Yash Rathod piles on the tons to pump life into his red-ball potential

By maintaining his intensity and learning from Karun Nair and Usman Ghani, Rathod has transformed himself to become a key cog in Vidarbha’s line-up

Himanshu Agrawal15-Feb-2025In late 2019, Yash Rathod was in the running for an India Under-19 spot, but didn’t make the World Cup squad. As he was looking to overcome that disappointment, Covid hit. It set Rathod back for two years, but he wasn’t to be denied. When he was finally picked by Vidarbha in 2021, he was going to live the dream.Now into only his second full season in first-class cricket, Rathod is Vidarbha’s highest run-getter heading into the Ranji Trophy semi-final. The impressive aspect of his 728 runs that have come at 52 is his conversion rate: he has crossed 50 six times this season and gone on to make four hundreds. Three of those have come back-to-back, two in rescue acts: from 4 for 3 against Puducherry and 64 for 3 against Uttarakhand.”Ahead of this season, I was looking to convert my starts into three-figure scores,” Rathod told ESPNcricinfo. In last week’s quarter-final against Tamil Nadu, he came in to bat at 61 for 3 in the second innings. While Vidarbha had a 128-run lead to play with, his dismissal could have made things challenging. His 112 quashed those fears.Related

  • Nair, Dubey set up Vidarbha's semi-final date with Mumbai

“I knew if I had to go the next level, it is the hundreds and not the half-centuries that are going to matter,” he said. “So I entered the season with the idea that if I cross 50, then I need to convert it into a century.”Rathod analysed his batting in the off-season with Vidarbha coach Usman Ghani. He had made 490 runs at an average of 49 in Vidarbha’s run to the Ranji final in 2023-24. These are decent numbers for someone starting out, but looking back, Rathod lamented at his inability to convert scores of 71, 81 and 93 into bigger ones. “It’s so much better that I have more hundreds this season,” he said.Rathod’s struggles to break through have made him value his starts a lot more. His journey has been challenging. When cricket resumed after Covid, Rathod scored 36 and 6 in the two games he featured in at the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. But Vidarbha ended with five losses out of five, and Rathod hasn’t played a T20 again.In February 2021, things appeared a lot brighter when he scored 117 at better than a run-a-ball in his first List A innings for Vidarbha. But because they didn’t make the knockouts, the next time Rathod played was ten months later in December that year.When the Ranji Trophy did return for the 2021-22 season, Rathod wasn’t an automatic pick. “I was the 12th man in all three games,” he recalled. “It was a packed side, and it was really difficult to find a place [in the XI].”

“I have asked him about his mindset, how he approaches a game, and how he plays certain situations. I have tried to understand how he bats so freely and easily without taking any risks”Yash Rathod on his what he has learned from Karun Nair

Then when he had a chance, Rathod suffered a shoulder injury that meant more time on the sidelines. Eventually, in January 2023, Rathod made his first-class debut, but it wasn’t as memorable as he had hoped it would be, with three innings fetching him just 55 runs.But with Vidarbha slowly transitioning with the retirements and exits of senior players like Faiz Fazal and Ganesh Satish, Rathod found a place. “You’ll face challenges every moment. So you’ll have to give your best every day, and in every session,” he said. “You’ll have to play with the same intensity so that the game doesn’t drift away from you.”Rathod prides himself on a solid game, with simplicity and timing at the forefront. Some of these lessons he has absorbed over time from chats with Karun Nair, who has become an integral part of the Vidarbha set-up over the past two seasons.”I have asked him about his mindset, how he approaches a game, and how he plays certain situations,” Rathod said. “I have tried to understand how he bats so freely and easily without taking any risks. In terms of skill, I have asked him how he adjusts to certain things – like when the ball is seaming or swinging.”Yash Rathod has carried his form into the knockouts of Ranji Trophy 2025•PTI During the ongoing season, Rathod has proven that his game isn’t one-dimensional.Just last week, with the No. 11 for company against Tamil Nadu, he showed power and creativity. Like when he got across the stumps and stayed deep in the crease to punch M Mohammed to the point fence with two men back. Or when he shaped to scoop the bowler, but made last-second adjustments to end up reverse-scooping him over the keeper’s head.Those shots showcased his short-format chops. He hit 406 runs, with two centuries, at a strike of rate of 95 during Vidarbha’s run to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Asked if the wait to become a T20 regular was frustrating, Rathod says he was happy to wait.For now, there’s a Ranji semi-final against Mumbai to look forward to – a rematch of last year’s final when Rathod had missed out by scoring just 27 and 7. A big knock and a ticket to the final is on the agenda of this Gautam Gambhir fan, who hopes to emulate that Napier classic one day: “One of my favourite innings.”

