That will open up fresh possibilities for Sri Lankan cricket with day-night Tests becoming more viable in the country
Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Nov-2025The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo will get floodlights and other upgrades in preparation for the Men’s T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosts with India in February and March next year. Although the SSC has occasionally hosted daytime limited-overs internationals – especially women’s games – Colombo’s day-night games have all been played at Khettarama (R Premadasa Stadium), which in any case is the highest-capacity stadium in the country.SSC’s first match that will require lights will be the T20 World Cup Group B game between Oman and Zimbabwe, scheduled to start at 3pm local time on February 9. It is one of five matches the SSC is due to host at this World Cup. The first of those – between Netherlands and Pakistan on February 7 – will begin at 11am local time whereas the third fixture – between Pakistan and USA on February 10 – is the only match there to start at 7pm local time. Khettarama is set to host at least eight matches, and possibly the first semi-final and the final if Pakistan make it that far. Pallekele, the only Sri Lanka World Cup venue not in Colombo, will host seven games.Building floodlights at the SSC will open up fresh possibilities for Sri Lankan cricket with day-night Tests becoming more viable in the country. Although Khettarama is the preferred limited-overs venue in Colombo, the SSC and the P Sara Oval are still preferred for Tests, owing partly to their reputation for being boutique Test venues.Related
2026 T20 World Cup: Packed run-in for India, no games for Bangladesh
SL consider moving on from Asalanka as T20I captain
T20 World Cup: SL and Australia in Group B
Sri Lanka has never hosted a day-night Test, but Sri Lanka’s Test captains have also asked their board to arrange such a fixture, over the years.SLC confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that floodlights construction were already under way at the SSC.The ICC announced the schedule for the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, with the tournament set to run from February 7 to March 8 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
O Palmeiras, atual bicampeão brasileiro, ainda não demonstrou toda sua força neste início de Brasileirão. É verdade que o time comandado por Abel Ferreira já encarou “pedreiras” nas primeiras rodadas, mas agora, diante do Cuiabá neste domingo (5), às 18h30, na Arena Pantanal, tem a chance de fazer valer seu bom retrospecto no local para começar a embalar na busca pelo tri.
continua após a publicidade
➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras
+ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!
Os números do Verdão na casa do adversário são favoráveis, assim como o momento em que vive o Dourado no Nacional. O Cuiabá é o lanterna e ainda não pontuou no campeonato. Além disso, em três confrontos na Arena Pantanal, o time paulista venceu dois e empatou um, ou seja, está invicto. Foram também seis gols marcados e apenas dois sofridos.
+ Acredita que o Verdão vai fazer mais de 2,5 gols no Cuiabá? Se liga na odd para apostar: 2.49!
O lateral-esquerdo Caio Paulista acredita que o Palmeiras tem grandes chances de buscar a vitória após dois empates consecutivos no Brasileirão.
continua após a publicidade
– São muitos jogos, mas a virada de chave é necessária. Temos de buscar os três pontos fora de casa. Sabemos que jogar lá contra o Cuiabá é muito difícil, até pelo clima, e é uma grande equipe. Mas nós estamos bem preparados e capacitados para chegar lá, fazer um grande jogo e conseguir os três pontos.
O duelo entre as equipes aconteceu apenas seis vezes até o momento, todos pelo Brasileirão, e os números são favoráveis ao Palmeiras. O Verdão venceu quatro jogos, perdeu um e empatou outro. Na última vez em que os times se enfrentaram, no Nacional do ano passado, vitória do time paulista por 2 a 0, fora de casa.
continua após a publicidade
O Palmeiras não faz um grande início de Brasileirão. Em 12º lugar na tabela, o atual bicampeão da competição tem uma vitória, uma derrota e dois empates, e precisa voltar a vencer para saltar na pontuação, já que tem apenas cinco pontos.
Kai Rooney is being tipped to emulate the achievements of his record-breaking father Wayne by making a major impact at Manchester United. Former Red Devils striker Fraizer Campbell has told GOAL, during an exclusive interview, that it would be “fantastic for the club” to see another Rooney leading the line at some point in the not too distant future.
Yamal & Dowman prove to Rooney that anything is possible
Rooney junior is only 15 years of age, but the hottest of prospects have been making senior breakthroughs at that stage of their respective careers. Lamine Yamal earned his big break at Barcelona while in his mid-teens, while Max Dowman has done likewise at Arsenal.
