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موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبليموث في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

كشف نادي مانشستر سيتي عن موعد مباراته المرتقبة في بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، موسم 2024/25، ضد بليموث في المرحلة المقبلة من المنافسات.

كان مانشستر سيتي قد نجح في اجتياز ليتون أورينت بهدفين لهدف، في دور الـ32 من كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، بصعوبة بالغة.

وشارك النجم المصري عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليتون أورينت بأكملها، ولكنه لم يستطع التسجيل أو الصناعة.

اقرأ أيضًا | مانشستر سيتي ينتصر مجددًا على رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي.. وفوضى مرتقبة

في حين حقق بليموث مفاجأة من العيار الثقيل بعدما أطاح بفريق ليفربول من تلك المرحلة من البطولة، حيث فاز بهدف دون رد.

وأجرى الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم، يوم الإثنين الماضي، مراسم قرعة دور الـ16 من كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي لهذا الموسم.

وأسفرت القرعة عن مباراة مرتقبة بين فريقي مانشستر سيتي وبليموث أرجايل. موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبليموث في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي

ستُقام المباراة يوم السبت 1 مارس 2025، في تمام الساعة 7:45 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8:45 بتوقيت السعودية.

Aston Villa now join race to sign "relentless" new forward requested by Emery

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli, at Unai Emery’s request, and Real Betis’ asking price has been revealed.

Villa’s interest in signing a new forward comes amid doubts surrounding Harvey Elliott’s future, with widespread reports suggesting Liverpool could recall the attacking midfielder from his loan spell in the January transfer window.

Elliott has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular, featuring for just 97 minutes across four matches in the Premier League this season, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on whether there is any way back for the Englishman.

The transfer expert said: “At the moment, it depends on his performances in training. The situation is still not changing and of course, Elliott is not happy.”

Should the 22-year-old exit Villa Park this winter, there may be room in the squad to bring in another attacker, and the Villans are now looking to sign a new winger…

Aston Villa join race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli at Unai Emery's request

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Real Betis star Ezzalzouli, with the forward being monitored closely ahead of the January transfer window, although there could be competition for his signature from Crystal Palace.

The Betis board’s asking price is ‘significantly’ in excess of the Moroccan’s current value of €12m (£11m), with the Spanish club eager to retain one of their key players, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear he wants to keep hold of him.

The 23-year-old has been personally requested by Emery for January, with the manager setting out to sign a new winger in order to strengthen his side’s chances of winning the Europa League.

It is little wonder Pellegrini is keen to keep hold of the 25-time Morocco international, given that he has impressed at Real Betis for quite some time, with scout Ben Mattinson waxing lyrical about the left-winger during the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Osasuna man has also made a flying start to the season, chipping in with three goals and two assists in his opening eight games, which has helped propel his side to fifth in the La Liga table.

Emery strengthened his options at left-wing in the summer, signing Jadon Sancho, but the Manchester United loanee is yet to make an impact, failing to register a single goal or assist in his opening eight matches in all competitions.

As such, it would make sense to bring in a new winger in the January transfer window, and Ezzalzouli could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

Aston Villa targeting Ansu Fati alongside Abde Ezzalzouli

Aston Villa prepared to make Ansu Fati offer but face complicated roadblock

The Villans are willing to make a bid for a new forward, after Emery’s plea to the board.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 4, 2025

The many ambitions of Saima Thakor

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The UP Warriorz fast bowler has had a long journey from football, through hardship and tough choices, to a WPL debut, but she’s only ever looking forward

Firdose Moonda14-Mar-20243:44

Saima Thakor: ‘I have been preparing myself for these moments for a long time. It didn’t come overnight’

