It was after Manchester United’s first game against West Ham this season that Ruben Amorim let his guard down on Kobbie Mainoo.

United drew 1-1 with the relegation-threatened Hammers at Old Trafford in December, with Mainoo left on the bench throughout – and Amorim deciding Lisandro Martinez for Luke Shaw was a better final substitution as he looked for a winner.

“You always ask me the same thing,” said United’s then manager, when questioned why he had left the 20-year-old on the bench.

“I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie on when I feel I shouldn’t.”

The “you love Kobbie” comment felt personal. The rationale, in Amorim’s mind, for why he was repeatedly being asked by the media why he hardly used Mainoo.

That assessment missed the point.

It was not that the media loved Mainoo. It was that they had previously seen the positive benefits he can bring to a team.

Judging by the 25,000 likes on a social media post on X during the 2-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday, observing that with each passing game Amorim’s stance on Mainoo looks ridiculous, huge numbers of fans had seen it too.

Fans also failed to understand why the academy-raised midfielder did not start a single Premier League match this season prior to Amorim’s departure.

Amorim’s initial replacement, Darren Fletcher, brought Mainoo on for the final 16 minutes of last month’s draw at Burnley, having ditched the three-man central defence to allow for an extra player in the middle of the pitch.

The midfielder started the following game against Brighton in the FA Cup and has kept his place for all four matches of Michael Carrick’s short reign.

Against Tottenham, Mainoo created Bryan Mbeumo’s opener with a deft pass to the edge of the penalty area with the inside of his right foot after dashing across the goal to meet Bruno Fernandes’ short corner.

“Yes, there’s no doubt,” said Carrick afterwards, upon being asked whether Mainoo was back to the level of his breakthrough season in 2023-24, when he scored in the FA Cup final and started for England in the Euros final defeat by Spain.

Some still do not get it.

On the face of it, seven goals and five assists in 90 first-team appearances does not look much.

But that is not the point. Mainoo has an excellent feel for the flow of games and is an all-round midfielder.

That applied to Carrick himself two decades ago. It was the reason Sir Alex Ferguson brought him north from Tottenham.

In a chat with his brother Graeme for the Football Association before he left United in 2018, Carrick himself explained the subtleties of a “great pass”.

“The execution is probably the easiest bit a lot of the time,” he said.

“It is about preparing for it, getting your body position right, understanding the context of the game, knowing the risk and reward.

“Even if it is a three-yard pass, you are giving the ball to someone for them to do something instantly. If they have to take a touch and another touch to get hold of the ball, it is not a great pass.

“You should be dictating what the next pass should be, and your own passing angle should be right.

“It is a great pass if the next part is how you see it in your head.”

Indiana University Athletics has announced plans for a statue to honor former men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, who won three national titles during his 29 years in Bloomington. 

Knight’s statue will be displayed alongside the 1976 national championship statues in the south lobby of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The 1976 team — Knight’s first national championship squad — remains the most recent Division I men’s basketball team to go undefeated, finishing the year with a 32-0 record. 

Knight, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 83, posted a 662-339 during his time at Indiana that included two more national titles (in 1981 and 1987), five Final Four appearances and 24 NCAA Tournament appearances. He is a member Naismith Hall of Fame, the National College Basketball Hall of Fame, and the IU Athletics Hall of Fame. 

The announcement of the commission of Knight’s statue was made on the night where members of the 1976 team were honored at Assembly Hall. 

The announcement of the statue comes just over 25 years after Knight’s run at Indiana ended on a tumultuous note. In September of 2000, Knight was relieved of his duties after violating a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding his behavior. Knight and the school had been under the microscope for months after a former player claimed he had been chocked by Knight during a practice several years earlier. A video later surfaced that appeared to show Knight placing a hand on said player. 

Many Indiana fans were outraged at the school’s decision to fire Knight, who finished his coaching career with a largely successful, seven-year run at Texas Tech that included a Sweet 16 appearance in 2005. 