There is no suggestion that Kai is knocking on Ruben Amorim’s door at Old Trafford just yet, but he continues to make positive progress down that path. He has been promoted through the age groups in United’s academy system, allowing him to prove his worth to club bosses.
Big pressure is being lumped onto his young shoulders, with Wayne Rooney still United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 efforts to his name. He won Premier League and Champions League titles with the Red Devils.
Advertisement
sportsphotos.ie Instagram
Will Kai Rooney follow Wayne into the Man Utd team?
Kai is eager to follow in illustrious footsteps, and has been catching the eye in a fabled academy. Many are suggesting that he is capable of matching his famous father by becoming a talismanic forward for Premier League heavyweights.
Quizzed on whether that could happen, ex-United star Campbell – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “That would be fantastic. He’s played up for the 18s and the 23s this season, I think. He’s doing really, really well. If he’s anything like his dad, it would be fantastic for the club because Rooney was unbelievable in his playing days – still now, he played in the legends game and he’s still got the technique, that drive and hunger. It would be great for Wayne, Coleen and the family to see another Rooney pulling on the Man United shirt. It would be great for the fans as well.”
Hot prospect: Kai Rooney exciting those at Old Trafford
Campbell is not the first former United player to back Kai Rooney for senior opportunities. Wes Brown has previously told GOAL of that family name earning further recognition in Manchester: “I’m pretty sure if you played for a club and your son comes through, and he’s at a stage now where he’s like YTS, going to training everyday, then at any point you could be picked by the manager and told ‘you’re training with us’ or ‘you’re in a game’. It will be a great experience.
“Kai, knowing the lad he is, he’ll just work very hard. He will have his head down. Obviously, his dad has legendary status, but it’s all about Kai. He will have to work and do everything himself, make sure he puts the graft in and keeps on learning.
“All you can hope for, even when I was a kid, is getting an opportunity. If you do, can you take it? He’s done really well to get where he is at the moment because I’m guessing at some point, it will have been difficult for him.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images
Wayne & Coleen helping to keep Kai grounded
Wayne has tended to stay away from Kai’s matches, in order to avoid becoming a distraction, while mother Coleen is doing her best to ensure that a future away from professional football is also being taken into account.
A source has told of that process: “All the boys are obsessed with football, so Coleen’s had no choice but to embrace it. She wasn’t sure how good they would be, but there’s no denying that Kai has his dad’s talents, and has the potential to make it big.
“Kai is very good, and Coleen and Wayne have always drummed into him that he has to train hard and dedicate himself to it if he wants to make it. But Coleen is determined that he’ll stay grounded, whatever happens. She also knows she’ll have to prepare him for the disappointment if it doesn’t work out. The Rooney name will only get him so far.”
It remains to be seen whether Kai Rooney – who has scored plenty of goals for United at youth level while helping them to trophy wins – will earn first-team opportunities. His dad will always be on hand to offer advice if it is required, with Wayne earning wonderkid status himself when making a senior breakthrough with Everton at the age of 16.
Daniel Farke – already relegated from the Premier League in the past – was under intense pressure heading into the new season at Leeds United due to his prior top-flight record, although this time was going to be different. Right?
While the 2025/26 campaign is only 11 games old, the worry will be that the German coach is slipping back into old habits, with the Elland Road side currently just two points above the drop zone.
That position is perhaps to be expected for a newly-promoted outfit, although with the Whites currently on a run of four losses from their last five league outings, the mood is unsurprisingly beginning to sour.
Nothing drastic is expected to happen over the next few weeks, even with the international break providing the perfect time to separate, although there is a sense that the ex-Norwich City man is now on borrowed time.
With Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool all visiting Elland Road across the next five fixtures, with trips to Manchester City and Brentford to come, it is crunch time for those in Yorkshire.
Will Farke survive the test? If not, just who could replace him?
Daniel Farke's overall Premier League record
It may not be too bold to suggest that the 49-year-old has been a dead man walking since the summer, with reports emerging that the 49ers’ ownership were considering replacing the promotion-winning coach, even despite the success of guiding Leeds back into the top-flight at the second attempt.