Saima Thakor’s first sporting ambition was to be the goalkeeper of her college football team in Mumbai.”But we already had a goalkeeper, so my coach said, ‘If you want to play in the XI, you have to be a forward,'” she remembered. “And I said, ‘Okay. I’ll do that.’ I always loved running and I was quick.”She turned out to be quite good in the aggressive role before she was lured into the cricket side, which was short of players. “They had to pick from other sports, so they came to football and went to handball and I was one of the players they picked.”Once she was firmly planted in the new sport, she discovered her second sporting ambition: to be a wicketkeeper.”But at that time I had a little financial crisis with my family and somebody told me you should become a bowler, because you just need one pair of shoes for that,” she said. “For a wicketkeeper you need all the kit, for a batter you need all the kit – it’s an expensive game – but for a bowler, you just need a pair of spikes. That’s it.”And so Thakor settled for third-choice, with some knowledge of bowling technique from her childhood, a competitive spirit she says is “inbuilt”, and a willingness to learn.”I used to play cricket with my cousins and my brothers. I had very good endurance and good stamina but it was the judgement of the ball I had to learn,” she said. “We played with a tennis ball but now it was a leather ball. Those are things I needed to change.”I used to play gully cricket. I used to be with [the boys] always. I would not be with my sister, I used to be with my brothers and with my cousins.”While playing cricket in the streets was an acceptable pastime when she was growing up, as Thakor grew older, that changed. She was confronted with realities like the need to earn an income in a family that could use an extra paycheck.

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A post shared by Saima Thakor (@saima_thakor13)

“My father is a driver,” she said. “He has worked really hard for all of us. Whoever I am right now, I am because of my parents. They’ve done everything they could. My sister also works very hard, she has a job. She keeps working day and night for us.”When I told them I am going to play cricket seriously, my father suggested that I should take up a job. He said, ‘Just help me out. It will be very handy if you have a monthly salary.’ At that time, we didn’t have much match fees and the sport was just coming up.”Thakor was knocking on the door of the Mumbai team around then, and though she understood her responsibilities at home, she wanted to see if it would open.”I requested my father, ‘Please I want to play this sport, just give me a year,'” she said. “He said, ‘You can take your time but don’t expect anything from me: no financial support, nothing. I said, ‘Okay I will live with that.’ I just wanted some time. I borrowed some money from my college friend to manage it somehow. It’s a long story.”And it took an unexpected twist. Two months after Thakor made the decision to pursue a sporting career, when she was in and out of the Mumbai side, she suffered her first major injury: a stress fracture in her back, which sidelined her for several months.She returned to play an Under-23 tournament in late 2019, and just as she was finding her rhythm again, dislocated her left shoulder in the quarter-final.”It was an unfortunate injury. I was in very good form and picking up a lot of wickets. But I had to take three to four months off because of the dislocation,” she said. “So I played cricket for two months and I had almost ten months off with two injuries. I was very frustrated because I was doing so well. There were so many tournaments going on. There was the Emerging Asia Cup and the Challengers Cup and I couldn’t [play in them].”

“Somebody told me you should become a bowler, because you just need one pair of shoes for that. For a wicketkeeper you need all the kit, for a batter you need all the kit – it’s an expensive game – but for a bowler, you just need a pair of spikes”

Though a typical shoulder dislocation does not require surgery – and Thakor’s didn’t – it still left its scars. On social media, she described her rehabilitation process as “dying 1000 times inside”. She still speaks about the mental effects of the injury.”It was suggested that I should go for surgery but then the doctors said, let’s wait for six weeks and see how the shoulder heals, but there were still risks. I could dislocate my shoulder again. I was afraid to dive for almost a year after that,” she said.Eventually she learnt to trust the joint again by changing her perspective. “My physio said to me, ‘You should just go for it. If you start having that fear, you are definitely going to dislocate it again. So face your fear.'”I was physically strong but mentally I was not there. I had a very good physio and they focused more on that part. They said, if you are ready with your mind, your body will be ready sooner.”These days Thakor puts her body on the line without a second thought, assesses herself as “even fielding well”, and is at her bowling peak. She has made a name for herself as someone who can nip and swing the ball around.”The person I look up to is Jimmy Anderson,” she said. “I love his bowling, I love his action and I love his consistency and the way he has so much patience in reading the batter as well.”The results are starting to show. In last year’s Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, she took 11 wickets at 13.00 and an economy rate of 4.93. A month later, at the WPL auction, she was picked up for her base price of Rs 10 lakh (approximately US$12,000) by UP Warriorz in what she called a life-changing payday.”My parents are very happy. My sister is very happy and she is very proud of me. She said, ‘When no one believed in you, you did it yourself,'” Thakor said. “I really appreciate that because in middle-class families in India, you don’t speak up openly about all this,” she said. “When WPL and UP Warriorz picked me and this came into my life, it changed everything, for my family and for myself. It was really great.”Thakor knocked Harmanpreet Kaur’s off stump over for her maiden WPL wicket•BCCIIn return she’s done her bit to make a mark on the tournament. Her first WPL wicket was the dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur, a batter most bowlers find tough to get on top of. Then she went on to have a fiery exchange with Shafali Verma and dismiss her for good measure, and take the wicket of her Mumbai team-mate Jemimah Rodrigues in Warriorz’s win over Delhi Capitals, which kept them alive in the competition.None of these things happened by chance. “I have been preparing myself for these moments for a long time. It didn’t come overnight. I have been looking at [the batters’] batting, whenever they bat for India, they bat in WPL or when they bat in domestic teams. I have been really working on reading the batter and what they are going to do and keeping one step ahead of them. I am focusing on what I can do mentally and it got me a very positive result.”Mind over matter is something of a mantra for Thakor, who used it to help her through injury, and now hopes it will also lead to international recognition. At 27 she is approaching the peak of her powers and believes she has done enough to catch the eye of the Indian selectors, whose next task will be to pick a squad for the T20 World Cup.”When you start playing, you think that one day I will hear that national anthem standing with my team-mates. That is my dream,” she said. “I think I am closer than I think I am and I have already visualised it. I am a great believer in visualisation. I like visualising things that are good for me.”It’s not about overconfidence. It is about knowing what I can do. So yes, an international debut would be great.”And that is Saima Thakor’s fourth sporting ambition.