Knight, who retired from coaching in 2008, kept his distance from Indiana during his first dozen years of retirement. 

“Well, I think that I’ve always really enjoyed the fans, and I always will,” Knight told Dan Patrick in 2017. “On my dying day, I will think about how great the fans at Indiana were. As far as the hierarchy at Indiana University at that time, I have absolutely no respect whatsoever with those people. That in mind, I have no interest in ever going back to that university.”

The relationship did repair itself to the point where Knight did return to Assembly Hall in February of 2020 to honor the 1980 Big Ten championship team. Knight and his former players received a thunderous ovation from fans who had waited nearly 20 years to give the old coach a proper sendoff. 

The statue announcement is confirmation that the school will continue to honor Knight’s legacy as one of the most successful coaches in basketball history. 

“Coach Knight’s influence on the game of basketball is immeasurable, but his impact on this university and Hoosier basketball fans is even deeper,” said IU vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics  Scott Dolson. “On a personal level, having started my career here as a student manager under Coach Knight, I saw firsthand the unparalleled standard of excellence he demanded. He taught me, and countless others, that success is the result of meticulous preparation and unwavering discipline. 

“This statue will be a well-deserved tribute to a man who didn’t just win games; he changed how the sport is played.”

Incognito, previously the market leader for the Golden Slipper, is still considered for the richest juvenile showdown globally, but modifications to his gear aim to steady his path forward.

The Breeders’ Plate champion came up short in the Canonbury Stakes on his freshen-up last weekend, jockey Tommy Berry suggesting afterwards the colt endured palate displacement.

Trainer Michael Freedman agreed post-vet exams lent credence to the assessment, adding the condition, while variable, is typically controllable.

“It can be displaced for a very short period of time then go back in place very quickly,” Freedman said.

“It’s a bit of a frustrating one and they can do it once and never do it again. It’s one of those racing things that can happen sometimes. Hopefully we can just make a few subtle changes because he is obviously a lot better than that.

“I was, to some degree, quite happy to find an issue. If you go home with no issues, you think maybe we’re not good enough.”

Freedman stated stewards from Racing NSW see no need for Incognito to trial again, plotting his return in the Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill on February 21.

Barring complications, the Golden Slipper a month along remains the goal.

“He’s in good order so the plan will be to change a little bit of gear on him,” Freedman said.

“I’m not exactly sure what that will be, maybe a tongue tie and a different type of bit, and then go to the Silver Slipper, although if we decided we wanted to wait an extra week, we could.”

The trainer’s other youngster Outspan enters the Pierro Plate (1100m) next Saturday at Randwick, with the Bivouac colt building nicely since his Rosehill triumph.

“He will be here next Saturday, that’s the plan,” Freedman said. Fans can find competitive betting markets for the race via trusted online bookmakers.

“I’m very happy with him. He did a nice bit of work (Saturday) morning, and he will have a gallop on Tuesday.”

The post Incognito remains in Golden Slipper equation first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Former Minnesota Vikings offensive coach Chris Kuper failed upward. The Philadelphia Eagles hired Kuper on Monday, giving him the opportunity to thrive with a team that has a notable reputation for stellar offensive lines.

Kuper’s exit won’t settle the blame debate, but the landing spot in Philadelphia puts a bright light back on Minnesota’s OL results.

For their troubles, after the 2026 season, Vikings fans will get a firm verdict on whether Kuper was the problem in Minnesota or if something is systemically wrong with Kevin O’Connell’s offensive line operations.

Chris Kuper Lands in Philadelphia after Vikings Exit

Few saw this relationship coming.

Kuper to PHI

Kuper’s unemployment did not last long. CBS News‘ Tom Dougherty announced Monday, “The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly found Jeff Stoutland’s replacement. The Eagles will hire Chris Kuper as their next offensive line coach, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Kuper spent the past four seasons coaching the Minnesota Vikings’ O-line, where he briefly crossed paths with Sean Mannion, Philadelphia’s new offensive coordinator.”

