One Mariners fan paid the perfect tribute to Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh during a rain-delayed Game 3 of Seattle's ALDS series against the Tigers on Tuesday night.
At the top of the ninth with the Mariners leading 6-1, Raleigh sent Tigers reliever Brenan Hanifee's 94-mph sinker out of the park, and the ball bounced straight into the hands of a waiting Mariners fan. As the cameras zoomed in, the fan proudly showed off his "Big Dumper" shirt, which read "DUMP HERE" and the No. 61, referencing what would be Raleigh's 61st home run this season and his first of the postseason.
But that's not all.
After he caught the ball, the fan was seen taking off his shirt to reveal a new one: "DUMP 62 HERE"
Too good.
After a cagey finish in which the Tigers clawed their way back into the game late in the ninth, the Mariners beat the Tigers 8–4 and took home a well-deserved win in Game 3. Seattle currently leads the series, 2–1. Game 4 in Detroit is set for a 3:08 p.m. ET first pitch Wednesday.
The Brewers take away the ball on the ground and at the wall, so in the sixth inning, Freddie Freeman lined a four-seamer to the only place they couldn’t get to it: the stands.
The home run gave the Dodgers a lead they would hold to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, 2–1. It gave them cushion as their bullpen faltered in the ninth inning. It gave the Brewers the kind of fits they are used to when it comes to that player. “Freddie Freeman has been a Brewer killer for a while,” lamented Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy. “So hopefully he’ll oversleep tomorrow or something.”
It also rendered moot one of the wildest plays in recorded memory: With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, Max Muncy drove a would-be grand slam 404 feet to center, where center fielder Sal Frelick leapt for—and bobbled—then caught—the ball. He fired it to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed home. On the base paths, the runners broke into chaos, darting forward as if for a double, then back as if for a sacrifice fly. Teoscar Hernández barreled home from third just as the throw reached the plate. Amid the chaos, catcher William Contreras raced to third. For a moment, it seemed no one was quite sure what was happening. After a three-minute replay review, the word came down from New York: It was the first 8–6–2U double play in postseason history.
(If Frelick had caught it clean, that would have been the second out and it would have been a tag play at the plate for the third, which Hernández beat, so it would have been bases loaded, two out. But because the ball hit the wall before Frelick got hold of it, the ball was live and it was a force play at home for the second out, and then a force play at third for the third.)
The 97-win Brewers, best in the sport, have spent much of the run-up to this series casting themselves as scrappy underdogs who win games with grit and the power of friendship. They keep the competition off balance, playing tight defense and running the bases aggressively; no other team forced its opponents to make more errors this season. Their $108 million payroll this season ranked No. 24 in the sport and is less than a third of what the Dodgers spent on players: $329 million.
“I’m sure that most Dodgers players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” Murphy said before Game 1, having already discarded his last bit: calling his players the Average Joes and then complaining that people were calling them average Joes. The Dodgers rolled their eyes at this routine—“We know the act,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts—but there is something to be said for paying superstars to play like superstars. Freeman, the first baseman (who is making $162 million over six years), and shortstop Mookie Betts ($365 million, 12 years) provided the offense; lefty Blake Snell (whom the Dodgers signed this offseason for $182 million over five years) offered just about everything else.
He threw eight sparkling, one-hit, no-walk innings, striking out 10. He did not throw a fastball in the seventh. He allowed a total of two balls to the outfield, none after the second inning. He picked off the only hitter who reached base against him.
In his 10 years in Milwaukee, Murphy said, “I think it’s the most dominant performance against us.”
The Brewers’ collection of “misfit toys,” as Murphy insists on calling them, nearly matched him: Opener Aaron Ashby, a fourth-round draft pick chosen for this task essentially because he is left-handed and therefore has a chance to shut down two-way star Shohei Ohtani, walked Ohtani but otherwise survived the first inning. In came Quinn Priester, who did not make the Red Sox’ rotation out of spring training and whom the Brewers acquired for two minor leaguers and a draft pick; he got through the next four. Chad Patrick, who came to Milwaukee in a trade with the A’s for utilityman Abraham Toro, allowed that Freeman home run. Jared Koenig, who was released by the Padres in 2023, got five outs. Closer Trevor Megill, who was waived in ’21 and then traded for a player to be named later and cash to the Brewers in ’23, got three more.