Mets Announce New Role for Frankie Montas Amid Disappointing Season

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Mets have endured a difficult second half of the season, having lost seven games in a row and 11 of their last 12.

As the team's struggles continue to mount, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Tuesday that he'd be making a change to the starting rotation. Veteran right-hander Frankie Montas is no longer set to make his next scheduled start and will instead be pitching out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future, Mendoza told reporters.

The team hasn't officially decided on a replacement in the rotation for Montas. Mendoza indicated they'd been eyeing Noah McLean and Brandon Sproat, two of the organization's top pitching prospects, as potential call-ups, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. McLean is the No. 3 prospect in New York's farm, while Sproat is No. 5, per MLB Pipeline.

In 2025, Montas has made seven starts and eight total appearances. He has a career worst 6.38 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 12 walks in 36 2/3 innings. In his most recent outing, Saturday against the Brewers, Montas followed an opener and pitched three innings while surrendering three runs, though only one was earned.

The 32-year-old would've been in line to start Saturday against the Mariners, but instead it seems the team will look to one of its farmhands instead.

Shamim returns to Bangladesh T20I squad after captain-selector war of words

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Bangladesh have added Shamim Hossain to the squad for the third T20I against Ireland, to be played on Tuesday.The move came after captain Litton Das had criticised the selectors for leaving Shamim out of the squad for the series, saying that neither he nor coach Phil Simmons had been informed about it. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said last Friday that Shamim was being dropped to give Mahidul Islam Ankon a run in the middle order.”I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call, [it is] totally the selectors’ call,” Litton, known to be a mild-mannered man, had said before the first T20I. “I don’t know why, but the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in the team, and which player would be out of the team. I don’t see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped. It would have been better if he was in the team.”Ashraf countered Litton later the same day, saying that he didn’t need the captain’s permission to select or not select a player, though there has clearly been a change of heart now.The relationship between the two has reportedly been frosty since Ashraf dropped Litton during the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year.For the record, Shamim had recorded scores of 0, 0, 1 and 1 in his last four T20Is.The T20I series is level at 1-1 going into the decider.

Bangladesh squad for third T20I against Ireland

Litton Das (capt, wk), Saif Hassan (vice-capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mahidul Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Hossain

Neymar 'boost' for Man Utd?! Sensational January transfer talked up as Santos superstar nears free agency

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester United have been told that a sensational January swoop for Brazilian superstar Neymar could offer them a “boost”. Questions are, however, being asked of whether the Santos playmaker is cut out for life in the Premier League at Old Trafford after reaching 33 years of age and suffering a number of injury issues over the last couple of seasons.

Neymar landing spots: England or MLS?

Neymar, who is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer at international level, is currently playing through pain and ignoring the advice of doctors at Santos. He is doing his best to steer his boyhood club away from relegation danger.

He headed home in January after seeing his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal terminated – with a long road to recovery taken in on the back of knee ligament damage. Neymar has spent more time on the treatment table this term.

Another change of scenery may be sought early in 2026, as Neymar sees his contract run down towards free agency, and various landing spots are being speculated on – from England to MLS. United have been credited with interest in the not too distant past.