IPL trends – Close contests, 200-plus totals, and home disadvantage

Also, there may be a reason why spinners are seeing more success this season

Shiva Jayaraman26-Apr-2023As IPL 2023 moves beyond the half-way mark of the league stage, we look at four major trends that have stood out this season.The most closely fought season everThis IPL has perhaps seen the most evenly balanced contests among all seasons. Out of 34 matches, only 16 have been completely one-sided: where either the chasing team has won by at least three wickets with an over or more to spare, or the team defending has won by more than 15 runs. In terms of the percentage of such one-sided results, this season ranks the joint lowest at 45.7%.As many as 11 games this season have finished either with the chasing team falling short by fewer than 10 runs or winning by no more than one ball to spare. Almost one in three matches have been such ‘close’ finishes. Including wins by one wicket from previous seasons (there have been none so far this year with more than a ball remaining), no season has seen as many close games as the current one.On average, teams have played out two close games for every three one-sided games this season. No season has provided fans with more bang for their buck than this year.ESPNcricinfo LtdNumber of 200-plus scores more than ever, but are strike-rates really going up?There have been 16 200-plus totals scored in this IPL, only two short of the 18 scored in the entire season last year – the record for the most such totals in any season. Last year, there were 11 200-plus totals after 35 matches, so this season is likely to have more 200-plus totals than any of the previous seasons. There have also been 28 180-plus totals this season – also the most in any season of the league.

So have batters’ strike-rates taken a similar leap compared to previous seasons? Data suggests that may not be really the case. On average, batters have struck at 141.8 in first innings this year, which is their highest strike-rate after 35 matches in any season of the IPL. But it’s only marginally higher than the 2020 IPL, which had batters striking at 141.2 when batting first in the first 35 matches. Overall, including chases, batters have struck at 138.8 in the first 35 matches this year, which is just a fraction more than the previous highest of 138.7 at a similar stage, in 2018.What explains the glut of 200-plus totals then? One possible answer is in the scheduling. With the home-and-away format coming back and 11 venues being used, it wasn’t until the 20th game that a venue hosted its third match of the season. Ten of the 16 200-plus totals came in the first 19 matches.No season has had to wait till the 20th match for any venue to host for the third time. Jaipur is yet to host its second game of the season. Only 14 of the 35 matches so far have been played on grounds that had already hosted two matches – the lowest number of such matches in any season of the IPL. Last year, this number was 27.A comparison of run rates across seasons reveals that this season isn’t extraordinarily different from previous ones. In fact, three other seasons rank higher in terms of run rates on pitches, though only marginally so.The first half of this IPL has been played on fresher venues than all the previous seasons.

