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Manchester United’s problems undoubtedly go way beyond the playing squad, but given the nature of modern-day football, it’s the manager and players who take the brunt of the criticism.

Ruben Amorim has been the man to lead the club forward for the last 14 months, but that came to an abrupt end this week after he was dismissed by the board.

The 40-year-old’s outburst after the clash with Leeds United last weekend was the final straw for the manager, who won just 25 of his 63 matches at the helm.

The 15th-placed finish in the Premier League last season would have undoubtedly played on the minds of senior staff members, with such a finish unacceptable for a club of the Red Devils’ stature.

However, despite Darren Fletcher taking the reins on a temporary basis, the hunt has already commenced for a long-term solution to the managerial issue at Old Trafford.

Elite-level manager now keen on Man Utd move

Over the last 24 hours, rumours have been swirling over who could become United’s latest manager, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær now wanting to return.

The Norwegian spent three years in charge at Old Trafford after signing a full-time contract following his own temporary spell at the helm back in December 2018.

He was sacked back in November 2021 after a dismal run of form, but a sensational return could be on the cards should the hierarchy decide to hand him the chance in Manchester.

However, he’s not the only option currently available to them, with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola another manager who could replace the outgoing Amorim in the near future.

According to TEAMtalk, the Spaniard would be keen to discuss terms with the United hierarchy over a potential deal, with his deal set to expire at the end of the campaign.

The report also states that the 43-year-old is hugely admired by staff at Old Trafford, which could see him jump up the list of potential targets in the weeks ahead.

Another part of the article confirms that despite his interest in the role, he would prefer a summer move to get a proper opportunity to make his mark – with a temporary boss expected until the end of the season.

Why Iraola would be United’s very own Arteta

Whilst Arsenal are a club very few United fans are fond of, the fanbase will no doubt be feeling an ounce of jealousy in the direction of the Gunners under Mikel Arteta.

The Spaniard has transformed the club from strugglers in the Premier League to title challengers – as seen by their three successive second place finishes.

However, this year, he may be about to end the club’s two-decade wait for a top-division title, with his men currently sitting six points clear at the top of the table after the first 20 outings.

The 43-year-old has given the fanbase a reason to be proud of their club – unlike United – something which Iraola has also done with the Cherries – but certainly on a different level to his compatriot.

Iraola, who’s from the Basque region like Arteta, took charge at the Vitality back in the summer of 2023, subsequently leading the club to their first-ever top-half top-division finish in 2024/25.

He’s worked closely with the recruitment team on the South Coast, often bringing in numerous top-level youngsters and developing them into consistent Premier League performers.

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The Red Devils have gone down a similar path in recent years, but ultimately, they haven’t had the correct manager to implement the right strategy to get the best out of their players.

Iraola has made himself a top Premier League manager in a short space of time, which has led to Sky Sports pundit Sam Tighe dubbing him the “best young coach in the world”.

He has achieved a 37% win rate at the Vitality, winning 40 of his 108 matches in charge – subsequently doing so on a shoestring budget compared to what he would have at United.

Andoni Iraola – PL stats

Statistics

Tally

Games managed

96

Wins

33

Draws

28

Losses

35

Goals scored

143

Goals conceded

151

Points won

127

Points per game

1.32

Win percentage

34.3%

Stats via Transfermarkt

His stint at Bournemouth has made him one of the most talented young managers in Europe, but it’s unclear if he would be able to replicate such achievements at Old Trafford.

However, his track record of taking sides up the Premier League and developing young talent are two positives that could hand him the chance to be the Red Devils’ next boss.

The similarities to Arteta are there for all to see, with such a gamble potentially catapulting the club back into a title fight over the next few years if they decide to back him.

Related Better than Glasner: Man Utd enter talks to hire one of the 'world's best'

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Posts 3 ByEthan Lamb

Sean Williams’ selection for the trip to South Africa is causing conflict © Getty Images

