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He has the backing of the Bangladesh head coach, but lack of game time in domestic cricket will be a hurdle he’ll have to overcome

Mohammad Isam07-Mar-2024Rishad Hossain is one of a rare and endangered species in Bangladesh – a legspinner.Even as other countries have embraced legspinners for decades and developed them into potent weapons across formats, Bangladesh has largely ignored them, even in domestic cricket where left and right-arm orthodox spinners are preferred. It’s because of the widespread perception among the country’s officials, coaches and captains that legspinners are expensive in limited-overs cricket. Young leggies are advised to switch to offspin or to concentrate on batting. Dhaka clubs and first-class teams will shun you otherwise, they are told.So Rishad, a lanky 21-year old from the country’s northernmost region Rangpur, has made it to where few legspinners have got to before. He played the first two T20Is of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, was consistent with his lengths, got hit a few times, and took a wicket. Nothing remarkable.He had begun well in the first game in Sylhet before conceding 18 in his third over. It should have been the end of his spell but his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto brought Rishad back in the 15th over. A brave move considering Rishad’s lack of cricket this season; in fact he’s played only 52 competitive matches in the last six years. He dismissed Kusal Mendis, beating him with flight and having him caught at long-off, and ended with 1 for 32 in four overs.In the second T20I, Shanto bowled Rishad in three single-over spells. He conceded only one six and one four on a very good batting pitch. “His length has improved a lot,” Shanto said about Rishad. “He can bowl more consistently now. He is working on his variation too. He can bowl better if he continues in this vein.”Related

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Shanto, however, worries for Rishad, who is unlikely to play a lot of games in the upcoming Dhaka Premier League. It is considered Bangladesh’s most important domestic tournament and Rishad has played only five matches in its last five seasons. He is supposed to represent defending champions Abahani Limited, who used him in two games last year.

“I have been involved in building two world-class legspinners: Adam Zampa and Tanveer Sangha. I know how much investment went towards their careers. When I saw Zampa in 2011, he was just another player. He turned out to be world-class. We don’t understand the value of a legspinner here. We are suffering because of that”Chandika Hathurusinghe

“I think it is quite difficult for him. He doesn’t get to play a lot of domestic matches,” Shanto said. “It is unfortunate that teams don’t use him. We don’t know why that happens. He has bowled well in all of his international matches. He has done well against really good batters. He prepares himself quite well. He tries to execute the plans we give him. I am hopeful that he gets a bit more domestic cricket under his belt.”Despite his lack of opportunities in domestic cricket, Rishad has played ten international games since his debut in March last year. He’s taken four wickets in seven T20I innings with an economy rate of 7.00, and gone wicketless in 12.2 overs in his two ODIs so far. His chances have coincided with the return of Chandika Hathurusinghe as Bangladesh’s head coach. Hathurusinghe is the only person in Bangladesh cricket who has genuinely supported legspin.In the first year of his first stint as Bangladesh coach in 2014, Hathurusinghe gave a Test debut to the little-known Jubair Hossain. Hathurusinghe had spotted Jubair in the Bangladesh nets a few months after his appointment as head coach. He was soon making his first-class debut for Bangladesh A against Zimbabwe A, and a Test debut came a few weeks later.Hathurusinghe had fought in vain with chief selector Faruque Ahmed to pick Jubair for the 2015 ODI World Cup. He was considered too inexperienced for such an important campaign. It was also felt that some local coaches were shunning Jubair because Hathurusinghe was so insistent on the legspinner. Jubair didn’t play international cricket for much longer and his domestic presence has been minimal over the years. Before Jubair, there was Alok Kapali, who took 31 international wickets including a hat-trick, but he was always considered a part-time bowler.Rishad Hossain is likely to get more opportunities for Bangladesh•BCBIn a recent interview, Hathurusinghe said legspinners were of tremendous value in international cricket.”I have spoken to the people who matter,” Hathurusinghe said. “Not only this time, the previous time [when he was coach] as well. Sometimes when those things haven’t happened, I have had to take an unconventional route. As you know, Jubair played Tests without playing much first-class cricket. Rishad has also been fast-tracked, but coaches and captains need to understand the value of legspinners. How to use legspinners.”We need to have systems in place to identify the proper pathway for them. I have been involved in building two world-class legspinners: Adam Zampa and Tanveer Sangha. I know how much investment went towards their careers. When I saw Zampa in 2011, he was just another player. He turned out to be world class. We don’t understand the value of a legspinner here. We are suffering because of that.”Rishad has played five first-class matches this season and four games in the BPL. He took a four-wicket haul in his first outing for Comilla Victorians but found himself out of the XI at the business end of the tournament. “Rishad is one for the future,” Hathurusinghe said. “I am really trying to back him as much as we can. Unfortunately we are not getting enough support from local cricket. He is not even playing the BPL. I am very disappointed with that.”There are only a few legspinners in the Bangladesh cricket ecosystem at present. Aminul Islam, who played ten T20Is between 2019 and 2021 as a bowler, generally plays domestic cricket as a batter these days. Wasi Siddiquee was an exciting prospect for a while last year but didn’t play any matches in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup in January. Mehedi Hasan Sohag and Jehadul Hoque made List A debuts this season but they didn’t bowl enough to make any impact.Rishad is likely to play a few more international matches this season. He is in the limited-overs squads against Sri Lanka, and will get a fair chance as long as Hathurusinghe is around. But the wider question remains: will he be given chances to develop in domestic cricket and is there a future for legspin in Bangladesh?