AdvertisementGettyMan Utd move: Should Red Devils approach Neymar?

Quizzed on whether a deal would appeal at this stage, former Red Devils striker Louis Saha told : “If you asked me six months ago, I’d have loved Neymar at Manchester United. But right now, he seems fragile, or injured. Maybe he’s lost his spark.

“It’s sad, because I love Neymar. I thought a couple of years ago it’d have been a perfect move because he can still be an amazing player. He could really boost United with his inventiveness and talent.

“I think perhaps the way he has had his career guided needed to be challenged in the past. I don’t know how he can set about putting things right and rebuilding anymore. United need players who will sacrifice themselves for the team, who are in love with the club. I’m not sure Neymar is the man to offer that to United at this point in his career.”

Alternative options: MSN to reform in MLS?

It has been suggested that Neymar could reunite with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami, allowing the fabled ‘MSN’ attacking unit to be reformed.

Ex-USMNT and MLS star Brad Friedel has told GOAL of whether that switch makes sense: “If Neymar is fit, then I think it works, I really do because he’s still a huge name in certain parts of the US. The trouble is if he’s not fit and he’s injured a lot, then it becomes a negative media-driven reality. I can understand arguments on both sides for sure.

“I would assume, and these are smart guys, it would be a tiered contract based on performances and being fit. Having spent some time in Miami, before Messi came you wouldn’t have really known that Miami had a team. From the time that he came, there are pink and black shirts everywhere. If Neymar came, it would add to that.”

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GettyBest business: Top Premier League deals in 2025

While Saha doubts that Neymar is the right option for United, he believes that the Red Devils completed one of the Premier League’s best deals during the summer of 2025 – with a proven performer being lured away from domestic rivals Brentford.

He added when picking out the shrewdest business done in the last window: “For me, the best signing is between Hugo Ekitike and Bryan Mbeumo. I think [Nick] Woltemade has been brilliant too, I love him.

“I think those three have been the standout players so far, but I think that Mbeumo has probably been the very best of the three. He’s playing for a side that is in transition. Ekitike is playing for the league champions, and Woltemade arrived at a team that is in the Champions League. They both have their problems, of course, but I think United were in the toughest place at the start of the season. I’ve seen United struggle, and how hard it was for Mbeumo, and he’s done brilliantly to raise standards at the club and keep his own standards up.”

United will be piecing together plans for January, with it possible that further reinforcements will be drafted in alongside Mbeumo. Ruben Amorim’s side, who are still scratching around for consistency in 2025-26, sit seventh in the Premier League table through 13 rounds of fixtures and will be back in action on Thursday at home to West Ham.

Phil Foden salary: How much does Manchester City star earn per week and annually in the Premier League?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Everything you need to know about Phil Foden's salary at Manchester City

Phil Foden has developed into a key figure at Manchester City since breaking into the first team from the club's youth academy.

The 2023-24 PFA player of the year winner has been shining in an attacking midfield role and seems destined for a long and successful future at City.

The 24-year-old signed a renewal with the club back in 2024, which keeps him at the Etihad for three more seasons.

Exactly how much does he earn at the Etihad though? Let's find out!

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

  • Phil Foden's wages at Manchester City in numbers

    Under his current contract with the club, Foden earns £225,000 ($284,205) on a weekly basis, which scales to over £11 million ($14m) for a year

    Player

    Nationality

    Weekly wages in GBP

    Weekly wages in USD

    Annual wages in GBP

    Annual wages in USD

    Phil Foden

    English

      £225,000

    $284,205

    £11,700,00

    $14,778,679

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  • Getty Images Sport

    Top earners at Manchester City

    Despite his more than decent wages, Foden has seven City players ahead of him in the top-earners list at the club.

    At the top sits Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, while Belgian maestro Kevin De Bruyne follows him in second position.

    Midfielders Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish take the third and fourth spot with identical earnings, while new signing Omar Marmoush caps off the top five earners at number five.

    Player

    Nationality

    Weekly wages in GBP

    Weekly wages in USD

    Annual wages in GBP

    Annual wages in USD

    Erling Haland

    Norwegian

    £525,000

    $663,146

    £27,300,000

    $34,483,546

    Kevin De Bruyne

    Belgian

    £400,000

    $505,254

    £20,800,000

    $26,273,308

    Jack Grealish

    English

    £300,000

    $378,941

    £15,600,00

    $19,704,906

    Bernardo Silva

    Portuguese

    £300,000

    $378,941

    £15,600,00

    $19,704.906

    Omar Marmoush

    Egyptian

    £295,000

    $372,625

    £15,340,000 

    $12,376,491

  • Top 5 earners in the Premier League

    Haaland and De Bruyne sit at the top of the charts not just at City, but also the league.

    Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah makes an appearance at number three, while Casemiro comes in as a rather surprising entrant at number four, followed by yet another city player in Grealish.

    Player

    Nationality

    Weekly wages in GBP

    Weekly wages in USD

    Annual wages in GBP

    Annual wage sin USD

    Erling Haaland

    Norwegian

    £525,000

    $663,146

    £27,300,000

    $34,483,586

    Kevin De Bruyne

    Belgian

    £400,000

    $505,254

    £20,800,000

    $26,273,206

    Mohamed Salah

    Egyptian

    £350,000

    $442,097

    £18,200,000

    $22,989,057

    Casemiro

    Brazilian

    £350,000

    $442,097

    £18,200,000

    $22,989,057

    Jack Grealish

    English

    £300,000

    $378,941

    £15,600,000

    $19,704,906
  • Getty Images Sport

    Highest paid players in the world

    Although Haaland and De Bruyne are the top earners in the Premier League, they fail to make the top five cut when it comes to the highest-paid players across the world.

    At the top sits the never-aging Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Saudi Premier League side Al Nassr. At number two comes Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema, while Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli makes an appearance at number three.

    Player

    Club

    Weekly wages GBP

    Weekly wages USD

    Annual wages GBP

    Annual wages USD

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Al Nassr

    £3,846,154

    $4,027,872

    £200,000,000

    $209,449,340

    Karim Benzema

    Al Ittihad

    £1,923,077

    $2,013,936

    £100,000,000

    $104,724,670

    Riyad Mahrez

    Al Ahli

    £1,003,846

    $1,051,275

    £52,200,000

    $54,666,278

    Sadio Mane

    Al Nassr

    £769,231

    $805,574

    £40,000,000

    $41,889,868

    Kalidou Koulibaly

    Al Hilal

    £667,308

    $698,836

    £34,000,000

    $36,339,460

Com apenas 17 anos, Giovane se destaca no sub-20 do Corinthians

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

da 888： O time sub-20 do Corinthians tem hoje entre os seus destaques o atacante Giovane Nascimento, de apenas 17 anos. A equipe acabou não conseguindo a classificação para a segunda fase do Brasileirão da categoria, mas o atleta foi uma das gratas surpresas da participação do clube no torneio.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

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>Veja quando craques da Seleção Brasileira jogaram seu último Mundial

Giovane vem se destacando e possui números muito expressivos na temporada de 2021 pelo Timão. O jogador já disputou 14 partidas desde a chegada ao clube. Foram dez pelo Brasileirão sub-20, torneio em que marcou sete gols. Já pelo Paulista, foram quatro jogos, com dois gols marcados.

O jogador fez sua primeira partida pela equipe sub-20 do Timão pelo Brasileirão da categoria, contra o Flamengo, no dia 1º de agosto. Já o primeiro gol, veio contra o Red Bull Bragantino, em duelo pelo Paulistão.

Giovane tem média superior a um gol por jogo nas últimas oito partidas, já que balançou a rede nove vezes desde então. O bom desempenho também se refletiu em participações diretas quando não anota seus tentos, foram duas assistências no campeonato nacional e uma no estadual.

A equipe sub-20 do Corinthians segue viva no Paulistão da categoria, no qual está classificada para a segunda fase. Neste sábado, o Timão enfrenta o Velo Clube, às 15h, na casa do adversário, com transmissão da Eleven Sports.

