will seem harsh. But South Africa have five more Tests scheduled this summer and a winter tour to England and they should stick with Jansen for some of that.Whether Petersen will get a similar run remains to be seen, but there is a strong case to be made that he should. After first being selected in the squad in the 2019-20 summer, Petersen waited 18 months for his debut in the West Indies in June and has just played his first Test at home. Early impressions of him are that he looks like a million dollars. He is elegant on the flick and the drive, authoritative on the cut and though we didn’t get to see it in this Test, he has got the footwork to play spin according to his domestic coach Imraan KhanDespite his lack of significant runs, only good things have been said about Petersen so far. South Africa’s former analyst Prasanna Agoram said Petersen should be “permanent No.3” irrespective of his returns in the next 10 Tests while Ian Bishop called Petersen’s technique “pleasing” and predicted “a couple of Test hundreds” from him “in the appropriate conditions.”

Keegan Petersen plays in lovely straight lines has a pleasing technique. Looks like he has a couple of test hundreds in him in the appropriate conditions.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 29, 2021

The Phillies got eliminated by the Dodgers in equally heartbreaking and embarrassing fashion on Thursday night.

In the 11th inning of Game 4 of the NLDS, the score was tied 1-1 and Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering was on the mound with two outs. With the bases loaded, Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hit a weak ground ball right to Kerkering, who only needed to throw to first base to get the third out and end the inning. But after Kerkering picked up the ball, he lifted his head and immediately threw it to catcher J.T. Realmuto at home plate. The ball sailed over Realmuto, the Dodgers scored a run, and just like that, Philly's 2025 season was over.

Following Kerkering's brutal error, he walked off the field surrounded by his teammates. He was met by manager Rob Thomson at the entrance of the dugout, and the two shared a brief embrace and an emotional moment. Thomson appeared to impart some words of consolation to the reliever before patting Kerkering on the chest and sending him on his way:

Kerkering also received support from his teammates in the dugout as he sat on the bench and looked visibly shaken by what just transpired.

What a truly terrible way for the Phillies to go out, though Kerkering still has plenty reason to keep his head up and move on from this lowlight, as his manager no doubt hopes he will do.

"He just got caught up in the moment a little bit. Coming down the stretch, he pitched so well for us," Thomson said of Kerkering postgame. "I feel for him because he's putting it all on his shoulders. But we win as a team and we lose as a team."

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O goleiro Cássio se despediu do Corinthians neste sábado (18), no CT Joaquim Grava, recebeu homenagens e, em meio a muitas perguntas, falou sobre o atual titular da meta do Timão: Carlos Miguel, de 25 anos. O arqueiro conquistou a vaga entre os 11 do Timão recentemente, e vem fazendo boas partidas com a camisa do clube paulista. O Timão, inclusive, corre o risco de perder o goleiro.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

➡️ Acredita que o Timão avançará em primeiro no grupo da Sul-Americana? Se liga nas odds: 1.53

– O Miguel é um cara de muita qualidade, tem jogado bem e tem muito potencial. Agora depende dele, ele é o titular absoluto, agora é sequência, uma situação nova. Temos uma amizade muito boa, nunca tivemos problema, ele tem uma história de vida de superação, é lindo de falar – disse o goleiro.

Cássio disse, inclusive, que nunca imaginou ficar por 12 anos no gol do Corinthians, portanto, é muito difícil falar sobre Carlos Miguel nesse quesito, já que é um jovem goleiro que ainda tem muito pela frente.

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– O Corinthians não precisa ir atrás de goleiro, tem muita gente boa aqui, dois excelentes treinadores de goleiros, eu com certeza construí a minha história por conta desses dois grande profissionais. Desejo muito sucesso a todos ele e o Corinthians está bem servido de goleiro – completou Cássio.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

+ Corinthians oficializa saída de Cássio: veja o que sabemos sobre a rescisão do goleiro

Sobre o fim de seu ciclo com a camisa do Corinthians, Cássio afirmou que já vinha se preparando para este momento, e que deixa o clube em paz e pela porta da frente.

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– Eu creio que eu vinha me preparando, lógico que o Miguel vinha bem, mas se eu ficasse aqui, eu “ia para a porrada” para disputar a posição. Mas acho que o ciclo acabou mesmo, eu olho para trás e vejo um ciclo bem feito, com respeito, com o presidente aqui, com a sala cheia, então saio pela porta da frente, vendo que tudo funciona – completou.