“The 43-year-old played eight seasons with the Denver Broncos before starting his coaching career in 2015. He spent one season coaching the O-line for Columbine High School in Colorado before making the leap to the NFL. He began his pro coaching career as an offensive quality control coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2016 and was later promoted to assistant O-line coach.”

While the Eagles’ offensive line personnel may undergo some offseason upheaval, the franchise has featured arguably the league’s best OL over the last few years. It’s a sweet arrangement for Kuper, especially this soon.

The Athletic‘s Zach Berman noted on the Kuper hire, “By hiring Kuper, the Eagles found someone with experience coaching in the expected scheme and also playing experience that could bring credibility to a veteran group.”

“Kuper started 80 games (including the playoffs) over eight NFL seasons with the Broncos, beginning his career under Mike Shanahan and finishing his career with Peyton Manning as quarterback. He started coaching in the NFL under Adam Gase in Miami, where he overlapped with new Eagles passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard.”

Kuper’s OL Rankings in Minnesota

With Kuper in charge since the start of 2022, the Vikings finished with these OL rankings:

Minnesota also allowed the second-most sacks in 2025, as interior pressure consistently collapsed pockets at one of the league’s worst rates. That happened despite an offseason built around premium offensive line investment, with Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill forming a unit that looked strong on paper and expensive in practice.

The results were underwhelming.

That disconnect grew deeper when the Vikings moved 2022 second-round pick Ed Ingram to Houston last March after three uneven seasons. In a different environment, Ingram graded out as a Top 15 NFL guard by year’s end. Developments like that fueled the sense that the problem lived higher up the chain, and why fans increasingly questioned whether Kuper’s seat had cooled past the point of recovery.

The Almighty Verdict Awaits

Regarding those theories — “fire Kuper” chants began midseason 2025 — it won’t be difficult to get an answer. Kuper will strut into a foundationally sound system, and if the Eagles’ trenches don’t struggle with him in charge, it will seem like Minnesota got an offseason decision wrong again. Look no further than Sam Darnold winning the Super Bowl on Sunday night as an example.

On the other hand, if Philadelphia’s offensive line finally takes a step back, Vikings fans will point and laugh at Kuper, feeling vindicated for making the face of the 2025 offensive line problems.

It’s all teed up for Kuper to prove it or succumb to the suspicion.

Avoid Injuries at All Costs

Kuper didn’t exactly get a smooth situation in 2025. Minnesota cycled through 25 offensive line combinations as injuries stacked up and continuity never had a chance to settle.

Darrisaw’s ACL recovery stalled, forcing the Vikings to shut him down in mid-December. Kelly dealt with three concussions. Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson played through a broken wrist. O’Neill missed time as well. That many injuries basically mandate that a fivesome can achieve no momentum or continuity.

In Philadelphia, Kuper will be banking on better health. The injury bug buried the 2025 Vikings, and no amount of coaching wizardry could fix that reality, at least not enough to propel the unit to Top 10 numbers.

Meanwhile, Minnesota promoted Kuper’s lieutenant, Keith Carter, to run the offensive line show in 2026. O’Connell also brought former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith on board last month, who has an extensive offensive line background. Smith is the new assistant head coach.

Oscar Bobb returns to the Etihad with Fulham on Wednesday night just days after leaving Manchester City in a £27million exit.

Oscar Bobb lit up the Wembley turf with a breakout showing that seemed to cement his status as a Manchester City first team fixture. Days later, a fractured leg sustained in training ended his season.

It’s a sliding doors moment football often throws up and on this occasion Bobb was on the wrong side of it. The Community Shield victory over Manchester United in August 2024 saw Bobb named player of the match and continued a fine few months for the Norwegian.

He’d hit a stunning late winner off the bench at Newcastle in the January which went a long way to helping City to the title, before playing a starring role on the summer tour of America.

