#player-development

#player-development

"First of all, it's my job now to make contact with everyone," Tuchel said. "Players like Trent, players that are on our long list, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here. Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve. "Can they even do something or is it just a choice, so this is my job in the next weeks and months."

I had a close exchange with Toni Di Salvo [U21 coach]. He's always happy when his players make it to the senior national team, but for his mission, it's not optimal when his players are away. So we have to find a healthy compromise. Said did well, it was his first time with us. He didn't have many training sessions, but he made a good impression. I spoke to him at the beginning of the week and we decided he would join the U21s as they have an important game in Georgia.

Juraj Kucka has clarified comments that he made a while ago about Rafael Leao, based on a game that he saw first-hand. Kucka did four years with Genoa before moving to Milan in 2015 a fee widely reported to be in the region of €3m plus bonuses. He ended up becoming a fan favourite at the San Siro and stayed for a couple of seasons before heading to Trabzonspor, then moving on to Watford.

I asked Dani Olmo before making my final decision so he could tell me a bit about it. He said that the league was improving, but that if I was fit, I wouldn't have any trouble playing. It's a very good league for developing and gaining experience.

What might have seemed like borrowed time for RJ Barrett has quickly turned over a new leaf as the 2025-26 Raptors campaign has gotten underway. For what feels like an eternity, RJ Barrett has been Toronto's most mentioned trade candidate, aside from another expendable wing in Ochai Agbaji. Although those rumors continued to circulate as recently as October, watching Barrett perform in the regular season so far has arguably put an end to ongoing trade speculation.

David Odogu is not getting regular playing time under Massimiliano Allegri, and AC Milan are plotting a loan move for him. Milan turned to Odogu late in the summer transfer window, a name practically unheard of and with good reason. As opposed to the experienced names like Manuel Akanji and Joe Gomez, the German only had three senior appearances to his name when arriving.

One of the reasons for this improved start has been the play of rookie Joey Larson. After appearing in six games last season and racking up a goal and two assists, Larson has hit the ground running. In 13 games, he has seven goals and two assists for nine points. His goal total is tied with Daniil But for most goals among AHL rookies. This strong start improves Larson's standing in the organization. It could help him make a case for a call-up someday.

McKay has had an interesting career, oscillating between coaching and front office roles. He had been a coach in college ball for a number of years, before working for the Rockies in the minors as peak performance coordinator. Then he spent a long time working in the Mariners' player development department, getting hired in October of 2015. That was not long after Jerry Dipoto had become Seattle's general manager. Dipoto and McKay had worked together with the Rockies.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Ben Danford with the 31st pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, despite the fact that he wasn't necessarily a household name at the time. The reality was that he filled an archetype that has been near impossible for the Maple Leafs to come across over the past few decades. A homegrown, right-handed defenceman with good puck-moving skills and elite defensive instincts.

The season started with a win for Angers, but it was a win that brought more fear than hope. Esteban Lepaul scored the only goal of the game as they beat Paris FC. The Frenchman had been a revelation in the second half of last season, as his nine goals ensured safety for Ligue 1's second lowest scorers. But Rennes were circling and he was gone by the end of August.

And he was all shocked that I would prioritize him, I think. I hopped in the car and drove down to Long Island to meet him. At the time, he was the No. 6 defenseman on the Islanders, a throw-it-off-the-glass-and-out type, growing into his body still. So I drive down and we were supposed to have lunch. We ended up having lunch and dinner. I stayed all day and we talked all day.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs hovering close to the .500 mark so far this 2025-26 NHL season, we have often seen Leafs head coach Craig Berube tinkering with the lines to find the ideal combinations. Whether it be just making in-game changes or the actual insertion and scratches of players for the daily lineup, the Leafs appear to be still looking for the right mix this season.

He swept into Chelsea, he floated in, he didn't walk. I've never seen anything like him in terms of personality and also in methodology, in a way of working. He was something for me that was almost like a UFO. He was not like anything I'd seen before. I have to say it was as much down to his methodology and his way of working, but it's down to him. There's something about Thomas for me ... There's stardust there.

It wasn't exactly the shot that Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted, but, then, all he really wanted was the last shot. Everyone knew this, Antetokounmpo most of all: when the game clock started to wind down, he would have the ball. And so, with fifteen seconds left in Monday night's game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers, and the score tied, he backed down a Pacers defender, then spun into a fadeaway as the buzzer sounded.

The Orioles have promoted Brendan Fournie to an assistant general manager position, MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko reports. Fournie has been with the O's for just under four years, working as the team's senior director of baseball strategy and operations. His new portfolio, as per Kubatko, will have Fournie "oversee baseball economics, advanced scouting and salary arbitration, and also provide roster and transaction support."

Carrasco, 38, is a long-time big league veteran who started three games with Atlanta last summer when the team was at the apex of injury issues with the starting rotation. He was designated for assignment but re-signed with the organization and finished the year with Gwinnett. Vines, 27, didn't pitch last season due to injury, but has been in the organization since being drafted in 2016 and has nine major league games under his belt, appearing with Atlanta in both 2023 and 2024.

I've had a couple of clubs, not just Madrid or United, I had a lot of clubs. Today my choice is Manchester, so I'm really happy with this. I know some people talked about this last year because of the results. I can understand them, but honestly, it's my choice, my career. I know what I'm doing, and I'm just going to be better in the future.

The 10th NHL game has long been a milestone of sorts for young players looking to break into the league, especially teenagers. That's because it's an indication of whether the player is ready to play at the sport's highest level or if he needs more time to develop. A team that thinks the player needs more time to develop will often decide to send the player back to his junior team before that 10th game, preserving the first year of the player's entry-level contract (ELC) for another season.

The Washington Wizards entered the season with several intriguing young players, most notably headlined by the likes of players such as Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson. Sarr had the opportunity to prove he could be the cornerstone player the Wizards have desperately been searching for, especially if he was able to showcase his potential as the two-way threat Washington was banking on him developing into in the frontcourt.

"Cubarsi had some problems and missed a day of training. And we have Ronald, Eric, Pau... great center-backs who can play," he told reporters.