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CorinthiansFutebol Nacional

تمكن فريق بيراميدز من الفوز على نظيره فريق باور ديناموز الزامبي، ذلك ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وواجه فريق بيراميدز نظيره فريق باور ديناموز، اليوم السبت، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الثانية من مباريات المجموعة الأولي للبطولة القارية.

ويتواجد بيراميدز في المجموعة الأولي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا بجانب أندية نهضة بركان المغربي وباور ديناموز الزامبي وريفرز النيجيري.

وفار فريق بيراميدز على فريق باور ديناموز بهدف دون رد، أحرزه محمد رضا بوبو في الدقيقة 50 من عمر الشوط الثاني. 

وبهذه النتيجة وصل بيراميدز إلى 6 نقاط، في المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة بالتساوي مع فريق نهضة بركان المغربي المتصدر، الذي يملك نفس العدد من النقاط. 

وكان فريق نهضة بركان المغربي فاز على ريفرز يونايتد النيجيري، بهدفين لهدف، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مساء الجمعة.

طالع.. فيديو | بيراميدز يقتنص فوزًا ثمينًا أمام باور ديناموز في دوري أبطال إفريقيا ترتيب مجموعة بيراميدز في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

1- نهضة بركان، 6 نقاط من مباراتين.     

 2- بيراميدز، 6 نقاط من مباراتين.

3- باور ديناموز،  بدون نقاط من مباراتين.

4- ريفرز يونايتد، دون نقاط من مباراتين.

If Daniel Farke is relieved of his duties soon by the 49ers regime, how will he be remembered among the die-hard Leeds United fanbase?

First and foremost, there will likely always be some fondness towards the German from the Elland Road faithful for being the manager who delivered a promotion back up to the Premier League, having collected the Championship title on a mighty 100 points.

But, in the here and now, that title success – and the subsequent parade that merrily went through Leeds city centre – feels like a lifetime ago, with the ex-Norwich City boss continuing to struggle in the Premier League as a head coach.

A change could soon come then, with the Whites now five defeats from their last six league games and stuck in 18th spot.

Unfortunately, though, Leeds haven’t always got it right when getting right of celebrated promotion winners in the past, with Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement coming in the form of Jesse Marsch, who could only muster up a weak 11 wins from the pressurised dug out.

On top of that, his track record in the transfer department left a lot to be desired when he was situated in West Yorkshire, with all of his hits, followed by a large list of poor misses.

Leeds’ top five most expensive signings

Player

Cost

The manager who signed them

1. Georginio Rutter

£35.5m

Marsch

2. Brenden Aaronson

£28.5m

Marsch

3. Rodrigo

£26m

Bielsa

4. Dan James

£25m

Bielsa

5. Luis Sinisterra

£21m

Marsch

Sourced by FFC

Ranking Marsch's signings at Leeds

Amazingly, Marsch would sign off on Leeds’ two most expensive captures of all time during his whirlwind 12-month stint in England.

Georginio Rutter never really kicked into gear at the Whites under the unpopular American’s management, but considering he managed to put away eight goals and 18 assists in the end, largely under Farke, he is definitely seen as a success story, having also banked Leeds £40m when he moved to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Another standout success story from Marsch’s spending is Wilfried Gnonto, even if he is not now a regular under the current regime.

Landing the tricky Italian for just £3.8m continues to stand out to his day as an almighty bargain, with the ex-FC Zurich attacker even managing to star under Marsch, when collecting three goals from just 12 games under his methods, which included this fierce effort being thumped home.

Unfortunately for Marsch, this is where his positives in the transfer department begin to dry up, with a vast majority of the ten other signings made under his short-lived tenure no longer at the club.

Luis Sinisterra would at least manage to bag a promising five league goals at Elland Road, to somewhat justify the lavish £21m dropped on his services, but much like Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, and Marc Roca who all joined the Leeds ranks together at the same time, this wave of disappointing pick-ups couldn’t leave the building any faster after relegation was confirmed.

Weston McKennie has also left a bad taste in the mouth up to the present as a failed loanee under Marsch, with the American midfielder registering just one forgettable assist from 20 appearances, which led to the ex-Juventus man labelling the short stint as one of the “lowest” points of his varied career.

The elephant in the room now is, of course, the fact that the current Canada boss was the figure who first brought Brenden Aaronson to English shores, with the former £28.5m purchase a constant source of frustration.