Impact Player rule gives spin a boostSpinner have taken 177 wickets this year, by far the most they have taken after 35 games in any season. They’ve bowled an average of 48.2 balls – little more than eight overs – per innings. This too is their highest in any season, but they aren’t bowling a lot more than they’ve done in earlier seasons. Their previous highest was only a shade lower at 47.6 balls per innings in 2019. That was also the last time that the IPL was played in the home-and-away format. The year before that in 2018, they bowled 46.5 balls per innings on an average.So why are spinners taking more wickets this year?The Impact Player rule has allowed teams to play an extra spinner of quality, who otherwise wouldn’t have made the XI. Kolkata Knight Riders play Suyash Sharma, swapping him for Venkatesh Iyer, who otherwise would have filled in as the sixth bowler. Lucknow Super Giants have used Amit Mishra. Rajasthan Royals also brought in Adam Zampa against Chennai Super Kings as their third spinner. He is currently seventh in the ICC rankings for T20 bowlers. These would have been the ‘easy’ overs for opposition to capitalise on but for the Impact Player rule.This increase in quality reflects in spinners’ combined strike-rate this season. They have taken a wicket every 19.1 balls. This is the first IPL season in which their strike rate has been below 20 after 35 matches.ESPNcricinfo LtdGood tosses to lose, and the home disadvantageIn previous seasons, teams that chased had a major advantage with dew around at night. It was a given that teams would elect to field first on winning the toss. They continue to do that in this season as well. In 31 out of the 35 games, teams have chosen to field.However, chasing teams have won only 15 of the 35 games so far. Their win percentage of 42.8 is the third lowest among the 16 seasons of the IPL. Hence, results have not been impacted by the toss as much as they have in previous years.Winning the toss should hand home teams a massive advantage, in theory: they get the best of the conditions tailor-made to suit their team. However, home teams have not been able to capitalise on winning the toss: in 16 of the 17 matches when home teams have won the toss, they have chased, and won only six matches.Overall, the win percentage of 42.9% for home teams this season is the joint lowest after 35 games of the 12 seasons played entirely in India.

Rohit Sharma injury debacle: Should we get used to players prioritising IPL over bilateral series?

Time we accepted players will try their best to play for the country but won’t sacrifice IPL for it

Sidharth Monga24-Nov-2020Now that we know reliably that Rohit Sharma is still about two weeks of rehab away from being “70-80% ready” for Test cricket, there will be questions raised over the BCCI’s handling of the injury. Apart from the obvious issue of a practically absent communications wing, that is.

Questions for the BCCI

  • Should the BCCI have intervened sooner and taken over Sharma’s injury management during the IPL?

  • Could he not have been sent to Australia from the UAE to save him the two weeks of hard quarantine? Saha, for example, was despite his hamstring injury.

  • Was there any assessment or treatment that he could have been given only at the NCA and not with the travelling party?

  • Did the BCCI make him aware that he would have to go through two weeks of hard quarantine if he came to India for his rehab?

  • Can the BCCI still fly him over ASAP? That will involve shifting the assessment responsibility to the team physio and trainer, but will give him the best chance to serve the quarantine and salvage part of the series.

  • Is what is being said in interviews by Shastri and Ganguly being communicated officially to each other?

