Sports
David Moyes’ Baffling Decision on ‘Passenger’ vs Sunderland Cost 2 Points
David Moyes simply can’t stick with current preferred XI after watching Everton drop yet more points against Premier League newboys Sunderland.
The Scottish boss returned to the Stadium of Light, where he was manager in the 2016/17 season, only to leave with a single point. The Black Cats battled back from being a goal behind at half-time after Illiman Ndiaye netted a superb opener for the visitors.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka thundered in an equaliser at the beginning of the second period to level the score, and that is how it would end. Despite surviving a late flurry of Sunderland attacks, the Toffees have now just picked up 12 points all season from 10 league matches.
Moyes Must Drop Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall After Sunderland Struggle
One of the stranger decisions Moyes made was to keep midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the pitch for over 80 minutes. The Englishman has struggled to have an impact playing just behind the lone striker in recent weeks after a promising start to life on Merseyside.
The former Chelsea man has registered just one goal and an assist in the Premier League season, both of which came in the third game of the season at struggling Wolves.
To put it plainly, he isn’t a number 10. Dewsbury-Hall emerged at Leicester City, where he was utilised mainly as a box-to-box player, rather than an attacking outlet. His performances, including the display against Sunderland.
He lost the ball 10 times and only completed 19 out of 24 passes on the night. This shows he wasn’t involved enough, and when he was, Dewsbury-Hall didn’t show the required quality to make things happen.
That lack of creativity compared to the electric Ndiaye and Jack Grealish to either side of him sticks out like a sore thumb at times. If he’s to get back into form, Moyes should drop him back into a deeper role and give Charly Alcaraz a run in the number 10 role.
Everton Fans Baffled by Moyes’ Use of ‘Passenger’ Dewsbury-Hall
Supporters of the club took to social media to express their concerns over Dewsbury-Hall’s lacklustre performance at the Stadium of Light. One user was particularly frustrated by the amount of times he lost possession: “KDH is having a stinker! He’s given the ball away about 6 times in 40 mins ffs!”
Another disgruntled supporter decided enough was enough and the 27-year-old should be taken out of his unnatural position, saying: “Get Dewsbury Hall out of that position. He just doesn’t have the ability to find players quick and on the move.”
Before finally making the decision to replace the midfield player with Alcaraz in the 83rd minute, Moyes’ decision-making was questioned. One fan asked: “Can’t Moyes see Dewsbury-Hall is just a passenger?”
Others were more concerned with how the player signed from Chelsea in the summer looked to regress as the game went on, with one saying: “KDH has gone off the boil as this has gone on.” A final irked supporter added: “Dewsbury Hall not done enough for me. His final pass has been really poor.”
Statistics in this article are courtesy of SofaScore. Correct as of 03-11-25.
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has caused quite a stir with what he said to the Japan player who claimed that “Brazil used to be a powerhouse” ahead of his side’s dramatic 2-1 World Cup victory on Monday evening. Carlo Ancelotti and co. left it late to complete the comeback in Houston and book their place in the Round of 16.
Kaishu Sano gave Japan a shock lead just before the 30-minute mark, but a series of second-half changes helped the five-time world champions wrestle back control and put their stamp on the contest. Casemiro powered home the equaliser in the 56th minute before Gabriel Martinelli emerged as the hero off the bench, poking in a dramatic 96th-minute winner after the ball trickled beyond the goalkeeper, kissed the post and crossed the line.
While Japan are renowned for their sportsmanship, there was no shortage of needle between the two sides. Before the showdown, Kento Shiogai had talked the talk by questioning Brazil’s standing among the game’s elite. But after failing to walk the walk, Cunha wasted little time in giving him a taste of his own medicine, firing back with a pointed response of his own after the final whistle.
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What Cunha Said to Shiogai in Heated Exchange After Brazil 2-1 Japan
In what Ancelotti later branded ‘mind games’, Shiogai had said: “I don’t hear much about Brazil these days,” after claiming: “Brazil used to be a powerhouse, but now only France and Argentina are strong.” He only played six minutes at this World Cup, and Cunha wasn’t prepared to let his comments slide as he could be seen saying after the final whistle (while holding up five fingers):
“Five World Cups… you small!”
Also asked about the statement from Shiogai, captain Marquinhos said he saw a bit of arrogance in the Japanese player’s attitude, but Brazil eventually found a way to get themselves over the line.
His Gesture has Caused a Stir
While many Brazilians applauded the five-word message, with one X user remarking: “He put him in his place” and another saying: “Pride and arrogance is back! That’s what we wanted!” neutrals have offered a different perspective on things.
Indeed, it seems the rest of the football world find the Man United winger’s comments a little bizarre, considering he hasn’t contributed to any of their success. In some ways, Cunha’s gesture proves his opponent right until he has something more recent to shout about, as one critic wrote: “Just setting himself up to be a meme.” Another also added:
“Cunha saying ‘5 World Cups’ as if he was part of it. Bro needs to understand that he plays for Man United, a club that hasn’t won the league in about 14 years. He needs to calm down.”