Smeed 94 powers Somerset to Blast glory in record 195-run chase

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Somerset came out on top in a clash of the T20 Blast titans, pulling off the highest successful run-chase in the competition’s final to overcome Hampshire and claim a record-equalling third title under the Edgbaston lights. Will Smeed blazed 94 off 58 to get Somerset most of the way there, before Lewis Gregory obliterated the tension in the stands by hammering a four and two sixes in five balls to seal victory with an over to spare.Hampshire, whose total of 194 for 6 had been underpinned by 85 off 48 balls from young opener Toby Albert, seemed to be in control as the requirement for Somerset ticked beyond two runs per ball just past the halfway mark. But Scott Currie’s drop of Sean Dickson was to prove crucial, as a fourth-wicket partnership of 88 off 51 dragged the contest back Somerset’s way.Having been asked to bat, Albert and James Vince made up for the early of loss of Chris Lynn with a stand of 97 in 59 balls to put Hampshire in a formidable position. Albert, in particular, produced some audacious shot-making – including four reverse-hit boundaries in the space of six balls – as Somerset were asked to make the highest-ever score in the final of the competition.Their start was given the required fizz by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who hit one enormous six over the roof of the Hollies Stand and out of the ground, and although Hampshire frequently seemed one good over from shutting the chase down, Smeed and then Dickson – the linchpin in Somerset’s 2023 Blast success – kept landing timely blows. With both teams making their 11th Finals Day appearances, it was always likely to be a tussle for the ages.Victory for Somerset ended the hoodoo for winners of the first semi-final, as they became the first team since Worcestershire in 2018 to lift the trophy after kicking their heels during the second game. It also marked a fifth consecutive triumph for the South Group – though that was confirmed earlier in the day by the exits of Lancashire and Northamptonshire.Toby Albert played some audacious reverse-ramps in his 85•Getty Images

TKC lands first blow, Baker hits back

Batting second on a surface that was being used for the third time in the day meant Somerset knew they had to get a shuffle on. Smeed picked up boundaries in each of the first two overs – Sonny Baker also contributing with five wides from his first ball – and Kohler-Cadmore then took up the cudgels, hammering his fourth ball, a pull off Chris Wood, over the heads of those in the Hollies and out towards the River Rea.Scott Currie’s first delivery also flew all the way, as Kohler-Cadmore unleashed a scything uppercut over deep third. Baker returned, switching to the Pavilion End, only to be thrashed through the covers. But the Hampshire fast bowler showed why he is on England’s radar by splattering Kohler-Cadmore’s stumps with an 88mph yorker to end the opening stand at 46.

Smeed carries the fight

Smeed had ticked along to 18 off 15 but responded to the loss of Kohler-Cadmore by twice cracking James Fuller through point at the start of the sixth. Tom Abell departed for a duck in the same over, Somerset finishing the powerplay on 55 for 2, but James Rew picked off early boundaries as Smeed bedded into the middle overs.Currie’s return in the 10th saw the back of Rew, chopping on to his stumps, and Hampshire looked to squeeze through the nous of South Africa spinner Bjorn Fortuin. The required rate was approaching 12 an over, but Smeed kept Somerset in touch with back-to-back fours off Fortuin and then a thump off Howell. Then came the crucial drop of Dickson, with Smeed turning the screw in the following over by taking three more boundaries off Fortuin. That meant Somerset finished the 15th over on 136 for 3 – exactly the same score as Hampshire as the same stage of their innings.Sean Dickson played a key hand for Somerset•Getty Images

Finisher Dickson does it again

With 59 needed from 30 balls, Dickson produced his first flourish by ramping Baker over the keeper for his first boundary. Another driven four followed, and Smeed then crunched Currie into the Hollies to keep Somerset in touch. With dew becoming a factor, the 18th over was to prove decisive as Dickson – who is leaving Somerset for Glamorgan after not being offered a new contract – twice took Benny Howell for sixes, the first an outrageous reverse-swipe that sailed over deep third.Nineteen runs came off the over, leaving Somerset needing 18 from 12, and although Smeed picked out long-off to fall short of becoming the second man on the day to reach three figures, he walked off with the highest individual score in a final. The jig was up for Hampshire, and in came Gregory to ice the chase with a flurry of boundaries and spark a raucous rendition of “Somerset, la-la-la” in the stands.

No Lynn-sanity this time

After his semi-final heroics, in which he became the first man to score a hundred on Finals Day, Lynn joked that he would be happy to keep batting, with just a 45-minute turnaround to the final: “Got the pads on, let’s go.” He got his wish, with Somerset opting to chase, and duly smoked his fourth ball back down the ground for his 12th six of the day; but he didn’t last much longer, chipping Craig Overton to cover in the third over.But where Lynn’s top-order colleagues had gone missing against Northants, here they stood up. Albert had got going with back-to-back drives for four, in the process overtaking D’Arcy Short at the Blast’s leading run-scorer for the season. After Vince chimed in with whipped sixes off Overton and Jake Ball, Albert signalled the Hampshire charge was well and truly on by taking Migael Pretorius’ only over of the night for 25 with a sequence of 4-6-6-4-4, only interrupted by a wide.Vince then launched Overton for his third six at the start of the sixth over, followed by consecutive fours – which meant eight legitimate deliveries in a row had disappeared to the rope. Even without the Lynn-sanity, Hampshire had piled up 83 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