The selection problems that have frequented Zimbabwe over the past years have returned to haunt them again with the latest row being the make up of the team to travel to South Africa to play the SA Composite XI starting on Thursday in Paarl.Sources say the usual hardliners in Zimbabwe cricket, one being a member the team’s technical staff, and who are blamed for the devastating rebellion by 15 senior white players four years ago, are at it again – and it is feared to be racial this time around too.Our sources say the latest issue stems from the inclusion of batsman Sean Williams in the SA-bound side, a week after being declared to have recovered from a virus which has kept him out of action for some weeks.Williams’ inclusion, and the return of veteran spinner Ray Price, it is said, has irked some officials, who have accused selectors of bias, and arguing that “there are too many white players in the side again.”It is feared the latest politicking could scuttle coach Robin Brown’s work plan. Having to deal with some of the forces on a daily basis, Brown has had to contend with the hostility on a personal level, and particularly regarding Williams’ selection, which he is accused of influencing.The hardliners are accused in some quarters for wanting to impose their own players on selectors, with players from the all-powerful Takashinga club being heavily favoured in selection.Selection wars have contributed hugely to the downfall of the Zimbabwe team in recently years, with the height being the rebel issue which left the team hardly able to compete acceptably even against equal opposition.

Moin Khan has been released on bail © Getty Images

Moin Khan, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, was freed on bail after a brief detention over a complaint that he beat up his wife at home.Moin, who lives in Karachi’s Clifton seaside area, was arrested early Tuesday morning after his wife, Tasneem Khan, lodged a complaint with a local police helpline. He was subsequently released in the evening after submitting a surety bond, local police officer Azad Khan said.”Moin was produced before a court and on a guarantee that he would not repeat the act he was released,” Khan said.The 35-year-old former wicketkeeper-batsman, who played 69 Tests and 219 one-day internationals for Pakistan, was quoted in , a Karachi-based Urdu daily, as saying that he committed the act “in extreme anger”.”It was a personal matter and I would like to solve it in consultation with my elders,” Moin reportedly added.

Niranjan Shah: reminded of India’s duties © AFP

The ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, has written to Niranjan Shah, the honorary secretary of the BCCI, to issue an unusually forthright reminder of India’s duties to the worldwide cricket community.The response from the ICC comes after India announced plans to break away from the Future Tours Programme (FTP) ,by playing Australia in three consecutive years, and said they would not play any future Champions Trophy events, following the 2006 tournament.”I have read a number of media reports emanating from the BCCI in which you and other BCCI officials are quoted as spokesmen on behalf of the board,” said Speed. “The President [Ehsan Mani] and I are both very concerned that BCCI is moving ahead and taking what appear to be unilateral decisions that are contrary to ICC policy as agreed by the ICC members including the BCCI.”There is nothing to stop countries arranging tours outside of the FTP, but there is a fear that India are trying to reorganise the international calendar to maximise their income.”I wish to remind the BCCI of three important decisions that have been taken by the ICC and IDI [the commercial arm of the ICC] boards in recent times. At its meeting in Auckland on March 9, 2004, the ICC executive board resolved to adopt the ICC [tours programme].”The effect of this decision is that the FTP is binding on all of the members of the ICC, including the BCCI. Any attempt by a member to amend it unilaterally without the consent of the ICC board is invalid.”The letter from Speed also outlined the decisions that had been agreed at the ICC meeting in Sydney during October. This included the ICC staging a major event each year until 2015, although this plan has been disrupted with the poor response to the Super Series. Speed confirmed the priority for scheduling matches, making it clear that tours outside the FTP were at the bottom of the list. The order explained in the letter is the following:

ICC Events;

FTP Tours;

Regional events such as the Asia Cup and the Afro-Asia Cup;

Series involving Associate Members;

Any additional bilateral series outside the FTP.Speed continued: “With the greatest of respect to the BCCI, could I urge you to take these decisions into account when you are considering scheduling of matches.”He explained that the next appropriate forums to discuss ICC policy were the chief executives’ committee and executive board meetings scheduled for February and March 2006.