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That earned him a start at Wembley and, but for injury, he may well have started the Premier League opener at Chelsea. Instead he was on the treatment table and staring at the long road to recovery.

He returned to first team action in April 2025 but Bobb has failed to hit the same heights since and despite 15 appearances for City this term, an exit to Fulham was sanctioned. He returns to the Etihad with his new club tonight.

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Pep Guardiola was looking for Bobb to kick on and, through injury, form and the arrivals of the likes of Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo in the last three transfer windows, the Norway international hasn’t managed to force his way into the City thinking.

“We want more,” said Guardiola after that 2024 Community Shield showing. “Sometimes he had the chance to take the ball and go and he was a little bit passive. He has something unique; be stopped then go, first one or two steps, right or left are unbelievable. The goal, how he turns and make the cross, huge quality. He has incredible values and work ethic. He has the ability to do it and he can do it more regularly.”

The regularity never arrived. Bobb worked hard to return from that serious injury but this season he never quite looked like he had the trust of his manager.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken criticised the winger after a friendly with New Zealand: “He was very poor in the first half. He is lacking everything. If you ask Oscar, I think he’ll say that the first half was his weakest performance for the national team. The second half was the next weakest.”

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His confidence hit, Bobb then struggled to recapture it at City and never found a run of minutes. He was handed a start in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Brentford which was prematurely ended inside the opening quarter through injury. From then on, with talk of his future intensifying, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

Guardiola spoke in Bodo of Bobb saying he was still injured so wouldn’t be involved in what felt a pointed answer. The City manager has cited preparation as being the main injury avoidance factor in the past and there seemed some internal frustration at Bobb’s latest issue.

But he left with a glowing piece on City’s website and with the club thinking enough of him to insert a clause into his Fulham switch that allows the Blues to match any bid that comes in for him, a clause they utilised to sign James Trafford in the summer.

Plenty will watch Bobb’s time at Fulham with interest, even if his bright City beginning ultimately fizzled into something of a sour exit.

Quarterbacks grab all the headlines, for good or bad, but they simply cannot do it all by themselves in this ultimate team sport.

Tom Brady regularly had, and needed, a top-10 defence on his side to win Super Bowls, while Patrick Mahomes lost two of them because he was soundly beaten up by opposing defences.

In Seattle, Darnold found the perfect storm of a team on the up and a defensive head coach assembling a crack unit that would go on to dominate the NFL, needing just a solid quarterback to steer the offence.

Having the league’s leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker also helped, and plenty will say Darnold did not have to do much.

He became the first quarterback to enjoy successive 14-win seasons with two different teams – only Brady had managed it with one – but still there were questions as he led the league in turnovers, giving the ball away 20 times.

Around 80% of play-off games are won by teams with the fewest turnovers. In Super Bowls the record was 40-7 when winning the turnover battle.

Darnold has the fourth most giveaways in the NFL since being drafted (106) despite spending two years as a back-up, so once again he had to prove himself as he was written off as a liability before even entering the post-season.

The response was remarkable as Darnold’s Seattle became the first Super Bowl champions without a single turnover in the play-offs.

He answered the mental questions of facing the Rams again with 346 yards and three touchdowns, before doing just enough in the Super Bowl itself.

Was it flashy? No. MVP worthy? Not even close. But Darnold, now 28, did what he had to – he kept hold of the ball, made plays when needed and managed the game without ego or trying to be the hero.

No quarterback has won a Super Bowl having played for five teams before, but then no quarterback has been counted out so many times and got back to the top.

Luck has played a part, teams like Minnesota and Seattle took a chance and the Seahawks have furnished Darnold with everything he could possibly want in a team – and maybe there’s a hatful of quarterbacks in the league who could have won a Super Bowl with them this season.

None have been where Darnold has though and not many have done more to earn it. His redemption story really is one for the ages.