A year prior, for comparison, rivals Manchester United had almost publicly sought out a replacement for Erik ten Hag, albeit while ultimately deciding to back the Dutchman following his FA Cup heroics. Just two months into the new season, however, the former Ajax boss was relieved of his post.
The doubts over Farke following last term no doubt stemmed from his dire previous record in the Premier League, with his first taste of England’s top tier ending in Norwich finishing rock-bottom in 2019/20.
Having stayed on to oversee the attempt to swiftly bounce back, he was then sacked just 11 games into the 2021/22 campaign, having failed to win any of the first ten league games of the season.
At the time of his dismissal from Carrow Road, Farke’s record in the Premier League stood at 49 games played, eight draws, six wins and a remarkable 35 losses, having shipped 101 goals in that time with a points per game ratio of just 0.53.
Games
60
Wins
9
Draws
10
Losses
41
Goals scored
41
Goals conceded
121
Points
37
Points per game
0.62
With three wins, two draws and six losses in the first 11 games of 2025/26, there is little to suggest that the one-time Borussia Monchengladbach boss is faring much better, with Leeds facing a very real threat of a swift return to the second tier.
Rightly or wrongly, Farke was given the chance to prove himself again in the Premier League, although that show of faith may well have backfired.
Does a successor need to be found?
How Leeds can swiftly upgrade on Farke
Appointing a new manager, particularly mid-season, is such a delicate act to get right, with notable names such as Carlos Corberan and Ange Postecoglou among those who could potentially come back onto the 49ers’ radar.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
Prior speculation has also suggested that Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior could also be in the equation, if Leeds are to make a change, with the ex-Hull City manager currently doing a fine job in France.
Described as “one of the best coaches ever” by pundit Clinton Morrison, Rosenior has taken the BlueCo-owned side to new heights in 2025/26 thus far, with the Ligue 1 outfit currently fourth in the table and just five points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Unlike Farke’s dismal record so far this term, the Englishman’s 12 league games have yielded seven wins, four losses and a solitary draw, following on from a season in which his side finished seventh in 2024/25 to claim a Conference League spot.
What makes that progression even more remarkable is that the average age of Rosenior’s squad at Strasbourg is just 22.6, as per Transfermarkt, albeit with his starting lineup regularly dipping even below that average.
Of course, Ligue 1 provides a different test to the Premier League, although the one-time Brighton man’s attack-minded, progressive style of play is bearing fruit, with his side scoring 24 times already from their 12 league games this term.
For contrast, Farke’s struggling squad have scored just ten times in their 11 Premier League outings – the joint-second worst record in the division.
A man who once lauded Leeds hero Marcelo Bielsa as a “genius” amid his fine work at Elland Road, Rosenior could be another wildcard option to try and follow in the Argentine’s footsteps.
Leeds must sell £90k-per-week flop who Bielsa hailed as a "big influence"
Daniel Farke must finally offload this Leeds United flop, who was once praised by Marcelo Bielsa.
خاض فريق نادي الزمالك، تدريباته مساء اليوم السبت، على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد لمباراة زيسكو الزامبي، في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة زيسكو في الجولة الأولى لمباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، في التاسعة مساء يوم الأحد الموافق 23 نوفمبر الجاري على ستاد القاهرة الدولي.
وحرص الجهاز الفني بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف على رفع الحمل البدني للاعبين لتجهيزهم بعد العودة من الراحة السلبية.
طالع | حكم مباراة الزمالك وزيسكو يونايتد في الكونفدرالية
وخصص الجهاز الفني فقرة خططية خلال المران، تم خلالها تنفيذ بعض الجوانب الفنية قبل خوض تقسيمة مصغرة في نهاية المران.
ويغيب عن التدريبات كل من محمد صبحي وحسام عبد المجيد ومحمد إسماعيل وأحمد فتوح ومحمد شحاتة ونبيل عماد دونجا، للتواجد في صفوف المنتخب الأول، ومحمد عواد ومحمود حمدي “الونش” للتواجد في منتخب مصر المشارك في كأس العرب.
كما يغيب الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ للانتظام في معسكر منتخب بلاده والأنجولي شيكو بانزا المتواجد في معسكر منتخب أنجولا، والتونسي سيف الجزيري المنضم لمعسكر نسور قرطاج، والمغربي محمود بنتايج المتواجد في معسكر منتخب المغرب لكأس العرب.