Marsch couldn’t quite get a tune out of the ex-Union Berlin man, despite working closely alongside him at RB Leipzig, with just one sorry goal all he could muster up, before his fellow compatriot’s dismissal.

Thankfully, Farke has managed to get the best out of the 25-year-old in flashes, particularly in the Championship. Yet, with just one goal and one assist all he wrote this season in the Premier League so far, the consensus will be that Leeds overpaid back in 2022 when securing the hit-and-miss playmaker’s services for £28.5m.

Aaronson’s record under Farke

Season

Games

Goals + Assists

25/26

13

1 + 1

24/25

47

9 + 2

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Still, Aaronson does have his nine strikes to fall back on during Leeds’ phenomenal promotion journey.

Whereas this summer recruit has little to cling onto, as he already looks to be an even bigger waste of money than Aaronson’s much-talked-about arrival.

Leeds have made a bigger error than Aaronson

Much like the West Yorkshire giants showed off during Marsch’s reign, significant wads of cash were also dropped in the off-season to try and prepare Leeds for the gigantic leap up to the Premier League.

A position that was in dire need of upgrading was definitely in between the sticks, with Illan Meslier overstaying his welcome as Leeds’ number one goalkeeper by the time a top-flight return was officially clinched, having become error-prone during the Whites’ vital promotion run-in.

Therefore, Leeds must have thought they’d hit the jackpot when they secured the services of Lucas Perri for a substantial £13.9m, with the Brazilian ‘stopper previously being tipped to be one of the “best in the world” in his position by his former manager Paulo Fonseca.

However, the top-flight newcomers have yet to see the calm and assured version of Perri that regularly shone for Lyon – with ten clean sheets falling into his lap last season in Ligue 1 – with the South American receiving plenty of pelters, instead, particularly when he conceded this Morgan Rogers free-kick last time out, as he bizarrely remained rooted to his spot.

Off the back of leaking this effort from Rogers, Perri has now given up a costly eight goals across his string of depressing clashes in November, with the underlying numbers overall – away from just goals conceded – also pointing in the direction of the number one being a colossal waste of cash.

Indeed, it’s unclear now if Leeds have even upgraded on a wobbly Meslier, with Meslier arguably a better option at this point, with his 21 clean sheets in the tough division to date an impressive tally, weighed up next to Perri’s two so far.

The drop-off from his standout Ligue 1 campaign last season is also extremely worrying, with Perri averaging a 74% pass accuracy in the French top division, compared to him now regularly mis-hitting passes, at a far lesser average of 57%.

Of course, the defenders do have to share their load of the blame here for the recent porous displays, but the backline cannot be confident whatsoever, having a ropey Perri behind them, with ex-Leeds player Jon Newsome rightly suggesting that Farke and the 49ers had “wasted funds” after the demoralising 3-1 defeat at the City Ground.

In another reality, Leeds might well have been better sticking with what they had over splashing £13.9m on Perri, with Aaronson at least putting in bright performances here and there this season, while the new ‘keeper has routinely suffered.

Indeed, one Leeds content creator would even hail his showing against West Ham United as “his best in a Leeds shirt”, with eight duels won against the Hammers, standing him in good stead for any relegation scrap that comes, away from also firing an effort home.

The relegation-threatened side would have hoped they’d moved past notable blunders in the transfer department when Marsch left the building, but it looks as if Perri could now be seen in the same light as failed faces such as Sinisterra and Adams down the line, particularly if relegation is grimly served up and the Whites struggle to offload him.

Related Leeds in one of the biggest transfer battles of all time for England midfielder

He could add so much quality and bite to the midfield.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Nov 25, 2025

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.

Blazing a trail for cricket’s fast-bowling women suits Lauren Filer just fine, but she’ll gladly pull others along with her.Filer averaged 76mph in bowling the fastest recorded over in women’s cricket during England’s thrilling five-run victory over India in the third T20I at The Oval on Friday. She was twice clocked at 79mph in her fourth over – the 16th in India’s pursuit of 172 – and she said the magical 80mph mark was firmly on her radar.”Not to sound cocky, but I think I knew that I’d be able to push close to 80,” Filer said of that over. “I sort of touched on 78 every so often over the last year and, for me on Friday, the great thing about it was the fact that it was more consistent, that’s what I’ve been trying to do.Related