Albert takes over

With the fielding restrictions relaxed, Hampshire opted for consolidation during the middle of the innings. Albert was the first to fifty, off 29 balls – his sixth of a breakthrough campaign – while Vince also reached the mark in the 12th over, from 32. Three balls later, the partnership was broken when Vince dragged Lewis Goldsworthy to deep midwicket, and Somerset then chipped out another when Ball’s brilliant return catch saw off James Fuller.Hampshire had only scored three boundaries between the start of the seventh over and the midway point of the 16th. Despite the slowdown, Albert decided it was time to jam the gearstick in reverse. Ben Green was twice reverse-swept off the stumps, despite bowling near-yorkers, over and past short third for back-to-back fours, and Albert then did the same to Ball when he went short, slapping another brace of boundaries to move into the 80s.Albert fell at the start of the next over, missing a swipe at Gregory’s change-up to see his off stump rattled. But Howell cleared the ropes twice in a useful cameo at No. 5, as Hampshire equalled Northamptonshire’s total of 194 for 2 (made from 18 overs) in the 2013 final. Somerset needed to set a new benchmark to claim their record-equalling third title. They duly obliged.

Juventus are watching Enzo Maresca! Chelsea boss lined up as future replacement for under fire Igor Tudor

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Juventus have reportedly identified Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as a potential future manager amid growing scrutiny on Igor Tudor. While the Bianconeri remain unbeaten in Serie A, frustration is mounting over their series of draws and lack of progress. Maresca, who has impressed in England, is seen as an ideal long-term fit for the Turin giants.

  • Juventus eye Maresca as pressure mounts on Tudor

    The Bianconeri are currently unbeaten in Serie A but have been frustrated by a run of draws that has stalled their early-season momentum. With the team struggling to find consistency and attacking rhythm, club officials are said to be keeping a close eye on alternative options should performances not improve, according to journalist Matteo Moretto.

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    Turin impressed by Maresca’s Chelsea rise

    Maresca has emerged as a serious long-term target for Juve due to his growing reputation in England. The Italian tactician, a former Juventus midfielder, took charge of Chelsea in 2024 and led the club to the UEFA Conference League title and the Club World Cup in 2025.

    “There’s a club in Italy that’s closely following Enzo Maresca’s matches and appreciates his qualities as a coach,” Moretto revealed, speaking on Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel. “There are no talks or negotiations at the moment, it’s more of a long-term idea. Enzo used to play for this club, it’s Juventus.”

    Juve admire Maresca’s managerial style and tactical clarity, particularly his ability to rebuild a struggling Chelsea side into a Champions League contender. His understanding of the Juventus environment, having been a player in Turin, makes him an appealing choice for the club’s hierarchy.

  • Tudor fighting to prove himself amid criticism while Maresca happy at Chelsea

    Despite the rumours, Juventus have maintained public backing for Tudor. The Croatian coach still enjoys respect within the club, but reports from Italy suggest his future depends heavily on upcoming results. With five consecutive draws and growing tactical criticism, he faces mounting pressure to deliver a statement win.

    Tudor’s insistence on sticking to his three-man defensive system has raised questions, particularly after goalless draws against AC Milan and Bologna. The manager’s approach has been quite stubborn with pundits urging tactical flexibility.

    And, while Juventus’ admiration is genuine, there are no concrete discussions underway as Maresca remains firmly committed to Chelsea, where he has a contract running until June 2029. Both sides reportedly share a strong relationship built on “synergy and harmony.” At present, Maresca’s focus is on consolidating Chelsea’s progress in the Premier League and Europe.

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    Juventus’ next test and what’s next for Tudor

    Juve’s immediate priority remains their upcoming Serie A fixture against Cesc Fabregas’ Como, which will serve as another crucial test for Tudor’s position. The Old Lady are expected to evaluate his performances closely during this phase before making any decisions on long-term changes.

    For now, Juventus continue to oversee Maresca, seeing him as a future option rather than an imminent replacement. But if results fail to improve, the Chelsea manager’s name could quickly move from a long-term consideration to a realistic target for 2026.

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