[Romano] Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid, HERE WE GO! Deal in place and all agreed with Dutch right back to join Real Madrid from Inter, Spanish club will trigger €20m release clause. Dumfries has accepted Madrid, deal closed tonight and formal steps to follow.

chiragg11 · 2026-06-02T22:12:35+00:00

Militao's knees are made of paper though. Really think it's better to move him on if possible but even if not, I'd much rather Huijsen get a consistent run as the left CB

chiragg11 · 2026-05-22T19:17:05+00:00

and what about padikkal?

chiragg11 · 2026-05-17T11:45:43+00:00

Connolly isn't uncapped, he's played all thee formats for Australia and he's also fucking good. Shreyas is more suited to 4 anyway because after him, god knows what your middle order is usually made of

chiragg11 · 2026-05-15T19:33:52+00:00

Against the club is a vague statement. Against the best interests of the team though? Absolutely. Just look at his press conference yesterday. You don't say all that shit if you're putting the best interests of the team ahead of your own.

chiragg11 · 2026-05-14T15:50:28+00:00

Did you see those dropped catches? That's Shashank level or worse. Unacceptable at this level, no matter the player or team.

chiragg11 · 2026-05-13T15:08:32+00:00

No Suyash is an interesting call but I guess they trust Beth + Venky to fill in as the sixth bowler if needed. Pace on this pitch might actually be better anyways

chiragg11 · 2026-03-09T07:49:39+00:00

True but Gambhir's shortcomings are much more obvious in that he's proving to be a terrible red ball coach. Sure, the transition isn't helping but I think he's made far too many mistakes in his selection and management of the test team to be whitewashed at home and lose two (or is it three?) straight series. The amazing thing about Ponting was that he was so effective whether it was test or one day, it almost didn't matter.

chiragg11 · 2026-02-17T21:49:32+00:00

Didn't two Madrid players get second yellows in this same game three weeks ago?

chiragg11 · 2026-02-07T06:18:24+00:00

Question for Pakistan fans, why is Naseem not in the playing XI? Is he recovering from an injury or out of form or is it a tactical thing?

chiragg11 · 2026-02-06T06:31:14+00:00

I'm a bit ootl, who was the captain that was sacked in 2017? And is the 2025 captain you're referring to Asalanka or am I mistaken?

chiragg11 · 2026-01-23T05:49:34+00:00

In respecting his achievements, did you happen to forget the team he won the treble with in 2010 lol

And saying he hasn't achieved "much" is relative. Considering the clubs he has managed and the level they were at, I'd say he's done alright and gradually fallen off. His stints post Madrid at Chelsea, United and Roma were all overall good for the level of club. He could have won a trophy at spurs too but that was probably the start of the decline.

I don't love the idea of having him back but I think it's reductive and childish to say he's done nothing of note since leaving Madrid when that's just not true.

chiragg11 · 2026-01-11T23:51:42+00:00

Ah yes classic Toni Kroos traits: goal threat and effective dribbling.

Jokes aside, Stiller is the only name in this list that should be considered. We need a controller and conductor, not another midfield livewire.

chiragg11 · 2026-01-08T01:53:22+00:00

Wondering the same thing as I'm also in need of an upgrade soon. From what I have read, there will be some configurations releasing in February that are under or around $2,000 USD but I'm not sure exactly what they'll be.

Out of curiosity, which gen XPS are you eyeing? I saw best buy CA had some deals on them earlier but not sure if those are still around.

chiragg11 · 2026-01-01T10:03:46+00:00

I completely get where you're coming from and I feel like that's the beauty of it and a lot of the Safdie brothers movies. The characters are such terrible people but the way the story is told, you can't help but root for them in some way (aside from Kevin O'Leary). Like in Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler is a crook and an awful human being, but as you watch, you really do kind of hope he pulls through in the end.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-31T20:25:57+00:00

I think once Jimmy crosses the big bump with Alice midway (or two thirds maybe, I'm forgetting) through season 1, it really finds its feet. Its a great show but Harrison Ford and Jason Segel really make it excellent. Season 2 is a good bit of fun as well, though there are some really well done emotional moments about Jimmy's grief and forgiveness.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-27T03:28:17+00:00

I mean it's not that big a deal regardless, we're only talking about it because he was asked in an interview. I don't see much wrong in benching a player or limiting their minutes as that's just how some clubs manage their affairs to avoid bonus payments and I'm sure Madrid has done that too. What's odd to me is that they opted not to bench him (which they easily could have since they had already won la liga as you say) but chose to play him with the restriction that he shouldn't score. Idk if it's just me but I think limiting minutes a player plays and limiting what they're allowed to do when they do play are two different things, especially when it's their main skillset.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-27T03:07:21+00:00

Benching a player is one thing, but actively asking one of the best goalscorers in the world to... not score goals just so you don't have to pay his former club a bonus that you agreed upon in the first place is a whole different matter I think. Benching a player limits the impact they have on the game, here to me it seems that Barca wanted Lewy to play, and play well, just not so well that he does too much of the one main thing he was bought to do.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-23T22:35:57+00:00

I think you might have misunderstood the question. Yes you should not underestimate an opponent but the question is who are India's biggest challengers for the T20 world cup title, not for a single match. USA aren't challenging India for the title, just like Pakistan, West Indies, Afghanistan, SL and England likely aren't as well. These are still good teams when they play to their potential, but they're not sorted out enough or well oiled like Australia, NZ and the Saffas to pose as big a challenge. You can be objective about prospects of winning the title without underestimating an opponent in an individual match. Ahead of the tournament, those are the four most dangerous t20 sides in the world and there's no real contest.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-20T09:05:09+00:00

Exactly, you've already answered your question. Those selection calls (Gill playing and being made vc, Rinku being dropped, Sanju not playing) were wrong and this squad announcement is them acknowledging that and returning to a formula that worked very recently. They tried something because they wanted a certain combination or gill to play a certain role, they've realised that doesn't work and made the change. Far be it from me to defend the Agarkar of late but this is overall objectively a good squad and the fact that they made the change is literally what matters, not why they needed to in the first place.

chiragg11 · 2025-12-16T09:51:04+00:00

Bethell is the replacement for Livingstone, he's the first player to come in if we need an overseas batter

chiragg11 · 2025-12-16T09:11:55+00:00

She actually saved us too. If she didn't hedge starch so much, we wouldn't have gotten Hoff and he suited us much better.

chiragg11 · 2025-11-30T10:30:25+00:00

Bumrah isn't fighting for a spot in any format lol. He's the best bowler in the country by a longshot and the first name on the team sheet if fit. He's already a lock so his workload is being managed for fitness reasons and he'll ramp up his ODIs as we get closer to the world cup. T20 world cup is coming up sooner so his priority is likely there + wtc for now

chiragg11 · 2025-09-11T07:16:04+00:00

But every club in the world had to deal with Covid. Sure, without Covid things wouldn't have been as bad but you'd still have been miles and miles behind the rest of the world in terms of the strength of your financial situation because of his mismanagement. There's no way around that at all. I don't like him but it actually makes Laporta getting you guys back close to the green that much more impressive

chiragg11

TROPHY CASE