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“It’s not necessarily hitting that one ball that’s 80, that’s not going to make the difference. The difference is the consistency of increasing my speed. From the game in Trent Bridge, I think I was averaging 73, then I went up to 75 in Bristol and now obviously 76 at The Oval.”That’s what I’m trying to aim for and hopefully again I can hit that 80 number. I’m just going to try and keep consistently bowling at that mid-70s and in the women’s game that’s not heard of very often, so that’s my aim.”Filer has made some technical changes, including increasing her run-up since returning from the knee injury which kept her out of England’s T20I series against West Indies earlier in the season. As a result, she feels more “in time”.”Bowling’s all about feel,” she said. “It’s not about trying to lug it down as fast as you can because on Friday I didn’t necessarily feel at my quickest, but actually it’s usually then is when you probably are bowling your quickest, it’s all about flow and rhythm.”So it is more just getting into time and cleaning up my action. I’m quite limby, it’s all limbs go everywhere, so it’s all just bringing it together and that’s what’s happened over the last couple of games.”Filer has a propensity to fall over in her follow-through, which particularly stood out during the Ashes in January. There, she said her front foot was sliding a long way along the surfaces, causing her to fall over, which wasn’t a problem in the moments when she went tumbling in London last week.”It’s nothing that’s to be massively concerned about,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the pitch and then sometimes it’s just me.”Sometimes I just land and I just get in a position where I end up having to just tuck and roll and I’ve sort of mastered that, which is good because it just hurts less.Filer is hoping to breach the 80mph barrier•ECB via Getty Images

“We’re not too concerned as long I’m staying on my feet the majority of the time. It’s not affecting me massively and I can still generally bowl quick with this action. If I can do that, I don’t want to tweak with it too much because it could end up affecting it negatively.”Last year, Shabnim Ismail breached 130kph (80.7mph) for the first time in the women’s game, playing for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals at the WPL, reaching 132.1kph (82.08mph) nine months after she retired from international cricket.South African Ismail also holds the record for the fastest delivery in women’s international cricket – 128kmph (79.54mph) against West Indies in 2016.The prospect of putting herself in that 80mph bracket brings a sense of excitement for Filer in terms of highlighting fast bowling in the women’s game.”That’s probably the reason why I want to hit it,” she said. “It’s not necessarily a personal milestone in myself, but actually proving that women can get to that milestone and hopefully others can follow as well.”I don’t want it just to be one or two people. We want loads of women to be able to be bowling at that speed. After Friday people are probably talking about it more than they were and hopefully if I can hit it then it encourages other people to try and aim for that and actually make the game even more exciting than it already is.”Filer isn’t the first bowler in this England women’s team to speak of bowling at 80mph. Five years ago, a then-17-year-old Issy Wong said she had ambitions to reach the milestone because it had “never been hit by a girl yet”.Wong is still re-establishing herself in England’s T20I squad after battling problems with her rhythm and run-up in 2023, having made her international debut the previous year. She took 1 for 36 from her four overs at The Oval, her first outing of the series with India, having played two T20Is against West Indies.Filer took 2 for 30 in the latest game against India, that pivotal over resulting in a dropped catch off Harmanpreet Kaur, the key wicket of Smriti Mandhana for 56 and a spicy welcome for Richa Ghosh, pinged hard on the helmet, all in the space of three deliveries.England will need more of the same as their next encounter, at Old Trafford on Wednesday, remains a must-win game for the hosts if they are to keep the five-match series alive. India lead 2-1 after a thumping 97-run win in the opening match at Trent Bridge and 24-run victory in Bristol.Winning matches for England, Filer says, is her main aim and the reason she has her eye on the speed gun.”I’ve always sort of kept a number on the speeds, but it’s not necessarily a judgement piece for me. It probably shows me whether I’m doing my technical stuff right,” she said.”If I don’t do some of the technical stuff that I have been doing right then I end up being slower. So for me it’s more of a thing to see if I’ve done my stuff well. I generally come off a pitch and ask the analyst what my average speed was and what my fastest ball was just to see where I was at.”I want to help us win games and if that means bowling 80 miles an hour or getting close to it, if that’s the way, then great. If it’s not, then I’ve got to focus on my variations or doing something else that’s going to help us win games.”