يذكر، أن الزمالك يتواجد في المجموعة الرابعة من منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية، مع المصري وزيسكو الزامبي وكايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي.
Opening stand with Smith puts contest beyond doubt despite Armitage anchoring visitors’ innings
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Jun-2025Surrey 143 for 1 (Wyatt-Hodge 74*, Smith 44) beat Durham 141 for 5 (Armitage 50) by nine wickets Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s blistering 26-ball half-century set Surrey on their way to a thumping nine-wicket win over Durham at the Oval.The England opener struck two sixes and 11 fours in her unbeaten 74 (36), sharing a stand of 94 for the first wicket with skipper Bryony Smith (44 from 28) as the hosts chased down a target of 142 with 43 balls to spare to return to the top of the table.The onslaught came after Durham fought back from 29 for 3 to total 141 for 5, Hollie Armitage anchoring the effort with 50 (49) while Bess Heath (27 from 18) and Mia Rogers (25 from 20) played eye-catching cameos.There were two wickets apiece for Ryana MacDonald-Gay (2 for 16) and Tash Farrant (2 for 25).Durham were soon in trouble, MacDonald-Gay uprooting Suzie Bates’ middle stump after the New Zealand international gave her the charge.MacDonald-Gay was at it again in her next over, spreadeagling Mady Villiers’s stumps and when Emma Marlow chipped one from Tash Farrant into the hands of Paige Scholfield, the visitors were 29 for 3.Durham fought back with Armitage playing the anchor role and Heath and Rogers providing the impetus. Heath twice drove powerfully over cover and then mid-off for four in racing to 27 before Smith clung on to a good catch at mid-off to cut her charge short.Rogers should have been stumped on 12 off the bowling of Dani Gregory, but celebrated the reprieve with some good straight hitting until she too didn’t get enough onto another drive, Scholfield again showing safe hands on the boundary.Armitage ran hard throughout and finally found the fence twice late on while Katherine Fraser hit the last ball of the innings for six to set the target.Smith was quick to take up the challenge clubbing Grace Thompson to the fence four times in her opening over and when spinner Katie Levick came on for the third over she was driven and pulled with equal disdain by the Surrey skipper.Wyatt-Hodge caught the mood, cutting and driving Trudy Johnson to the fence to raise the 50-partnership in 22 balls.Things got worse for Durham when Phoebe Turner dropped Smith a mid-off on 34, but brilliant fielding on the fence at backward square saved a six from the next ball, the England all-rounder parrying the ball back into play and keeping the hosts down to one.Wyatt Hodge produced the first six, hammering Levick over the mid-wicket rope, but with the hundred partnership in sight Smith pulled one from Turner into the hands of Villiers to end the stand at 94.Wyatt-Hodge though continued to brutalize the Durham bowling adding a second straight six to her boundary count as Surrey galloped home.
The Premier League is reportedly set to vote on proposals that could see a “salary cap” of sorts introduced at the top end of English football. An “anchoring” plan has been drawn up, which would limit spending for elite clubs, with shareholders expected to address that issue in November. Several teams, including Manchester rivals United and City, are said to oppose the concept.
Who is in favour of anchoring and which teams oppose it?
reports on how arch-rivals from Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium have expressed concerns regarding the introduction of regulations that would restrict Premier League clubs to spending five times what they generate from prize money and broadcast revenue on wages and transfers.
Said proposals were first revealed in March 2024, with a poll taken at the time. It is claimed 16 voted in favour, with City, United and Aston Villa opposing the plan while Chelsea abstained. Concerns are said to have been raised regarding the negative impact that such rules would have on the Premier League’s ability to retain its status as “the strongest domestic competition in Europe”.
Advertisement
Getty
Point deductions: Penalties that would be introduced
Teams on the continent are already governed by UEFA’s “squad cost ratio” rules, which aim to reduce spending to 70 per cent of revenue. The Premier League’s proposal would set that bar at 85 per cent, with the anchoring plan running alongside.
Clubs in England already operate under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) which allow clubs to post losses of £105 million ($141m) across a three-year timespan. A meeting in November will reportedly address the issues of “squad cost ratio rules, anchoring and sustainability rules linked to football’s new independent regulator”.
An insider has told The Times: “If we bring in these anchoring rules, it could dramatically affect the Premier League’s ability to attract the world’s best players. How can that be in the best interest of English football?”