Only Abner Uribe, who signed as an 18-year-old out of his native Dominican Republic for $85,000 in ’18, made more than one mistake. He walked Muncy to open the ninth, then allowed a single to Kiké Hernández. After a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, he intentionally walked Ohtani, then very unintentionally walked Betts to bring in a crucial insurance run.
This became relevant only minutes later, when the Dodgers’ only weakness—their bullpen—struck. Roki Sasaki, the flamethrowing starter who flamed out in the majors and spent much of the season rediscovering himself in the minors before being converted to postseason closer, struggled with his command, walking the first hitter he saw, then allowing a ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly to bring the game back within a run. After another walk, Roberts summoned erstwhile closer Blake Treinen, who walked the bases loaded before getting away with a fastball a foot above the zone for a whiff.
“It’s not going to come easy,” said Roberts. “This is going to be a grind. It’s going to be tough.”
The Average Joes can still win this series. They just have a smaller margin for error. And unfortunately for them, the next Joe Millionaire awaits: the guy who starts Game 2 for the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is the highest-paid pitcher of all time.
With only nine Premier League wins under his belt as a manager in the top flight, it’s fair to say Daniel Farke has his work cut out for him right now to arrest the current Leeds United slide.
With four defeats from their last five league clashes, Leeds now sit just one point above the depressing relegation zone, as Sean Dyche’s equally relegation-troubled Nottingham Forest sucked the Whites deeper into the relegation pit by beating them 3-1 at the City Ground before the international break.
Yet, despite the West Yorkshire outfit hanging on for their lives, and Farke’s wretched record in the top division, it appears as if the ex-Norwich City boss will be kept on, for the time being at least.
Surely, though, if the results continue in their gloomy downward trajectory, the plug will have to be pulled.
But, until then, the under-pressure German has some big decisions to grapple with to try and save his job in the long run.
Decisions Farke needs to make to save his job at Leeds
Sack season is also in full swing now in the Premier League, with bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers getting rid of Vitor Pereira recently, after extending a vote of confidence his way.
Farke will hope he doesn’t follow Pereira in being the next managerial casualty, with the German now facing the decision to make a number of changes to his regular starting lineup.
One of those includes dropping the likes of Brenden Aaronson if he is to remain in the Elland Road dug-out moving forward.
Unfortunately, Farke does appear to be staunchly loyal to certain members of his camp, even when they’re obviously falling below their expected standards, with Aaronson selected now by the German a high 59 times, to hit-and-miss results.
Only one of his ten goals for the West Yorkshire giants under Farke has fallen in the Premier League, and with both Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto waiting in reserve, switching out the ex-Union Berlin playmaker for either the Welshman or Italian could seriously boost the relegation-threatened side in attack.
Farke might also help the wins to start flowing if he selects Lukas Nmecha as his sole striker more often, heading into crunch games this November and December, with the ex-Wolfsburg striker stylishly putting away a goal against Forest, which is his second for the club already, despite only amassing 279 minutes of total league action.
The German will also know he needs to change up his defence, with Jaka Bijol receiving plenty of pelters for his recent performances.
However, Farke didn’t exactly help out his tiring defence at the City Ground.
Bielsa signing must be given the boot by Farke
Another compelling argument to get rid of Aaronson from the first team picture, away from his hot-and-cold reputation, is the fact that he’s a remaining relic of the dismal 2022/23 squad that was relegated to the Championship.
The only other dire member of that team that featured against Dyche’s hosts was Jack Harrison, who is somehow still getting minutes under Farke, many years on from his Leeds peak.
Harrison’s declining numbers at Leeds
Season
Games
Goals + Assists
25/26
11
0
22/23
40
6 + 10
21/22
38
10 + 2
20/21
37
8 + 8
19/20
49
6 + 8
18/19
42
4 + 4
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Indeed, looking at the data above, it’s clear that the former Manchester City youth product was a dependable first-teamer many moons ago at Elland Road, with an impressive collection of 66 combined goals and assists for the Whites.
Leeds managerial great Marcelo Bielsa even once hailed Harrison as a “big influence” during his heyday down the left channel.
But, right now, the 28-year-old needs to be put out of his misery, on his subdued return to the Whites first team fold, after a two-season-long loan stay at Everton.
Last time out versus Forest, when strangely placed into the side at left-back, Harrison would clatter into a Forest shirt late on, clumsily, to gift Elliot Anderson his game-clinching penalty.
Moreover, away from that moment of stupidity, the below-par number 20 still manages to pocket a steep £90k-per-week salary at the Premier League newcomers, despite having no goals or assists to shout about this season from 11 forgettable outings.