German football legend Lothar Matthaus believes 17-year-old Lennart Karl could be the next Jamal Musiala, a fearless and technically gifted prodigy destined for Bayern Munich stardom under Vincent Kompany. After scoring on his Champions League debut and in the Bundesliga against Borussia Monchengladbach in the same week, Karl has captured Germany’s attention, with Matthaus seeing in him the same blend of boldness and intelligence that made Musiala a modern Bayern jewel.

• The rise of Bayern's new teen sensation

  When Karl marked his Champions League debut with a curling strike against Club Brugge, the Allianz Arena erupted. At 17, he became Bayern’s youngest-ever scorer in the competition, breaking a record once set by Musiala. But beyond the goal, it was his composure, creativity, and quiet confidence that truly turned heads.

  Bayern’s 4-0 win over Brugge was emphatic, but Karl’s performance was the story. From his first touch to his explosive runs, he looked every inch a Bayern player – technical, decisive, and unafraid. His journey, however, has been anything but instant. Karl began in Germany’s fifth tier with Viktoria Aschaffenburg, before stints at Eintracht Frankfurt’s youth system and a return to Viktoria in 2022. Bayern signed him later that year, drawn to his intelligence and discipline. From scoring 17 goals in nine matches for Bayern’s U17 side to dazzling in Europe, his rise is a story of persistence and purpose, not hype.

  It’s no surprise that his performances have impressed former German captain Matthaus. The World Cup-winning legend has spoken glowingly about the young winger, setting the stage for wider recognition of Karl’s rapid rise in the Bundesliga.

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• Getty Images
  

  Matthaus claims “Karl will be deployed regularly”

  Among those watching Karl’s evolution closely is German football legend Matthaus, who has hailed the teenager as one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting young prospects. In his column, Matthaus drew parallels between Karl and his teammate Musiala, praising both for their confidence and technical flair.

  "Can Karl follow the path Jamal Musiala took before him? The possibilities are always there; it's up to the player himself, and he needs a coach who trusts him. I think Kompany trusts him based on his recent performances and isn't worried about benching or substituting a seasoned player for him. And I believe Karl will get regular playing time because he's delivered when he's been on the pitch," Matthaus said.

  The former Bayern player further added: "Karl will be deployed regularly. Vincent Kompany has slowly introduced Karl to the team, with brief appearances in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and last week, his first full 90 minutes in the Champions League. Karl caused a sensation with his goals against Bruges and Gladbach, but he still needs to show up in training every day. He's ambitious and wants to develop – those are the basic requirements."

  For Matthaus, the 17-year-old's rise reflects deeper philosophy, as he explains: "This presents a great opportunity for FC Bayern to integrate another player from the campus into the first team, after Pavlovic and Stanisic, as Uli Hoeneß has always wanted. I believe Karl can become an important player for Kompany, who just extended his contract until 2029."

• Jonas Urbig also finding his stride at Munich

  While the headlines belong to Karl, another young name is staking a claim, Jonas Urbig. Signed by Bayern in January 2025 on a long-term deal, Urbig’s trajectory has been quietly impressive. A product of Koln’s youth system, he gained senior experience on loans at Jahn Regensburg and Greuther Furth, compiling 33 appearances and 11 clean sheets across those spells, including a run of over 600 minutes without conceding in 2023.

  Urbig’s Bayern breakthrough came under pressure when Manuel Neuer’s absence handed the youngster sudden responsibility. Urbig replaced Neuer in a Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen and kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win. Over the 2024-25 season he made eight Bundesliga appearances and four in Europe, showing command in the box, calm distribution and an ability to deal with heavy workloads.

  Speaking about Urbig, Matthaus said: "Urbig has done well at Bayern so far, apart from one mistake in Berlin, and was there when it mattered most. He can learn from Manuel Neuer every day in training . If he develops accordingly, he may eventually become Neuer's successor."

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• AFP
  

  Kompany’s calm amid the noise

  “This isn't normal. I'm not a fan of the hype he'll get now” Kompany said after Karl's debut in Champions League. "I'm a fan of training and calm. We'll see what he shows and just move on." 

  The coach's words remind the young star that it is okay to celebrate the moment, but one should know when to return to fundamentals. It’s the same approach that has allowed Urbig to grow: steady exposure, ownership of errors, and daily work.

  With Kompany recently signed until 2029, Bayern have signalled they want continuity. Karl and Urbig are beneficiaries of that stability. Karl will continue to receive minutes in cup ties, rotational league appearances and carefully selected European outings; Urbig will keep accumulating high-pressure experience until a permanent succession plan is clear.