Windward Islands 63 (Kelly 6-31) and 69 for 4 (Fedee 30*) need 132 more runs to beat Trinidad & Tobago 160 and 104 (Shillingford 4-20)
ScorecardThe match between Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands at Arnos Vale was intrigingly poised after the second day, with Windward needing 133 more for victory with six wickets in hand. Trinidad had been in charge after the first day, but Windward fought back well on the second. Their last two wickets added 40 more in the morning to take their first-innings total to 63. Then, their bowlers bundled out Trinidad for a paltry 104 in the second innings, with Shane Shillingford taking 4 for 20. Sergio Fedee led the Windward run-chase with an unbeaten 30, but on a pitch heavily favouring the bowlers, Trinidad would still fancy their chances of a victory. Earlier, Richard Kelly starred with both bat and ball for Trinidad – he took 6 for 31 in Windward’s first innings, and then top-scored with 26, making exactly a quarter of his team’s total.Guyana 13 for 0 trail Jamaica 410 for 6 dec (Parchment 100, Baugh 100*, Bernard 84, Lambert 61) by 397 runs
ScorecardBrenton Parchment and Carlton Baugh slammed hundreds as Jamaica piled on the runs on the second day against Guyana at the Sabina Park in Kingston. Both batsmen scored exactly 100, with Baugh remaining unbeaten when Jamaica declared on 410 for 6. It was Parchment’s maiden first-class century and ended his poor trot which had kept him out of the side so far this season. David Bernard (84) and Tamar Lambert (61) chipped in with half-centuries as well, helping Jamaica amass a huge total. Narsingh Deonarine was Guyana’s most successful bowler, taking 4 for 75. Guyana then had three over to bat late in the evening, and they negotiated that little passage safely, scoring 13 without loss.
ScorecardA superb 126-run stand between Dale Richards and Pattrick Browne bailed Barbados out on the first day of their Carib Beer Cup match against Leeward Islands at Bridgetown. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Barbados slumped to 87 for 5 before Richards and Browne got together. Both made half-centuries – Richards made 79 and Browne got 66 – as Barbados ended the day on 286 for 9. Adam Ssanford was Leeward’s most successful bowler, taking 5 for 92.

India’s selection committee, headed by a new chairman, sprung a couple of surprises when they named a squad for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts at Ahmedabad on October 8. Akash Chopra and Sairaj Bahutule were surprising inclusions, while Sanjay Bangar and Ajit Agarkar were prominent among those that missed out.Under Syed Kirmani’s stewardship, the committee have also given opportunities to Yuvraj Singh, L Balaji and Aavishkar Salvi. Yuvraj is unlikely to play, but the five wise men appear to have decided to give him a feel of the big time before the tour of Australia later this year. Salvi and Balaji benefit from Ashish Nehra’s injury, and the unavailability of Javagal Srinath.Chopra’s selection – ahead of Sadagoppan Ramesh, Shiv Sundar Das, Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir and Deep Dasgupta – will prompt many a debate over the coming week, especially given the fluency with which Ramesh made a century at Rajkot. The man Chopra replaces, Bangar, is also entitled to a few complaints, having done little wrong in his time with the squad.Parthiv Patel has been given the chance to prove his batting mettle on the more placid tracks at home, while Agarkar must wonder just what he has to do to get a look in. No such complaints for men like Murali Kartik and Gambhir, who blew their chances with some indifferent recent performances.If India go into the game with six batsmen, a keeper and four bowlers – as they’re expected to – Yuvraj, Balaji and Bahutule are likely to be the ones relegated to drinks duties. Mind you, the selectors could spring yet another surprise, and open with Yuvraj and Virender Sehwag, just to show the New Zealanders, and Martin Crowe – who once opened the bowling with Dipak Patel – that they don’t have a patent on the bizarre.Squad Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (capt), VVS Laxman, Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Aavishkar Salvi, L Balaji, Yuvraj Singh, Sairaj Bahutule.Wisden Comment

Set a target of 177 to win the match, Andhra Pradesh hung on to drawtheir Ranji Trophy league match against Kerala at Cochin.Kerala, reeling overnight at 131/7, miraculously made it to 259, withKN Ananthapadmanabhan making a sterling unbeaten 74, coming in atnumber 10. Sreekumar Nair, the other overnight batsman, made 83 off390 minutes and 279 balls. For Andhra Pradesh, Mohamad Faiq picked uphis second five-wicket haul of the match.Andhra Pradesh never looked to go after the target, preferring insteadto pick up their five points by virtue of a first-innings lead. At theclose of play, Andhra Pradesh were 78/2, with skipper MSK Prasadunbeaten on nine off 102 minutes and 66 balls.

Daniel Podence, Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto can form a ‘formidable’ attack for Bruno Lage and Wolves. 

That’s according to sports journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Neto didn’t feature in the Premier League this season until the 2-1 win against Leicester City a month ago today, having missed the first six months of the campaign with a long-termknee injury.

He has only started once since he returned from injury, lining up alongside Podence and Hwang Hee-chan in the 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Goalscoring has been something of a problem for Bruno Lage’s side so far in 2021/22. Only five teams – Norwich, Burnley, Brighton, Everton and Watford (four of whom are in relegation contention) – have bagged fewer goals than the Old Gold.

Podence and Jimenez, both of whom are regular starters along with either Hwang or Franisco Trincao, are their most prolific players, but they have only managed six goals apiece.