Recent reports have also suggested that Harrison could be sold in January if Leeds can win themselves some more reinforcements in attack.
Still, if Farke wants to send out a message that he isn’t going to stand by and watch standards slip, he will try to offload the shoddy winger in the transfer window, anyway, as he attempts everything in his power to keep his precarious position.
He's got a "bit of Bielsa": Leeds could sack Farke for "mental" 4-3-3 coach
A Bielsa-style change of manager could keep Leeds in the Premier League
Rio Ferdinand has now claimed Thomas Tuchel “has to” select Danny Welbeck in England’s World Cup squad next summer, having emerged as the second-best striker behind Harry Kane.
Captain Kane will almost certainly be a nailed-on starter at the World Cup, should he remain fit, given that the 32-year-old is the Three Lions’ leading all-time goalscorer, having scored 76 goals in 110 appearances.
The Bayern Munich star has also made an incredible start to the season, amassing 20 goals in 13 matches in all competitions, blowing existing records set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi out of the water.
England’s back-up options aren’t quite as reliable, however, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who scored the winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, netting just one goal in nine Premier League appearances this season.
There may also be doubts about the inclusion of Ivan Toney, given that the 29-year-old arguably isn’t testing himself at the highest level week in week out, having signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024.
Ferdinand urges Tuchel to take Welbeck to the World Cup
As such, Ferdinand has now made the bold claim that Welbeck should be re-introduced to the England squad, saying: “He’s second to Harry Kane. If you’re talking form right now and the squad was being picked tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?
“I would take him. If he finishes the season in the form he’s in right now, there’s no way you can’t take him because he’s only going there for a month, it ain’t like we’re saying to him he has to play a full season, you’ve got to be ready and that role he can do that, coming in and out, be a support act for someone like Harry Kane.”
“Right this second, right this moment in time, form wise he’s [Welbeck] above all of them [Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney], and playing in the best league in the world. He’s second, for me.”
The ex-Manchester United defender also added: “He’s a class act on and off the pitch, a great guy.”
In fairness, the Brighton striker is in far better form than Watkins, having scored five goals in his last four Premier League games, most recently finding the back of the net against former club Man United with a remarkable free-kick.
That said, it may be a risk for Tuchel to reintroduce the striker to the squad, given that it has been a long time since he was involved in the England set-up, with the 34-year-old’s last cap coming in a friendly against Switzerland way back in 2018.
There is also still plenty of football to be played before the England boss decides his squad, and Toney should arguably be on the plane as the main back-up for Kane, having proven he can handle big-game pressure by coolly converting a penalty against Switzerland in the 2024 Euros quarter-final.
AI has predicted England's squad for the 2026 World Cup No Foden or Palmer: AI predicts Tuchel's England squad for 2026 World Cup
What could Tuchel’s England squad look like in the USA next summer?
علق محمد السيد شيكا، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي كهرباء الإسماعيلية على التعادل مع الزمالك في كأس الرابطة المصرية.
وتعادل فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك مع كهرباء الإسماعيلية، بثلاثة أهداف لكل منهما، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الرابطة، وسجل شيكا “هاتريك”.
طالع|فيديو | الزمالك يفتتح كأس الرابطة بالتعادل 3-3 مع كهرباء الإسماعيلية
وقال شيكا في تصريحات لبرنامج الماتش، على قناة صدى البلد: “التعادل نقطة تحول أخرجتنا من الحالة التي نعيشها، لأن النتائج في الدوري ليست افضل شيء والنتائج لم تخدمنا”.
وتابع: “التعادل أمام الزمالك سيضعنا على الطريق الصحيح، استعدينا للزمالك مثلها مثل أي مواجهة، ربنا عوضنا أننا نعود للمباراة”.
واختتم: “أطلق علي اسم شيكا بسبب لون بشرتي السمراء، لي الشرف أن يرتبط اسمي بالزمالك ولكني لست زملكاوي”.
Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was left out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of their wild-card series against the Red Sox, which New York lost 3–1. Manager Aaron Boone chose to instead play Amed Rosario, leaving Chisholm to only substitute in on defense late in the game and take one at-bat.
Chisholm did get the nod to return to the lineup on Wednesday in Game 2 of the series and he came up clutch as he scored the winning run on a hit from Austin Wells. The Yankees won 4–3, and the wild-card series will now extend to a third game.