A quick recap might be in order. During IPL 2020, Sharma pulled out of four games with a hamstring injury. India’s squads for Australia, selected during this period, didn’t include him, which in a logical world would have meant an end to his IPL. However, he kept training and returned for the final three matches of a dominant Mumbai Indians campaign. As a result, the BCCI said that he was added to the squad for the Tests – still more than a month away – provided he went to the NCA and proved his fitness.Ten days later, he is still not considered anywhere near fit enough for the rigours of Test cricket. Add to it the complications that arise from the need for a hard quarantine – unlike a soft quarantine for those who flew out from the IPL bubble in the UAE – for two weeks, and he is practically out of the whole tour.There were enough hints in the squads selection for the Australia tour, and in the interviews of national coach Ravi Shastri and the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly that the board didn’t want Sharma to make a comeback during the IPL. Both Shastri and Ganguly said, based on what they had seen in the reports from the medical team, that this could have implications beyond the Australia tour. It was also clear from Sharma’s comeback, and all his and his IPL team’s – incidentally just as hazy as the BCCI’s – communications that he wanted to play the playoffs at the IPL and also make himself available for the Australia tour.As a centrally contracted player, Sharma is the BCCI’s employee all year round. So the first and foremost question is, why did the board have to take the passive-aggressive route of interviews in the press and not just pull him out of the IPL? They knew pretty well the nature of the injury and the logistics of this pandemic-ridden world. Hamstrings heal with rest and rehab. Playing during that period not only doesn’t allow rest and rehab but can also potentially set your recovery further back.Rohit Sharma injury timeline•ESPNcricinfoAs a result, the BCCI is on the verge of losing Sharma for an international tour. One can argue whether Sharma had nailed a regular spot in India’s first Test XI, especially overseas, before a calf injury ruled him out of the New Zealand tour earlier this year, but Virat Kohli’s absence did create room for a batsman, especially one with international experience. That is not the point, though. This is a clear case of the IPL taking priority over India’s international cricket.This could well have been someone much more instrumental to India’s chances in the Tests. Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 2018 is a good example: he was just the seam and swing bowler India needed in England, but the board couldn’t make Sunrisers Hyderabad go easy with him in the lead-up to the tour. A Sunrisers official had confirmed to ESPNcricinfo at that time that they were under no instructions from the BCCI to manage the workload of Kumar, who was struggling with a lower-back injury, which eventually ruled him out of the Tests at a time when even Jasprit Bumrah was injured. It is in stark contrast to Cricket Australia and the ECB, who micro-manage their players’ workloads even when they are under the charge of their IPL teams.However, you can’t put all the blame on the board no matter the optics. The IPL is the BCCI’s tournament: it has to make every effort to make its superstars available to the IPL teams. In terms of the revenue it brings to the BCCI, the IPL is bigger than any international cricket. So while the board can’t do anything if a player wants to protect himself for an international tour, in the practical world, it can’t really force Sharma to sit out when he is so visibly keen to play out the IPL.Nor is it that Sharma played out the IPL because of some financial greed. It is perhaps time to wake up to the high regard the players, and indeed the fans, hold the IPL in. It is the most-watched tournament in the world, bigger than any Test series and even the World Cup. These cricketers are performers and want to perform in front of the biggest audience possible. It doesn’t mean they don’t want to be tested in the most comprehensive format of the game, just that they are not willing to sacrifice for it as much as some lovers of Test cricket might want them to.

“With what has emerged about the injury now, it can be argued that the quickest possible way to put Sharma back on the park was to take him to Australia from the UAE. That would have allowed him to continue his rehab and training even when in quarantine.”

Nine years ago, Virender Sehwag delayed his shoulder surgery to play out the IPL and turned up uncooked for the Tests in England, which India lost 0-4. He was not the only one to spark outrage. Sachin Tendulkar retired without a Test series win in the West Indies because he chose to rest during that tour in 2011, and not the IPL that preceded it, in order to be ready for the England tour. Nine years on, it is perhaps time we normalised not prioritising Tests over IPL. At any rate, prioritising Tests is a luxury only three boards can afford. For years now, West Indies and New Zealand players have been turning up practically a couple of days prior to their respective Test series.Just like the players, the best that can be expected of the BCCI is a balancing act, which became even more difficult because of the Covid-19 pandemic. With what has emerged about the injury now, it can be argued that the quickest possible way to put Sharma back on the park was to take him to Australia from the UAE. That would have allowed him to continue his rehab and training even when in quarantine. We don’t know if he really needed to see an expert outside the team set-up to arrive at the assessment that we know now. This is an important question, among others (see sidebar), that the BCCI should ask itself: could it have acted more decisively and saved those two precious weeks of rehab?Of course, better communication – not just with the fans but also with each other – would have saved a lot of unnecessary speculation, but this kind of an impasse is something you better get used to in order to avoid repeated disappointment if you want your cricketers to place Test cricket on a pedestal or if you are the nationalistic kind and place bilateral limited-overs internationals over a much more competitive and prestigious T20 league.

Man charged after pleading guilty to stalking Liverpool Women midfielder Marie Hobinger and sending her 'inappropriate and sexualised' messages

A man has pleaded guilty to stalking Liverpool star Marie Hobinger after sending her inappropriate and sexualised messages. Mangal Dalal, from London, sent the midfielder a string of messages via Instagram, which included his mobile number and postcode, as well as asking her to visit him. The 42-year-old was also charged with stalking as a result of the electronic communications between January and February this year.