It is suggested that if the anchoring rules were to be introduced, then some teams would immediately be in breach of them – given estimated spending figures. It is reported that sanctions would include “a minimum six-point deduction plus a point for every £6.5million of overspend”.
Would anchoring rules make the Premier League less competitive?
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is said to be considering legal action if anchoring is introduced, due to the impact said regulations would have on player wages. The Premier League already finds itself caught up in several legal battles.
Those voting in favour of the reforms have been warned that they risk seriously undermining the competitiveness of English top-flight football. Another source told The Times: “Many clubs don’t have a particularly strong view on this issue because they don’t think it will affect them given their current spending levels. It feels like we are actually sleepwalking into this.”
The clubs in question are said to believe that the rules will actually make the Premier League more competitive, as they help to level the playing field somewhat, ensuring that the division remains attractive to broadcasters in multibillion-pound deals.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is among those to disagree, as the Red Devils draw up plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium that will help to push their revenue figures ever higher. He has said: “The last thing you want is for the top clubs in the Premier League not to be able to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG – that’s absurd. And if it does, it then ceases to be the finest league in the world.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty/GOAL
PSR punishments and protracted FFP saga
Everton and Nottingham Forest are among the clubs to have been stung with PSR punishments, having faced point deductions, while Manchester City remain locked in a 115-charge Financial Fair Play case.
A final ruling in that long-running saga is said to be close, with an independent hearing having concluded late in 2024, but City could drag it out even further if appeals are lodged against any punishments. Various sanctions – ranging from point deductions, transfer embargoes and even expulsion from the top tier of English football – have been mooted over the course of the last two-and-a-half years.
Manchester United and Ruben Amorim bounced back with a win against Sunderland on Saturday, and a key update has now emerged over the manager’s future.
Amorim's future still in doubt after Sunderland win
Admittedly, opting to relieve managers of their duties over the years hasn’t necessarily made Manchester United a better side. Still, pressure is continuing to grow on Amorim as he attempts to arrest his side’s slump in form.
Gareth Southgate has been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat and could be a safe option in light of his steady progress with England, and Peter Crouch believes that if a change is coming in the dugout, the ex-Three Lions boss is an ideal fit to step in.
He said via The Mirror: “I love Gareth (and) he’s had some stick unfairly. He took us to the finals. It was frustrating, you know, not to get over the line. If he won one game, then would there be a statue of him.
“He’s gone from a statue to people thinking he’s not good enough for the Man United job. It’s such a fine line in football. I think he’s someone that could build something there. You keep getting managers over that are here for the short term, like I think Gareth Southgate is someone who can build something big.”
Reportedly, Manchester United would need to pay £12 million to sack Amorim, which would be a hefty price to pay if they decide he is not the right man to take them forward, and a cost which they can now avoid at least a little longer after Saturday’s rather comfortable 2-0 victory against the Black Cats at Old Trafford.
"First class" manager who brings "fun factor" to training speaks about links to Man Utd
Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure…
ByBen Goodwin Oct 3, 2025
Either way, there needs to be some clarity one way or another; something that Ornstein now looks to have provided in his latest update on events at Old Trafford.
David Ornstein shares how Man Utd feel about Ruben Amorim
Speaking to NBC Sports, Ornstein made it clear that Man Utd are keeping faith in Amorim and both parties want to keep moving forward in the right direction, while he still retains the backing of the squad.
He said: “Ruben Amorim is under major pressure, but I think most of that pressure is applied on him by himself, as well as the burden of being Manchester United manager. Manchester United themselves, as I understand, they’re not planning to sack him. They don’t want or intend to, and I don’t think he’s planning to walk away from this.
“Last season, I think he really felt the strain, and people I speak to say he was questioning if he could succeed there. But I do think, incrementally, there is a bit of improvement felt, however small, especially with some of the new signings, and it is still very early.”
Later, he added: “Results will need to improve; we can’t get away from that, and we know how this industry operates, but I think they would like to give him more time.”
Ultimately, giving managers more time is a game of risk versus reward. Manchester United know that the grass isn’t necessarily always greener, but the impact of a bounce under a new coach could also spark their season into life.
There will be plenty of conflicting opinions on Amorim’s future, though he appears to be safe for now as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS favour continuity over instability.