From a fringe Australia player to World Cup star and churning out BBL runs, he won’t want 2021 to end

Tristan Lavalette30-Dec-2021A rather innocuous unbeaten 42 against bottom-placed Melbourne Renegades doesn’t exactly stand out amid Mitchell Marsh’s purple patch but it might best encapsulate his remarkable transformation this year from an unfulfilled talent to arguably T20’s most destructive batter.In a see-saw of a Boxing Day clash, Zahir Khan, the in-form spinner in the BBL, had his tail up against a weary Perth Scorchers having dismissed Josh Inglis with a menacing wrong’un to spark the boisterous Renegades faithful craving an upset.In a matter of minutes, however, Marsh again sapped the energy out of Marvel Stadium – after he smashed 86 against the same beleaguered opponent just four days earlier.In the pivotal eighth over, with the game in the balance, an unwavering Marsh never let Zahir dictate and hammered the second ball of the over – a tossed up delivery in similar fashion to which deceived Inglis – through extra cover for a boundary.Related

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Once upon a time Marsh might have unwisely tried to replicate the aggression but, instead, he caressed the next delivery around the corner for two runs then calmly took an easy single to completely change the momentum in three balls.He had in the past been criticised for getting too bogged down against spin early in his innings, but this was clearly a confident batter toying with the best of them. An exasperated Zahir looked bereft of answers and the crowd had been muted like everyone there knew the game was basically over.They were right. Inevitably, Marsh guided Scorchers to an easy chase and further cemented his newfound burgeoning status after a whirlwind few months highlighted by becoming a T20 World Cup hero for Australia. He’s now in the rarefied field of being absolutely compulsive viewing, a genuine T20 drawcard who’s capable of eviscerating the spirit of opponents and their fans – as the Renegades can well attest to.No one, probably not even Marsh himself, could have predicted this exalted status 12 months ago when he returned back from his latest injury woe, a dodgy ankle at the time, which negated his bowling initially and made him relinquish Scorchers’ captaincy.His BBL season followed the usual frustrating template for Marsh – a handful of belligerent knocks dominating the backend of Scorchers’ innings sprinkled around failures. Marsh still did enough, however, to be selected in Australia’s T20 tour of New Zealand in February and March where he sparkled in the opener in Christchurch with 45 batting at No. 4.But he then struggled for the rest of the five-match series mostly batting at No. 7, where he was unable to be the finisher Australia had envisioned. Once again it appeared Marsh would be back on the outer having never secured a permanent spot since his T20I debut a decade ago.Just when it seemed his T20 World Cup prospects were in the doldrums, Marsh received a lifeline and was named in Australia’s depleted squads to tour the Caribbean and Bangladesh. Having been shuffled around for Australia and mostly batted at No. 4 or 5 with Scorchers, Marsh was elevated to No. 3 in an inspired move that finally unlocked his great potential that had made him so maligned over the years.”Coaching staff came up to me in the West Indies and said you’ll bat three. I jumped at the opportunity,” Marsh said during the West Indies tour. “I wanted to have a presence, be in the contest, go out there and play my game.”Mitchell Marsh celebrates after getting to his century•Getty ImagesAustralia coach Justin Langer recognised that Marsh’s brute force could be effectively utilised in the powerplay and believed he had the maturity to handle the added responsibility. As his coach at Western Australia, Langer had been part of several important junctures in Marsh’s career. After he took the reins in late 2012, Langer helped instill a greater work ethic into the youngster who had a reputation of not wanting it enough. Five years later, Langer backed the then 25-year-old as captain of Western Australia.With his long-time mentor igniting a career revival, Marsh was in good spirits heading into the T20 World Cup magnified by time well spent at home where he got engaged to girlfriend Greta Mack.”I know that when I’ve prepared really well I go out there full of confidence and that’s certainly been the case for the last few months,” Marsh said before the T20 World Cup.Almost predictably, considering his rollercoaster of a career, Marsh’s campaign didn’t go seamlessly and he was even dropped for Australia’s group game against England, which was their only loss of the tournament.”I was pretty gutted when I got the news but four days later I was back in the team,” Marsh later told SEN. “The rest is history.”Mitchell Marsh sinks to his knees at the end of the T20 World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesThe recalled Marsh went from strength to strength culminating in his breathtaking 77 not out from 50 balls against New Zealand to claim player-of-the final and end Australia’s T20 World Cup jinx.It was a satisfying performance after years of anguish for one of cricket’s nice guys who had long been unfairly a punching bag. With mind and body in synergy, Marsh has not looked back and lit up the early stages of BBL11, where he almost routinely plundered a 60-ball century against Hobart Hurricanes in his season debut.He now clearly has an aura about him and a fear factor where opponents hold their breath until he’s dismissed. Earlier in the week, Sydney Thunder looked anxious even though they were defending 200 until Marsh holed out in a rare failure during this hot streak.One almost needs to do a double take when he falls cheaply these days, which speaks to how much Marsh’s standing has changed over the course of an unforgettable year he probably hopes will never end.