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Elsewhere, one last comment concluded: “Players bragging with trophies they didn’t win should be abolished.” Brazil will face Ivory Coast or Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at 21:00 GMT on Sunday night.
Football fans are in agreement over which player needs to be axed from Brazil’s starting lineup following their narrow 2-1 World Cup win vs Japan on Monday evening. Despite winning it late on with Gabriel Martinelli squeezing in a 95th minute goal, Carlo Ancelotti will not have been happy with everything he saw in Houston.
For decades, Brazil have carried a certain kind of ‘aura’ into tournaments that made them a feared opposition, despite being a shell of their glorified past. Now, it feels like their rivals are finally taking advantage of the reality of which the South American giants aren’t as good as their five stars would suggest, even if they got away with it this time.
And one player, more than any, showed that some deadwood still lingers in squad selections, despite calls from fans for years for him to replaced. It is unlikely he gets to start again in the Round of 16.
Brazil Ace is Being Begged to Retire Despite Round of 16 Qualification
Reacting to Danilo’s performance, which saw him produce the lowest Sofascore rating of everyone at the Houston Stadium, one X user wrote: “How Daniel is still playing professional football is unreal to me,” as a second added about the Flamengo defender (see the full post below):
“It’s unacceptable for this guy to be a starter for Brazil. No, I’m not being opportunistic. We’ve been saying the same thing about Danilo since 2022.
“He’s an excellent leader, but he no longer has what it takes to be a starter for the Brazilian National Team. Unacceptable pass. How reckless.”
A third remarked: “The age is really showing in this Brazil team. You’re not gonna get away with playing Danilo in 2026, be for real,” as a fourth continued: “Danilo minutes is malpractice.” Elsewhere, a fifth concluded: “Danilo mistake. It was embarrassing to call him up in 2022 why is he still around in 2026??”
Danilo’s Performance in Numbers
Winners always find a way, but while the attackers put on a resilient showing in the second-half, it always felt like Brazil were one Danilo misstep away from gifting their opponents a way back into things as pressure built. Across 99 minutes, the right-back was responsible for an error that led to the goal, a foul, and general moments of disarray.
2026 World Cup: Brazil 2-1Japan Player Ratings and Match Highlights
A last-gasp Gabriel Martinelli winner breaks Japanese hearts.
He didn’t commit to any tackles, he won just two of his five duels, and his two defensive contributions are cause for serious concern given he had ample time to get involved with protecting Alisson between the sticks but chose to sit further forward.
Maybe he would have been forgiven had he done well in attack, but zero successful dribbles, losing possession 12 times, completing just two out of four long ball attempts and cross attempts shows he was ineffective from back to front.
Football fans are in agreement over which player needs to be axed from Brazil’s starting lineup following their narrow 2-1 World Cup win vs Japan on Monday evening. Despite winning it late on with Gabriel Martinelli squeezing in a 95th minute goal, Carlo Ancelotti will not have been happy with everything he saw in Houston.
For decades, Brazil have carried a certain kind of ‘aura’ into tournaments that made them a feared opposition, despite being a shell of their glorified past. Now, it feels like their rivals are finally taking advantage of the reality of which the South American giants aren’t as good as their five stars would suggest, even if they got away with it this time.
And one player, more than any, showed that some deadwood still lingers in squad selections, despite calls from fans for years for him to replaced. It is unlikely he gets to start again in the Round of 16.
Brazil Ace is Being Begged to Retire Despite Round of 16 Qualification
Reacting to Danilo’s performance, which saw him produce the lowest Sofascore rating of everyone at the Houston Stadium, one X user wrote: “How Daniel is still playing professional football is unreal to me,” as a second added about the Flamengo defender (see the full post below):
“It’s unacceptable for this guy to be a starter for Brazil. No, I’m not being opportunistic. We’ve been saying the same thing about Danilo since 2022.
“He’s an excellent leader, but he no longer has what it takes to be a starter for the Brazilian National Team. Unacceptable pass. How reckless.”
A third remarked: “The age is really showing in this Brazil team. You’re not gonna get away with playing Danilo in 2026, be for real,” as a fourth continued: “Danilo minutes is malpractice.” Elsewhere, a fifth concluded: “Danilo mistake. It was embarrassing to call him up in 2022 why is he still around in 2026??”
Danilo’s Performance in Numbers
Winners always find a way, but while the attackers put on a resilient showing in the second-half, it always felt like Brazil were one Danilo misstep away from gifting their opponents a way back into things as pressure built. Across 99 minutes, the right-back was responsible for an error that led to the goal, a foul, and general moments of disarray.
2026 World Cup: Brazil 2-1Japan Player Ratings and Match Highlights
A last-gasp Gabriel Martinelli winner breaks Japanese hearts.
He didn’t commit to any tackles, he won just two of his five duels, and his two defensive contributions are cause for serious concern given he had ample time to get involved with protecting Alisson between the sticks but chose to sit further forward.
Maybe he would have been forgiven had he done well in attack, but zero successful dribbles, losing possession 12 times, completing just two out of four long ball attempts and cross attempts shows he was ineffective from back to front.
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