The latest

However, O’Rourke is confident that the two top scorers and Neto will help Wolves to finish the campaign strongly if they are played together in attack, something which hasn’t happened from the start this season.

Lage’s team currently sit in eighth place and maintain hope of mounting a push for European qualification.

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport: “I’m sure those three will form a formidable attack and help Wolves win a lot of games between now and the end of the season.”

The verdict

Wolves actually deserve credit for picking up so many points without Neto in the team.

The £31.5m-rated winger was their joint-top scorer last season with five goals and also led the way for assists with six. Adrian Clarke has described him as a ‘beautiful’ player, while Alan Shearer branded him a ‘huge talent’.

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The 22-year-old’s involvement has been limited since he returned from injury, but it may well be a case of Wolves easing him back in after so long on the sidelines.

If he can start to gain some real sharpness, then he could make the difference for Lage’s team in the fight for European qualification.

In other news, Tim Spiers picked out one ‘atrocious’ aspect of Wolves’ defeat to Leeds

Tom Jones, the Otago opener, will lead a fairly experienced New Zealand side at the 2026 Men’s Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Five of the 15 squad members have domestic caps, and three, including Jones, had participated at the 2024 edition of the tournament.Last month, Jones scored a hundred on his first-class debut against Wellington. Others with domestic experience are batter Snehith Reddy, wicketkeeper Aryan Mann, fast bowler Mason Clarke, and bowling-allrounder Jaskaran Sandhu.Reddy and Clarke made their List A debuts earlier this year. Like Jones, they had also participated in the last edition in South Africa. Reddy had brought up the highest score of the tournament (147*) against Nepal, and Clarke had taken 4 for 62 against runners-up India.Hugo Bogue, Brandon Matzopoulous, Marco Alpe and Jacob Cotter have been picked after their impressive performance with the bat at the national U-19 tournament in Lincoln last week.Allrounders Harry Burns and Flynn Morey will bolster the seam-bowling attack; both took a five-wicket haul each at the tournament and ended up on ten wickets overall.For players to be eligible for the tournament, they must be under 19 years of age on August 31 2026. The squad will leave for Africa on January 2. They will have a training camp in Bulawayo before the tournament’s warm-up period begins on January 9. New Zealand are in Group B, and start their tournament against USA on January 18. India and Bangladesh are the other two teams in their group.Former New Zealand batter Anton Devcich will be the head coach, with NZC High Performance coaches Paul Wiseman and Graeme Aldridge supporting him.

New Zealand squad for Men’s Under-19 World Cup

Tom Jones (capt), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Brandon Matzopoulos, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Harry Waite

Tasmania 6 for 165 (Bailey 86, Dighton 63, Bollinger 5-48) trail New South Wales 7 for 512 dec (Forrest 177, Haddin 100, Hughes 51, Katich 51) by 347 runs
Scorecard

Doug Bollinger damaged the Tigers early with three wickets from seven balls and finished with 5 for 48 © Getty Images

Doug Bollinger’s five wickets set Tasmania a major challenge to avoid the follow-on after Brad Haddin’s century helped New South Wales post a threatening 7 for 512 declared. Bollinger snaffled three wickets from seven balls in his first spell and returned for two late additions as the Tigers reached stumps at 6 for 165, needing a further 198 to make the Blues bat again.Luke Butterworth was on 3 and Brett Geeves had 4 at the close following an insipid batting display from all but George Bailey and Michael Dighton. The pair came together when Bollinger’s new-ball efforts had felled Tasmania to 3 for 10 and their 144-run partnership guided the visitors out of the immediate embarrassment zone.Bailey made 86 and Dighton scored 63 but their strong performances only served to highlight the disappointing results from the rest of the order – no other player reached double-figures. Bollinger initially trapped Michael Di Venuto lbw in the fifth over and three balls later had Travis Birt bowled for 0, before returning in the seventh over to add the Tigers’ new captain Daniel Marsh (0) to his collection.The steadying partnership lasted until late in the day when Grant Lambert bowled Dighton, at which time Bollinger came back to have Bailey caught behind and Sean Clingeleffer bowled two balls later. The Tigers’ batting was all the more frustrating for them after they had seen the Blues post a huge score thanks in part to Haddin’s 100.Peter Forrest had set things up on the first day with 177 and Haddin took over the responsibilities on day two. He had good support from Lambert (32), while Beau Casson and Matthew Nicholson each finished unbeaten on 34. The Tigers desperately need a similar lower-order fightback to avoid a completely one-sided affair.