انتقد جلين جونسون لاعب ليفربول السابق، أحد لاعبي الفريق الإنجليزي مؤكدًا أنه يفلت من العقاب بسبب اسمه، ومؤكدًا أنه لم يكن قريبًا من أفضل مستوياته، ويرتكب الأخطاء وليس استثناءً.

وتلقى ليفربول هدفًا في الدقائق الأخيرة من مباراة ليدز يونايتد خلال مباراة الفريقين بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي حسمت بالتعادل 3-3، وتراجع بطل البريميرليج إلى المركز العاشر في جدول الترتيب.

بعد التعادل، هاجم محمد صلاح ناديه ليفربول ومدربه آرني سلوت، في مقابلة حادة مع الصحفيين، مدعيًا أنه “ألقي تحت الحافلة” ويتم الاستغناء عنه، بعد جلوسه على مقاعد البدلاء للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي.

واستهدف جونسون قائد النادي فيرجيل فان دايك، مشيرًا إلى أن الهولندي يفلت من العقاب بعد سلسلة من العروض المتواضعة.

وقال جونسون في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية: “كان فيرجيل فان دايك مخطئًا تمامًا مثل إبراهيما كوناتي مؤخرًا، إن لم يكن أكثر، ولأن اسمه فان دايك، فإنه يفلت من العقاب”.

اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح يستعد لخطوة جريئة بشأن مستقبله مع ليفربول

وأردف: “ما زلت أعتقد أنه لاعب عالمي، وكان كذلك لفترة طويلة، ولكن في الوقت الحالي، لم يكن قريبًا من أفضل مستوياته، وكذلك اللاعبون من حوله”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن كوناتي قد تم إلقاء اللوم عليه قليلاً، وهو أمر مفهوم لأنه ارتكب بعض الأخطاء مؤخرًا، ولكن الجميع كذلك، يستمر خط دفاع ليفربول بأكمله في ارتكاب الأخطاء، وفان دايك ليس استثناءً”.

وتابع: “ليفربول بحاجة إلى قلب دفاع جديد في يناير، أول لاعب يتبادر إلى ذهني هو مارك جويهي من كريستال بالاس”.

وواصل: “لا يزال من غير المؤكد ما إذا كان سينضم إلى نادٍ مثل ليفربول ويواصل التألق، لكنني أعتقد أنه بحاجة إلى منحه الفرصة لإثبات جدارته على أعلى مستوى، كما فعل مع منتخب إنجلترا”.

وأتم جونسون: “أعتقد أنه سيكون صفقة رائعة لليفربول، هم بحاجة ماسة إلى التعاقد مع بعض اللاعبين في يناير”.

CSK and KKR are best placed to break the bank for Cameron Green, but a new IPL rule prevents the player from being paid more than INR 18 crore

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Dec-20258:03

Will KKR go all-out to get Cameron Green in?