After the win, Chisholm was asked how he dealt with the disappointment from the night before. He simply replied, “I played and I mercy-ruled someone. That's how I get my stress off."
Chisholm shared that his team is named "New York Aliens" and features him and Ken Griffey Jr. in his lineup. He won 12–1.
Chisholm also clarified after the game that all is good between and Boone after he was left out of the Game 1 lineup.
"There was never a problem between me and Aaron Boone," he said. "He's been my manager all year and I've stood behind him all year. We always have disagreements. I played third base this year and we had a little bit of a disagreement in that, but at the end of the day, I always stand with Boonie because he always understands where I come from. He knows I'm a passionate player and he knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows that I'm here to compete."
Boone has confirmed that Chisholm will be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of their wild-card series, which takes place on Thursday.
Replacing Kevin De Bruyne was always going to be hard for Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder is one of the all-time greats in Premier League history, and whilst they had Phil Foden to pick up the mantle, it was a burden which they wanted to spread out.
How on earth did they even begin their search to replace a man with 108 goals and 177 assists in 422 games for the club? De Bruyne amassed those numbers on the way to six Premier League titles and one Champions League, part of that famous treble in 2022/23.
Well, one target over the summer was Florian Wirtz.
How close Man City came to signing Wirtz
It would have been an expensive deal to do, but the Cityzens were truly interested in signing Germany international Wirtz over the summer. The 22-year-old was just coming off the back of another excellent season for Bayer Leverkusen.
In total, he made just shy of 200 appearances for the club. Wirtz racked up 197 games for the Bundesliga outfit, scoring 57 goals and assisting 65 in that time.
That was enough to pique City’s interest, with reports suggesting back in April that he was being earmarked, alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, as a possible successor to De Bruyne.
Just a month later after that initial report broke, BBC Sport said that City stepped away from any potential move for the young attacking midfielder. The reason was said to be ‘the soaring costs of any deal’, which we know now were astronomical.
The German attacking midfielder joined Liverpool instead, and cost the 2024/25 Premier League champions £116m. He’s failed to live up to that price tag so far, with just three assists and no goals in 15 games.
The man City ended up signing has been far better than Wirtz this season.
The Man City star who's looking better than Wirtz
We will never know how Wirtz would have started life in the Premier League if he had moved to East Manchester rather than the Red half of Merseyside. Yet, he has certainly been underwhelming for Arne Slot’s side.
At this stage, it seems like City got the better end of the deal with Rayan Cherki. The Frenchman joined the club from Olympique Lyon, costing just £30m. It has been an excellent start to his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Injuries have unfortunately hampered Cherki this season, but when he has been available, the attacking midfielder has shone. In just eight games for the club, he’s already scored and assisted six times, averaging a goal involvement every 44 minutes.
It’s hard to pinpoint his best contribution so far because of how well he has started under Pep Guardiola. However, his goal on debut away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which included a sharp one-two, dazzling skill and a tidy finish, was a real standout moment.
Just by seeing a goal with that quality, it is easy to see why BBC Sport analyst Umir Irfan thinks so highly of him. He described Cherki as a “genius footballer,” and with the skill he showed for that strike and in the buildup to it, the evidence is clear to see.
Indeed, Liverpool fans might have expected Wirtz to have a quick start like Cherki did for City. However, the Frenchman ranks ahead of him for several key metrics, including more chances created, with 2.8 compared to 2.4 per 90 minutes.
Goals and assists
1.8
0
Chances created
2.8
2.4
Opposition half passes completed
38.7
27.3
Fould won
1.2
0.6
Duels won
5.6
3.6
For not far off £80m less than Wirtz’s fee, it is easy to see how City fans might feel they got the best deal. Cherki is a magician with the ball at his feet, a creative force in the final third and a goal threat.
That is probably what Liverpool fans expected of Wirtz, but the German has not hit those heights yet. Citizens supporters must be delighted they got this end of the deal.
Better than Cherki: 8/10 Man City star is now as undroppable as Haaland
Manchester City confidently got the better of a tough AFC Bournemouth outfit on Sunday in a 3-1 win.