Everton has long been synonymous with the development of English talent, cultivating players through one of the Premier League’s most respected academy systems.

From the legendary emergence of Wayne Rooney to modern stars like Anthony Gordon, the club has consistently provided a pathway for young players to break into the first team and make an impact on both domestic and international stages.

The club’s focus is clear: technical development, tactical intelligence, and professional growth are embedded from academy to senior squad.

Competitive youth fixtures, exposure to domestic cups give emerging players confidence and experience under pressure.

This structured approach ensures that English graduates are not only technically proficient but also resilient and tactically aware – qualities essential in modern football.

Under David Moyes, Everton’s strategy of integrating homegrown talent continues, blending experienced professionals with promising English players.

This season, Jack Grealish has become the symbol of the club’s revival, while another young talent represents the future of English defensive prospects at Goodison Park.

Why Grealish deserves a World Cup place for England

Grealish, 30, has been central to Everton’s resurgence under Moyes.

Arriving from Manchester City, Grealish has gradually regained the form that once made him a household name in England – staking his claim to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans heading into 2026, despite being overlooked recently.

In the 2025/26 season, he has already contributed a goal and four assists in seven Premier League appearances, playing 557 minutes – almost matching his totals from last season when he played only 721 minutes due to injury.

Known for his creativity and ability to dictate the tempo, Grealish ranks in the 6th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (6.27), 4.39 progressive passes per 90, and maintains an 84.1% pass completion rate.

His shot-creating actions per 90 sit at 4.55, while he completes nearly two successful take-ons per game.

These metrics underline his influence in Everton’s attacking transitions, providing both flair and functional output.

His 93rd-minute goal against Crystal Palace to end their 19-match unbeaten run highlighted his ability to perform under pressure, again boosting his claim to be in Tuchel’s next squad, or next summer’s roster at the very least.

Despite past injuries limiting his minutes, Grealish’s resurgence under Moyes shows that he remains a key creative fulcrum, bridging experience and leadership for Everton’s younger English talents.

However, while all eyes focus on Grealish’s headline performances, his role may impact other English players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who thrive in similar carrying and passing areas but lack the freedom to shoot.

Everton’s system will need to balance flair and structure, ensuring Grealish’s influence does not inadvertently limit opportunities for other homegrown talents.

Why Branthwaite is the next big English talent at Everton

While Grealish is providing immediate returns, Jarrad Branthwaite represents the long-term promise of Everton’s English talent pipeline.

Born in 2002, the 6 foot 5 left-footed centre-back joined Everton from Carlisle United in January 2020 after nine league appearances.

Branthwaite has since made over 75 appearances for the senior side, featuring prominently during loan spells at Blackburn Rovers (ten appearances in 2021) and PSV Eindhoven (27 league games in 2022/23), where he scored twice, featured in European competitions, and won the KNVB Cup.

His leadership qualities and composure on the ball are complemented by defensive steel, ranking in the top 9% for clearances among Premier League defenders per 90.

Jarrad Branthwaite – 2024/25

Matches Played

30

Minutes

2,511

Blocks

31

Tackles

36

Challenges

20

Source: FBref

Internationally, Branthwaite has progressed steadily through England’s youth setup, earning eight U21 caps and winning the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship before making his senior debut in June 2024 in a 3–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite missing the start of the 2025/26 season due to a hamstring injury, his market value of £42m – as per Transfermarkt – and long-term contract until 2030 underscore Everton’s commitment to securing homegrown English talent.

Branthwaite – described as a “physical beast” by analyst Ben Mattinson – embodies the club’s vision: combining technical skill, tactical awareness, and maturity beyond his years.

As Everton continue to develop a squad capable of competing in the top half of the Premier League, the centre-back is expected to play a pivotal role once fully fit, complementing experienced players like Grealish and ensuring Everton’s tradition of nurturing English talent endures.

Everton’s commitment to developing English talent remains clear, blending the immediate impact of established stars like Grealish with the long-term promise of Branthwaite.

While Grealish’s resurgence provides creativity, energy, and leadership, Branthwaite represents the next generation of homegrown players ready to step into key roles.

Under Moyes, Everton continues to balance development and performance, giving both established and emerging English talents the platform to succeed.

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Posts ByWill Miller Oct 16, 2025