IPL mini auctions have had record paydays for overseas players in the past, and Cameron Green could take that trend forward come December 16.Green has been tipped to become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL auction because both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have the highest purses (INR 64.3 crore and INR 43.4 crore respectively), are expected to put in strong bids for the allrounder.In 2023, Mitchell Starc was bought by KKR for INR 24.75 crore, minutes after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired Pat Cummins for 20.5 crore, making him the first player to breach the INR 20-crore mark at an IPL auction. Those overshadowed the INR 18.5 crore Punjab Kings (PBKS) had bid for Sam Curran in the previous mini auction in 2023.Related

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At the 2023 auction, Green became the second-most expensive buy when Mumbai Indians (MI) had bought him at INR 17.5 crore. MI went on to trade Green to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a year later for the same price. In his two IPL seasons so far, in 2023 and 2024, Green has played 29 matches, scoring 707 runs at a strike rate of 153.70.He has listed himself at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore for the latest auction.While he could become a millionaire again, it won’t cross INR 20 crore, since the maximum fee cannot exceed INR 18 crore. This will apply even if the bid is higher than that number.That is because of the new “maximum fee” rule that the IPL brought in last year to address the collective concern of franchises that some overseas players were registering exclusively at mini auctions to exploit the supply-demand imbalance. Consequently, the IPL put in the maximum-fee rule where the overseas player cannot be paid more than INR 18 crore, which was the highest slab for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction.Cameron Green winds up for a big hit•BCCI

If the bid exceeded the INR 18-crore mark, the additional money, the IPL said, would be utilised by the BCCI for player welfare. In a note to franchises last year, the IPL said: “Any overseas player’s auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore.”The rule in place going forward is that the auction for the player will continue as normal till the player is sold, and the final auction amount will be charged to the auction purse. “The incremental amount over INR 16 or 18 crore, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be utilised towards players’ welfare.”The maximum-fee rule, though, will not be applicable to Indian players, who will get the actual bid money, which will be deducted from franchise purse.A total of 77 slots are available to be filled at the auction including 31 for overseas players. There are 16 capped Indian players in the longlist, which will be pruned once franchises submit their final wishlist to the IPL by December 5.

Tottenham Hotspur have experienced all the emotions over the past several years, and the plan is that Thomas Frank will instil stability and a winning culture over the years at the helm.

However, the Danish coach has been through some turbulent waters across his first several months in the dugout, with attacking play far from fluid.

Creativity has been at a low ebb in the Premier League, and while neither James Maddison nor Dejan Kulusevski has kicked a ball this season due to injury, Frank will be expected to spark more fruitful playmaking returns going forward.

(1) Man City

2nd

29.1

(2) Man United

6th

26.8

(3) Arsenal

1st

25.4

(4) Chelsea

5th

24.7

(5) Crystal Palace

4th

24.3

(17) Tottenham

11th

14.8

We have seen green shoots in recent weeks, Spurs currently riding a two-match winning run, but the squad need to kindle some new talismanic figures, with the absence of the likes of Heung-min Son keenly felt.

Why Spurs are missing Son

Tottenham have markedly failed to replace Son and Harry Kane after the respective superstars’ sales in recent years, and though the South Korean was on the decline last year, he still posted 23 goal contributions across all competitions.

That’s natural potency you just can’t teach, only guide in the right direction. The 33-year-old is now playing over the pond for Los Angeles FC, but Frank could certainly do with a new superstar to emerge and prove themselves in Son’s stead.

His leadership and devastating ability were something shared with Kane, but stripping it further back, Christian Eriksen too.

For sure, the Lilywhites would benefit from the Dane’s creative flair right now, especially with Maddison and Kulusevski both out of action. Eriksen notched 69 goals and 88 assists across 305 games for the north London club, and former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy marvelled at his “world-class” quality while at White Hart Lane.

It would be easy to turn toward the transfer market for solutions, and though Frank needs to find a formula that creates a natural well of creativity and coherence in offence, he may actually have two new recruits who are well on their way to emulating the likes of Son and Eriksen before them.

Spurs' new Son and Eriksen duo

Eriksen and Son were instrumental parts in creating a Tottenham team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, that was among the most feared and entertaining on the continent.

It was always going to be a struggle to replace such players, but in Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, Frank might just have the tools to resculpt the aforementioned.

Simons, 21, has endured a tough start to life down N17, but with two goals from two matches, the Dutch number ten is beginning to show why ENIC Group paid north of £50m to bring him over from RB Leipzig during the summer, beating Chelsea in the transfer battle.

He has been hailed as a “superstar” of a talent by analyst Ben Mattinson, and he ranks among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, emphasising that Eriksen-esque passing range that will only develop further over the months and years.

Kudus might not be cut from the same cloth as Son, but he certainly has that wow factor about him, capable of doing things with a football that those around him and against him simply can’t match.