England have picked uncapped Jacob Bethell at No. 3 for the first New Zealand Test. Alan Gardner is joined by Vithushan Ehantharajah, Andrew Miller and Matt Roller to preview the series
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2024England have pitched up in New Zealand for their Test tour, but are already on to their third wicketkeeper – with Jordan Cox, deputising for Jamie Smith, injured in the nets. That, in turn, has led to a Test debut for Jacob Bethell, batting at No. 3 while Ollie Pope drops down the order with the gloves. Keeping up? Don’t worry, this week’s pod will help you out, as Alan Gardner speaks to Vithushan Ehantharajah in Christchurch and then discusses the latest Baz-call with Andrew Miller and Matt Roller. Is Bethell ready for his sudden promotion? Should Joe Root be doing the job at first drop? And are England getting too funky for their own good. All that, as well as their prospects for the series against a resurgent New Zealand.
For the first portion of Tuesday night's Blue Jays-Yankees showdown, it felt like Toronto was gonna run away with it and handily eliminate New York from the postseason in just three Division Series games, a prediction strongly supported by the Blue Jays' 6–1 lead after the top of the third.
But the pinstripes eventually battled back and not a moment too soon, fueled entirely by a well-timed and momentum-shifting three-run homer from Aaron Judge that tied the game. Shortly after, New York took the lead and didn't lose it again, ultimately forcing a Game 4 and keeping their postseason hopes alive for at least another day.
Adding some more grandeur to the victory, the night's five-run recovery is tied for the second-largest comeback in Yankees' postseason history, on par with the 2010 ALCS Game 1 and the 1997 ALDS Game 1 (both of which are series that New York would go on to lose), per MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
The team's largest postseason rally, however, came in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, which the Yanks won 8–6 vs. the Braves. They would then go on to win the championship that year in six games.
Outside of the Bronx, the largest comeback win to avoid postseason elimination specifically happened in Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS, when the Red Sox came back from a seven-run deficit to defeat the Rays and force a Game 6 (Tampa Bay would later eliminate Boston in Game 7).
After that, you have a six-run Cardinals rebound in Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS, then various five-point rallies from the 2002 Angels (WS Game 6), the 1995 Mariners (ALDS Game 4), and—you guessed it—the 2025 Yankees in ALDS Game 3.
We'll see what the Yanks can pull off next come Game 4, slated for Wednesday, Oct. 8, with first pitch at 7:08 p.m. ET.
يرى ستان كوليمور، لاعب نادي ليفربول السابق، أن إدارة الريدز يجب أن توافق على بيع محمد صلاح خلال الفترة المقبلة، حال طلب الدولي المصري ذلك، موضحًا أن النادي أهم من اللاعبين.
محمد صلاح بقى كبديل لثلاث مباريات متتالية وكان آخرها أمام ليدز يونايتد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز أمس السبت، حيث تعادل الريدز 3-3 ولم يشارك الدولي المصري في ال90 دقيقة.
وانفجر محمد صلاح عقب نهاية المباراة، حيث صرح بأنه ليس سعيدًا بوضعه في الريدز وبأن علاقته مع المدير الفني آرني سلوت قد انهارت تمامًا، كما صرح ابن الـ33 عامًا أن إدارة النادي الإنجليزي لم تنفذ الوعود التي قالتها له.
وتحدث كوليمور عن وضع محمد صلاح مع ليفربول، وذلك عبر منصة “إكس”، حيث قال: “أعتقد أنني أعرف القليل عن ليفربول وجماهيره ونظرتهم إلى ناديهم، تأثرت هذه الفترة بالطبع بشانكلي، ثم بايزلي، وكيني، ويورجن كلوب، والآن سلوت”.
وأضاف: “يبقى شيء واحد ثابت ربما أكثر من أي نادي إنجليزي آخر، وهو أن النادي دائمًا هو الأهم والأخير فاللاعبين والمدربين يضيفون بصماتهم إلى النادي لكن النادي يتفوق على الأشخاص”.
وأوضح: ” الآن، ترك محمد صلاح في أنفيلد إرثًا من الانتصارات، واحتل مكانه بين عظماء النادي”.
وأردف: “لذا، من المثير للاهتمام أن أرى مقابلته تلقي قنبلةً على النادي، لأنني لو كنت أعرف ليفربول وجماهيره أصلًا (أعتقد أنه قد يكون هناك اختلاف في ردود الفعل بين الأجيال فالأصغر سنًا يدعم القنبلة، والأكبر سنًا يهزون رؤوسهم)، فسيكون رد فعلهم الأول”.
وتابع: “النادي، أولًا وقبل كل شيء لا يهمه من يكون، إنه شعار حي ينبض بالحياة، وحتى محمد صلاح سيجد صعوبةً في مواجهته”.