The first international break of the 2025/26 campaign may have come at the perfect time for Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin after a difficult start to the season.
Four draws in four Scottish Premiership matches and a 9-1 loss on aggregate in the Champions League play-off qualifying round has already put pressure on the Ibrox boss.
Some supporters made their frustrations clear after the 6-0 loss in Belgium, placing a banner at Ibrox asking for Martin to be sacked.
A two-week break for international games has provided Martin with time to clear his head and reassess how he wants to tackle matches, tactically, in the coming weeks to ensure that his side picks up enough results to get fans back onside.
The international break has also been a welcome distraction for some of the players, who have been able to get away from the toxicity around Ibrox, brought on by the performances and results, to play for their countries.
Nicolas Raskin and Derek Cornelius scored for Belgium and Canada, respectively, but it was Thelo Aasgaard who grabbed the headlines with his immense display.
Thelo Aasgaard showed Rangers supporters what he is about
Rangers signed the attacking midfielder from Luton Town on a permanent deal earlier this summer to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
They have not seen too much of him on the pitch yet, though, because the 23-year-old star missed the start of the season through injury, which is why he has only played two games in the Premiership so far.
Aasgard’s performance off the bench for Norway against Moldova on Tuesday night, however, shows the kind of quality that supporters can look forward to seeing from him once he is at his best at Ibrox.
Minutes played
26
Sofascore rating
9.8
Shots
6
Goals
4
Pass accuracy
70%
Passes made
7
Possession lost
3x
As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian sensation produced an unbelievable cameo for his country with four goals in just 26 minutes as part of an 11-1 win against Moldova.
Aasgaard now has five goals in three caps for Norway. He also scored 12 goals in 31 appearances for Wigan Athletic last season before his move to Luton in January, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the youngster can offer a big threat as a goalscorer.
Hopefully, his incredible four-goal haul against Moldova will provide him with the confidence that he needs to return to Rangers and hit the ground running on the other side of the international break against Hearts on Saturday.
Whilst Aasgaard needs to start showing what he is capable of at Ibrox, there is another Light Blues star who could become an elite player for the club if he learns a thing or two from the Norwegian midfielder.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Rangers signed Oliver Antman from Go Ahead Eagles in a deal worth up to £4m this summer to bolster their options out wide, and he could become a truly elite figure for Martin’s side if he can become a goalscorer as potent as Aasgaard is.
Why Oliver Antman needs to be more like Thelo Aasgaard
When you think of the best wingers in the world, your mind likely goes to Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Bukayo Saka, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and others like them.
What do they all have in common? They can all score goals as well as assist them. They are not one-dimensional players who can be silenced by cutting off their threat as either a scorer or a creator, because they can be both.
A month into his career at Ibrox, Antman has been too one-dimensional for Rangers on the right wing. If the opposition find a way to shut down his threat from crosses or passes, he does not make much of an impact on the game.
The Finland international showcased his creative quality on his debut for the club against Viktoria Plzen in a Champions League qualifier at the start of August, as he delivered a top-quality ball into box for Djeidi Gassama to score.
Antman, who reporter Chris Jack claimed has “feet like drumsticks”, was signed by the Scottish giants after providing a huge threat as a creator from the right flank during his time with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie during the 2024/25 campaign.
Starts
28
Goals
6
xG
6.99
Key passes per game
1.6
Big chances created
16
xA
6.54
Assists
15
As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old attacker was an exceptional creator for the Dutch side, but did not provide goals on a regular basis, with just six strikes in 28 matches.
In order for Antman to take the next step in his career, and to become an elite player for Rangers, he must learn from Aasgaard’s ability to find space and chances inside the box to become a threat as a scorer.
One way for the Finnish star to do that could be to operate on the left flank. Go back to the names listed among the best wingers in the world, they are all predominantly play as inverted wingers, cutting in on their favoured foot.
Meanwhile, Antman has played on the right wing as a right-footed player. Playing him on the left would provide him with the option to cut infield to take shots with his stronger foot, whilst still being able to go down the line to put crosses in with his left foot, or by chopping back to cross with his right.
This subtle, but potentially game-changing, tactical change, coupled with a bit of learning from Aasgaard on how and when to arrive in the box at right time, could help Antman to become a complete forward who can consistently impact games with goals and assists.