Mohammed Kudus

14

6

Bruno Fernandes

15

6

Rayan Cherki

10

5

Jeremy Doku

15

5

Seven players…

n/a

4

The fact that the former West Ham winger sits as the Premier League’s joint-top assist maker this season says much of his ability. Analyst Raj Chohan has even hailed Simons’ “game-changing” ability, suggesting he has more in his locker than the still-impressive Kudus.

Perhaps the most exciting part is that the best is yet to come. After all, Son took a while to get going after joining Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, while Eriksen needed Christmas to come and pass before uncovering a Midas touch in the final third in 2013/14, when he joined from Ajax.

We must be patient, but there’s no denying that Tottenham have signed several forwards with the capacity to stand out not just among their peers but against anyone in the Premier League.

Tottenham haven’t clicked into gear yet this season, but there have been plenty of positives to take as Frank navigates through the first months of this post-Ange Postecoglou era.

And with Simons coming into his own and Kudus showing off his skilful qualities, the Londoners have all the tools they need to reach the next level when the different parts all come together.

Udogie upgrade: Spurs enter race to sign "the world's most coveted left-back"

Frank is expected to be backed in the upcoming transfer windows by Tottenham owners ENIC Group.

ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

كشف أحمد حسام عوض، عضو مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، تفاصيل ما دار في الجمعية العمومية لاتحاد الكرة، اليوم، ومطالب القلعة الحمراء.

واعتمدت الجمعية العمومية لـ اتحاد الكرة المصري، جميع بنود لائحة النظام الأساسي للاتحاد، باستثناء بند وحيد، خلال اجتماع اليوم.

وتواجد أحمد حسام عوض ممثلًا عن الأهلي، في الجمعية العمومية لـ اتحاد الكرة المصري، لتعديل بعض بنود لائحة النظام الأساسي للاتحاد.

طالع | اكتمال النصاب القانوني للجمعية العمومية لاتحاد الكرة

وقال عوض في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “التزمنا بجدول الأعمال اليوم، والأندية الشعبية ومنها الأهلي لها طلبات عرضناها على هاني أبو ريدة”.

وتابع: “لم تكن هناك طلبات محددة، ولكن هدفنا تطوير الصناعة بشكل عام، خاصة أن الأهلي أكبر نادي في إفريقيا، وأكبر علامة تجارية”.

وأضاف: “شركة الكرة جددت تعاقدها مع المتحدة حتى 2030 وعملنا على ملف الرعاية، وحققنا عوائد ومداخيل ساعدت الأهلي على سداد جزء كبير من مصروفات كرة القدم”.

وواصل: “هدفنا الاستثمار في التكنولوجيا الرياضية لصنع جيل جديد في الادارة الرياضية، والفترة الأخيرة حققنا نجاحات ومستمرون في ذلك”.

واختتم: “رواتب اللاعبين الضخمة أمر لا أساس له من الصحة، وأي لاعب نتعاقد معه لاحتياج فني، وشركة الكرة تستغل هذا الأمر لنحقق مردود مالي من اللاعب أيضًا”.

Chelsea have made an approach to sign a former Real Madrid sensation, and it is believed that the west Londoners could even strike a deal in January.

Enzo Maresca’s side, despite some shock defeats at home to Brighton and Sunderland recently, have made a solid start to the season overall — losing just once in their last nine matches and climbing up to third in the Premier League table.

However, even taking into account their form on paper, not to mention Chelsea’s near-£300 million spend in the summer, there are suggestions that Maresca is dissatisfied with his current squad and could look to upgrade key areas in the winter.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

20.

Bournemouth

£136.7m

£202.5m

+£65.8m

19.

Brighton

£67.7m

£127.5m

+£59.8m

18.

Brentford

£92.8m

£152m

+£59.2m

17.

Wolves

£105.6m

£126.5m

+£20.9m

16.

Chelsea

£296.5m

£314.4m

+£17.9m

Chelsea have lost all of Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwil, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo to injury at various points already this season, with Maresca reportedly prioritising the addition of a new centre-back in January.

Now that injury-ridden midfielder Romeo Lavia is also set to be out for “at least” a month with a quadriceps injury (Fabrizio Romano), Chelsea are said to be looking at new midfield options ahead of 2026 as well.

Nico Paz now keen to join Chelsea with approach made to Como

Indeed, it is reported by TEAMtalk that Chelsea have identified Como starlet Nico Paz as their most viable January midfield target, with Maresca looking to strengthen his squad in the engine room as well as further forward.

Chelsea have apparently opened discussions with both the Serie A club and Paz’s representatives through direct enquiries, as they look to address squad depth issues that have been exposed by recent injury problems.

The Blues are actively compiling a shortlist of midfield reinforcements, with Lavia’s latest injury lay-off prompting urgent action.