واستكمل: “والآن، هل يمكن أن يكون آرني سلوت أقل ودًا مع اللاعبين من يورجن؟ بالتأكيد، إنه رجل هادئ، مسترخي، ومنعزل بعض الشيء، إن كنت تتذكر لم يعجبه أداء ترينت في بداية الموسم الماضي، وأظهر موقفًا غير مبالي في الموسم الأول تجاه أحد أفراده الذي فاز بكل شيء، أعتقد أن هذا مثير للإعجاب، ولكنه ليس بقدر إبهار الفوز بلقب الدوري في موسمك الأول”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ديلي ميل: رسالة حسام حسن لـ محمد صلاح تدل على شيء هام
وواصل: ”لقد اكتسب سلوت احترامه أيضًا، الفريق يلعب بشكل جيد في الهجمات السريعة وفي الدفاع، وفي اتخاذ القرارات في أوقات أخرى، هذا يشمل الجميع، وإذا سألت 99.9% من اللاعبين عما إذا كانوا يقبلون مباراتين أو ثلاث مباريات بالجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء لعدم تحقيقهم للأهداف، فسيجيبون جميعًا بنعم”.
وقال: ”فقط في جنون كرة القدم الحديثة عام 2025، لن يكتفي أتباع الشخصية المتعالية بالتشكيك في استنتاج منطقي مفاده أنت لا تلعب جيدًا، ها هي فترة على مقاعد البدلاء، بل ربما كاد محمد صلاح أن يخدع نفسه ليرفع نفسه إلى مصاف ميسي أو رونالدو، لاعبين كان بإمكانهم لو شاءوا أن يفعلوا ويقولوا ما يشاؤون حرفيًا في العقد الماضي، محمد صلاح ليس مثلهم، وليفربول، كما ذكرت، ليس هو النادي نفسه”.
وأضاف: “أنا متأكد من أن بعض اللاعبين الشباب سيقولون إنه محق، وسلوت هو المسؤول، ولكن دون أي دليل على أن سلوت قد تعمد ذلك، يحتاج المدربون إلى أداء نجومهم، لا أن يسألوا عنهم في كل مؤتمر صحفي خلال الأشهر الخمسة المقبلة”.
وعن حلول وضع محمد صلاح وليفربول: ”يتحدث اللاعب والمدرب على انفراد، ثم يخبر المدرب اللاعب بما يريده منه ويلتزم اللاعب أو يخبر المدرب برغبته في الرحيل”.
وتابع: ”إذا أراد اللاعب الرحيل فلينفذ ذلك بسرعة، وإلا فاختر اللاعب ودعه يحكم عليه بناءً على أدائه المستمر، إذا كان أداؤه ضعيفًا فلا يمكن للمدرب أن يخسر، إذا كان رائعًا فلا يمكن للمدرب أن يخسر، لذا فإن إشراك سلوت لمحمد صلاح يعد بداية جيدة جدًا، خاصةً مع وجود صفقتين مهمتين لم تجعلا منه لاعبًا أساسيًا”.
واستكمل: “يمكن لآرني سلوت أن يخفف من وطأة صراحته، ويقول ربما لست يورجن لكنني أحب لاعبي، وما كانوا ليفوزوا بلقبٍ رائعٍ الموسم الماضي لولا ردة فعلهم تجاهي وأساليبي، لكنني أسمع تعليقات محمد، ويمكنني أن أخبركم جميعًا الآن أنني أحبه كثيرًا، وهذا التصريح الأنسب تجاه التعامل مع النجوم”.
واستطرد: “لكن من المؤكد أنني لا أعتقد أن هناك لاعبًا من ليفربول سواء كان في الماضي أو الحاضر أو المستقبل، لديه شكاوى مشروعة من شأنها أن تهدد مبدأ أن النادي أولاً وأخيراً، وأنا متأكد من أن أولئك الذين كانت لديهم مخاوف مشروعة قد طرحوها في الوقت المناسب، وليس في مقابلة سريعة عندما تكون المشاعر مشتعلة”.
واختتم: “لقد حقق ليفربول إنجازات مماثلة لكل لاعب لعب معه، لذا استحقت المؤسسة هذا النقد الخاص لا العام، أيًا كان مصدره”.
Mo Salah. A very long read.
I think I know a little about LFC, its supporters and how they view their club. Shaped of course by Shankly then Paisley, Kenny, Jurgen and now now Slot.
One thing remains constant, perhaps more than any other English club, its always the club first… — Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) December 7, 2025