Rangers must rue losing star who's worth millions more than Chermiti
Rangers must rue losing this “incredible” star who would now be their most valuable player.
ByDan Emery Sep 6, 2025
At this moment in time, the Finnish whiz is too predictable and easy to mark out of games, hence why he has zero goals and zero assists in his last six games for the club, which is why these tactical and player mindset changes need to be made to make him truly elite.
Arsenal are a club that have been utterly transformed over the last five years or so.
Mikel Arteta has taken a side that were spiralling down into mid-table mediocrity and has helped craft one of the best teams in Europe, let alone the Premier League.
While his philosophy and tactics have played a significant role in the North Londoners’ rejuvenation, so have the signings they’ve made.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetacelebrates after the match
Under previous Sporting Director Edu Gaspar and Andrea Berta today, the Gunners have become far more effective at identifying and signing brilliant players in the transfer market.
However, Arsenal still have a problem selling stars, and have seen more than their fair share leave for nothing, including an international who could be described as being Arteta’s own Alexander Isak.
Arsenals players who left for nothing
There were signs of improvement with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale all leaving for decent money last summer, but in the previous four or five years, Arsenal have had too many players leave for nothing.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
For example, perhaps the most exciting signing the club have ever made, the player whose arrival promised the ushering in of a triumphant period for the club that never arrived, Mesut Özil, ended up leaving for nothing.
The German superstar famously agreed to a bumper £350k-per-week contract renewal in January 2018, and it was pretty much downhill from that moment until he left for Fenerbahçe three years later.
Another big-money signing who left for free was Nicolas Pepe.
The Ivorian was a better player for the Gunners than people gave him credit for, racking up 48 goal involvements in 112 games, but he could never live up to his £75m price tag and, after several middling loans, had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Going further back, to Unai Emery’s time at the club, and Aaron Ramsey’s exit was another disaster from a financial perspective.
After 369 games for the club, in which he scored 64 goals, provided 60 assists and played a significant role in several FA Cup triumphs, the Welsh legend left the Gunners to join Italian giants Juventus.
With all that said, none of these stars could realistically be compared to Liverpool’s new superstar Isak, which isn’t the case for another ace who left for nothing under Arteta’s watch.
The Arsenal star who was Arteta's Isak
Since taking the job at Arsenal, Arteta has overseen the exits of some notable players, including the aforementioned Ozil, but perhaps the most controversial one was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabonese international was the club captain for part of the Spaniard’s tenure, but following a drop in form and his late arrival for a North London derby in March 2021, the writing was on the wall for his Gunners career.
The former Borussia Dortmund star was eventually let go for nothing in January 2022, and while he endured a lacklustre year and a half with Barcelona and Chelsea, he quickly found his form in the south of France.
In one season with Marseille, the Laval-born monster scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, which was enough to earn him a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.
The 36-year-old was able to amass an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah last season, but has now returned to Marseille, where he is already outperforming Viktor Gyokeres, producing three goal involvements in three games.
Appearances
51
36
3
Minutes
4005′
3196′
186′
Goals
30
21
2
Assists
11
3
1
Goal Involvements per Match
0.80
0.66
1.00
Minutes per Goal Involvement
97.68′
133.16”
62′
With all of that said, then, what was it about Auba that meant we could describe him as being like Arteta’s Isak in the past?
Well, the first reason is that, prior to going off the boil somewhat, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for the manager.
For example, in the 19/20 season, he racked up a sensational haul of 29 goals and three assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3725 minutes.
That comes out to an outrageous average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 116.40 minutes.
Moreover, like the former Newcastle United star, he’s a lanky striker but undeniably elegant centre-forward, who was capable of a plethora of finishes, but was particularly adept at coming in from out wide and slotting home.
In fact, like the Swede, he may be a striker first, but he has spent a considerable amount of time in his career playing out wide on the wings.
Finally, just as the Reds’ new star helped his former side with the League cup, the former Gunners star played a crucial role in Arteta lifting the FA Cup in his first season as manager.
Ultimately, while there were valid reasons for getting rid of Aubameyang, we can’t help but wonder how useful he’d be in this Arsenal squad, as he clearly still has an excellent ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
He's "England's future LB": Arsenal sold Hale End's own Hincapie last year
The promising full-back looked brilliant in Arsenal’s academy.