Paz, who came through Real’s academy system and is valued at around £62 million, has emerged as the leading candidate to arrive at Stamford Bridge in January ahead of both Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton and Man United’s Kobbie Mainoo.

What makes the potential deal particularly encouraging for Chelsea is the player’s own enthusiasm about the move. Paz is understood to be genuinely interested in a transfer to England and sees Chelsea as an ‘ideal’ next career step.

His technical ability on the left foot and creativity is said to have caught the eye of Chelsea’s scouting department, who believe he fits perfectly within their current recruitment philosophy.

The young Spaniard represents exactly the type of signing Chelsea have been targeting under BlueCo’s leadership – a player with high potential who ticks multiple boxes in terms of age profile, quality and future sell-on value.

However, Paz still won’t be an easy signing by any means.

Real Madrid basically own the player in practice if not officially, possessing full matching rights on any deal for him, not to mention a 50 per cent sell-on clause and multiple buy-back options worth just £8 million for the summer of 2026 and £8.5m in 2027.(Football Italia).

This means that Xabi Alonso’s side have a massive say over Paz’s future, so Chelsea may even have to negotiate with the La Liga giants alongside Como to make this deal happen.

The Premier League is renowned as the best league in the world given the notion any team can beat anyone.

In such a competitive league, it can often come down to the finer margins when looking for a breakthrough in the 90 minutes. Sometimes the crowd can play their part with some stadiums boasting a louder set of home fans than others.

However, Premier League stadiums are not restricted to all having the same sized pitch, which could create some issues for clubs who like to play their football in a certain way.

Here is a look at which club boasts the biggest pitch and which club may look to utilise their tight pitch.

What are the rules in the Premier League for pitch size?

Premier League clubs must abide by rules set by the Football Association when it comes to the dimensions of their pitches. The law states pitches must fall in the region of 90m – 120m in length and 45m – 90m in width.

The regulations show just how much difference there could be between pitches across the Premier League with teams able to make the playing surface to play to their advantage.

In fact, the regulations allow the playing surface itself to differ meaning clubs can only use a different grass type to what is used elsewhere.

Premier League stadium by pitch size
Rank	Club	Stadium	Size
1	Nottingham Forest	City Ground	105 x 71 metres
=2	Arsenal	Emirates Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Aston Villa	Villa Park	105 x 68 metres
=2	Bournemouth	Vitality Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Brentford	Gtech Community Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Brighton	American Express Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Burnley	Turf Moor	105 x 68 metres
=2	Everton	Hill Dickinson Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Leeds	Elland Road	105 x 68 metres
=2	Man City	Etihad Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Man Utd	Old Trafford	105 x 68 metres
=2	Newcastle	St James’ Park	105 x 68 metres
=2	Sunderland	Stadium of Light	105 x 68 metres
=2	Tottenham	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	West Ham	London Stadium	105 x 68 metres
=2	Wolves	Molineux	105 x 68 metres
17	Chelsea	Stamford Bridge	103 x 67 metres
=18	Crystal Palace	Selhurst Park	101 x 68 metres
=18	Liverpool	Anfield	101 x 68 metres
20	Fulham	Craven Cottage	100 x 65 meters

1

City Ground – Area: 7,455m

Nottingham Forest

Coming in with the biggest pitch in the Premier League is Nottingham Forest and the City Ground. Perhaps this may come as a surprise to some given Forest’s ground is by no means the biggest capacity wise, but at just over 7455m in area, it is the largest pitch.

Indeed, the City Ground is actually only the 14th biggest stadium in the league with a capacity of 30,445, however, it seems they are keen to create as much space as possible for their players to explore.

After arriving back in the Premier League last season, over the 2022/23 campaign, Forest were able to secure eight wins and six draws on home soil with just five defeats coming at the City Ground in the league.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 71m.

2

Emirates Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Arsenal

There is now about to be a trend started in this list with the large majority of clubs holding the same sized pitch.

The Gunners are known for their attractive style of football which has become synonymous under the recent Mikel Arteta revolution in north London.

So it is no surprise to see Arsenal do not play on one of the league’s smaller pitches. However, it is perhaps a surprise that they do not play on a slightly bigger pitch given the brand of football they enjoy playing.

It is seemingly a pitch which works for the Gunners, though, with Arteta’s men winning 14 of their 19 home games in the 2022/23 Premier League season.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

3

Villa Park – Area: 7,140m

Aston Villa

Life under Unai Emery has been positive for Aston Villa, and it is apparent they are beginning to make Villa Park a bit of a fortress under the Spaniard.

Indeed, under Emery, Villa have won 10 of their 14 league games at Villa Park – at the time of writing.

Perhaps the excitement around the fans is providing the players with a big boost, but it seems they have also adapted the Spaniard’s style well to the size of the Villa Park pitch.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

4

Vitality Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Bournemouth

This is perhaps slightly surprising given the size of the stadium, but Bournemouth’s pitch is still the same size as the likes of Arsenal.

The Vitality Stadium is still a tiny ground by Premier League standards at just over 11,000 capacity. Nevertheless, it seems the size of the pitch – which runs close to the stands – is working for the Cherries who were able to secure a 15th-placed finish in the 2022/23 campaign.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

5

Gtech Community Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Brentford

Similarly to Bournemouth, Brentford have one of the league’s smaller stadiums, yet they still have – what appears to be – the standard sized pitch.

The Bees are now into their third top flight season of action in the Community Stadium which was opened in September 2020.

And again, whether it is the close feeling created by the small feeling, the fans or the pitch, something is working for Thomas Frank’s side who have an excellent home record in the Premier League.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

6

Amex Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Brighton & Hove Albion

The Seagulls have been flying high at times in the Premier League, and they are doing so on the league’s most-used sized pitch.

There has been little to complain about for Brighton fans on the south coast with the free-flowing football now also bringing in the results to match. European football has even been played at the Amex Stadium.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

7

Turf Moor – Area: 7,140m

Burnley

Returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Burnley’s Turf Moor also boasts a pitch size of 7,140m in area.

The Clarets have often been branded as playing a long-ball style of football, however, under Vincent Kompany, that has all changed.

Burnley have had a torrid time of things at home this season, but their away record isn’t amazing either, so it just appears as if the quality of the Premier League is too much right now.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

8

Hill Dickinson Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Everton

Everton moved into their new Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2025, with the Toffees’ modern ground holding a capacity of more than 50,000.

Those on the blue side of Merseyside have made their pitch the standard size in the division after it took three and a half years to build.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

9

Elland Road – Area: 7,140m

Leeds

A trip to Leeds and Elland Road is a daunting prospect for most teams in the Premier League due to the atmospehre created by the Whites and the fact that fans are in close to the pitch.

The Yorkshire side’s ground holds more than 37,000, although they do have plans to hit over 56,000 and is another with an area of 7,140m.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

10

Etihad Stadium – Area: 7,140m

Manchester City

Manchester City also play on a 7,140m pitch, and it is apparent it is just the right fit for Pep Guardiola’s men.

They have become the team to beat in the Premier League over recent years and their free-flowing style of football has proven hard to match for many sides.

It is interesting to consider the pitch at the Etihad is the same size as that at Bournemouth, for example, but it seems it is big enough for the Citizens to play at their full potential under their Spanish boss.

The pitch dimensions are 105m x 68m.

Bangladesh selectors have dropped Najmul Hossain Shanto in one of the five changes to T20I squad for three-match series against Sri Lanka later this month. Shanto was part of the squad for their previous T20I series against UAE and Pakistan in May, but featured in only one of the six matches.Shanto had an underwhelming 2024, where he averaged 18.84 in 21 T20Is, with just a single half-century. In contrast, he fared better in 2023, scoring 218 runs in ten innings at 31.14 average, and a higher strike rate of 119.78. Having stepped down from the T20I captaincy in January this year, he now finds himself out of the squad entirely.Left-handed opener Mohammad Naim has been recalled in Shanto’s place, among four other changes in the bowling unit. Naim, who has played 35 T20Is, has returned back to form during the 2024-25 domestic season. He was the highest run-getter in both the BPL and NCL T20s, finishing on 827 runs at an average of 37.59 average and a strike rate of 140.40, including a century and six fifties.Pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman have also returned to the squad, having recovered from injury and featured in the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Mohammad Saifuddin has earned a recall as well, marking his return after more than a year.The 28-year-old fast bowler was overlooked for last year’s T20 World Cup after a disappointing performance in the T20I series against Zimbabwe in May. He subsequently took a two-month break from cricket in August. Since returning, Saifuddin has picked up 37 wickets across the BPL and DPL– Bangladesh’s premier white-ball competitions.Shoriful Islam, who suffered a groin niggle during the second T20I against Pakistan in May, has been retained in the squad. In the spin department, there’s another shuffle, with Nasum Ahmed replacing Tanvir Islam. The ongoing switch between left-arm spinners suggests the selectors are still undecided on their preferred option for the white-ball formats.Bangladesh will play the three T20Is on July 10 in Pallekele, July 13 in Dambulla and July 16 in Colombo.Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (capt, wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin.In: Mohammad Naim, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad SaifuddinOut: Khaled Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto

The international break is finally over. Just one month until the next one. Still, Newcastle United made progress in the weeks before the October pause, and Eddie Howe’s side have a somewhat favourable run of Premier League fixtures ahead of them.

Convincing wins in the Champions League and top flight the other week have put the Magpies in good stead for the harsh winter months to come. It was winter last season when Newcastle found their groove and mounted a winning run of form and set the paving which led to European qualification and triumph in the Carabao Cup.

And with leaders like Anthony Gordon beginning to play themselves into form, there’s a sense that the St. James’ Park side might rediscover a similar vein of form and use it to knock on the door of the favourites in the Premier League.

Tyneside felt the curtain closing on an era when Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for £125m this summer, but, as always, United have adapted and overcome their adversity.

And Gordon has the talent and experience to lead them to even loftier heights, with his recent performances for the Three Lions showcasing his quality.

Gordon's England performances

Gordon has been in fine fettle for Thomas Tuchel’s England over the past week, and it’s becoming clear the German tactician fancies the 24-year-old as his first-choice option on the left wing.

On Tuesday evening, in Latvia, Gordon scored a curling strike after good footwork to open the scoring, consolidating his position.

Gordon’s pace and energy and enterprise down the left wing allow Harry Kane to operate at full capacity in the middle. For Nick Woltemade at Newcastle, who has been described as “similar” to the England captain by Gordon himself, this is promising as he continues to bed into life in the Premier League.

It’s been a testing start to the season for Gordon, who was shoehorned in as a makeshift centre-forward during the early weeks and got himself sent off against Liverpool.

He’s yet to break his seasonal duck in the Premier League but boasts three strikes from two matches on the continent.

Gordon’s Recent England Performances

Match Stats

vs Wales

vs Latvia

Minutes played

90′

71′

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches

51

56

Shots (on target)

3 (1)

4 (1)

Accurate passes

30/34 (88%)

31/35 (89%)

Chances created

1

2

Crosses

0/3

1/8

Dribbles

2/3

1/1

Recoveries

2

1

Tackles

1/1

0/0

Ground duels won

4/7

2/5

All data via Sofascore

And now, he has been rekindled for his nation. If the one-time Everton prospect carries that form back over to the domestic scene, there’s every chance he will go from strength to strength and lead Newcastle forward.

His is a desirable profile, after all, and one Newcastle looked to place at the front of their pre-PIF project (if the Mike Ashley era can be so kindly defined as a project). But that Gordon-esque profile fell by the wayside in England’s north east, even though he’s since built a solid career for himself.

Newcastle flop is now playing like Gordon

Gordon wasn’t the only Newcastle man, past or present, to have scored in Europe during the October international break. Woltemade scored his first goal in a Germany shirt as his side defeated Northern Ireland on Monday evening.

However, a former Magpie also found his way onto the scoresheet for Didier Deschamps’ France, scoring as the imperious outfit defeated Azerbaijan 3-0 in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

The man in question is Florian Thauvin, who, aged 32, was recalled for Les Bleus selection for the first time since 2019 after an impressive start to the campaign in France with RC Lens, and he took his opportunity clinically.

Thauvin arrived in Newcastle with a weight of expectation in 2015, welcoming the 22-year-old from Marseille for a £13m fee after prolific returns in his homeland.

The 2015/16 season we’re sorry to dredge up, as this was the year Steve McClaren oversaw a plummet into the second tier. Thauvin was always up against it in such hostile conditions, and he featured only 13 times in the Premier League, neither scoring nor assisting, before heading back to Marseille on loan in January and again the following summer.

He’s been something of a journeyman, with career ups and downs, but at the autumn age of 32, the winger was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September, having scored a goal and created ten chances across three matches that month, as per Sofascore.

Age is just a number in football, and Thauvin is proving he’s still got it. Data from FBref even reveals he ranks among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Winning over four duels per match in the French top flight this term too, Thauvin embodies the completeness of style that Gordon produces for Newcastle. In fact, FBref’s data reveals that Gordon is one of the Lens star’s most tactically comparable players, both fleet-footed and combative besides.

Given that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is also listed as a player of a similar style to the Frenchman, there’s little question that Newcastle were on the money when bringing him over the Channel. In another world, had Thauvin’s arrival aligned with the early days of the Howe era, he might have achieved much more.

While Newcastle would hardly consider a return for the veteran forward, it’s pleasing to see that they have finally struck gold on such a profile through the performances of Gordon, who, even having performed below his best of late, remains one of the most talented and respected wingers in the Premier League.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025