  • Liverpool star fears for her safety

    According to the Crime Prosecution Service, Dalal sent messages to Hobinger between January 27 and February 16, 2025. The messages were 'often sexually explicit,' and he also implied he would come to football games to see her. The Austrian became 'increasingly concerned' and blocked him on the social media platform before telling her club. Despite that, the Hyde Park Gardens resident travelled to the Reds' clash at Manchester City's Joie Stadium on February 16, where the 24-year-old played the whole game. A safety officer travelled to the match, which City won 4-0, and after they discovered that Dalal was waiting for her pitchside, action was taken, with the Westminster local later being questioned by police. 

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    Accused pleads guilty

    The report adds that when he was questioned by police, Dalal owned up to what he had done but said he was mentally unwell at the time. The CPS authorised a charge of stalking and last Thursday (December 4), he plead guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. He will be sentenced on January 20, 2026, at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

  • 'Dalal’s behaviour was criminal'

    At the magistrates' court, senior crown prosecutor Sarah McInerney said Dalal treated Hobinger "as an object" he could use to "air his fantasies". She added that his actions were "totally inappropriate" and his behaviour was "criminal".

    She told the court: "Marie Hobinger is a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game. Mangal Dalal targeted her and treated her as an object that he could use to air his fantasies. His messaging was intense, continual, and totally inappropriate. It had a serious impact on the player who was simply trying to play to the best of her ability in a sport and team that she loves. Dalal’s behaviour was criminal and will not be tolerated in a fair and equal society. We would like to thank Ms Hobinger and Liverpool FC for their help in bringing Dalal to justice."

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    What comes next for Hobinger?

    The former FC Zurich player, who joined Liverpool in 2023 and has since gone on to play 59 times for the Women's Super League side, is currently out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. She has been doing her rehab since sustaining the setback in October. 

Fechou! Saiba qual casa de apostas vai patrocinar o Vasco em 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco terá, enfim, um novo patrocinador máster. Mais de 100 dias após a saída da PixBet do espaço nobre da camisa do Gigante, o clube anunciará, na sexta-feira (9), um acordo com a Betfair. A informação inicial, dada pelo portal Papo Na Colina e pelo jornalista Carlos Berbert, foi confirmada pelo Lance!

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Vasco

+ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Detalhes do acordo

O novo contrato, segundo informações obtidas pelo ‘GE’, será firmado por um ano e meio, com valor total de R$115 milhões, e terá validade até dezembro de 2025. Com esse acordo, o Vasco receberá R$70 milhões por ano, superando os acordos de São Paulo e Fluminense. Essa cifra coloca o Vasco como o quarto maior patrocinador do Brasil, ficando atrás apenas de Corinthians, Flamengo e Palmeiras.

Ainda sem diretor comercial, as negociações com o patrocinador máster foram feitas por executivos da 777 junto a membros da SAF do Vasco.

O Vasco volta a campo no próximo domingo para enfrentar o Vitória, em São Januário, pela sexta rodada do Brasileirão.

Uma nova era no Vasco

Com o novo patrocínio, o Vasco volta aos holofotes e segunda na quarta posição dos que mais arrecadam. Em relação ao próprio acordo com a Betfair, os números são muito acima dos garantidos aí Cruzeiro, por exemplo.

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Para a Raposa, a empresa desembolsa cerca de R$25 milhões por ano. Anteriormente, o Cruz-maltino recebia R$20 milhões da PixBet. Os valores do novo patrocínio são os maiores da história do Vasco da Gama.

Sites de apostas patrocinam 14 dos 20 clubes da Série A

Novo motor em ascensão no futebol brasileiro, as casas de apostas parecem ter vindo para ficar. Além dos Naming Rights de competições, como o Brasileirão Betano, as casas patrocinam 14 dos 20 times da Série A. Apenas Cuiabá, a dupla Gre-Nal, o Palmeiras e o RB Bragantino não são patrocinados por uma das casas. Dentre esses, o maior valor é o da Crefisa, com R$81 milhões anuais, mas por todos os espaços da camisa e não só o máster.

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1. Corinthians – Vai de Bet (R$ 120 milhões)
2. Flamengo – Pixbet (R$ 85 milhões)
3. Palmeiras – Crefisa (R$ 81 milhões)*
4. São Paulo – SuperBet (R$ 52 milhões)
4. Fluminense- SuperBet (R$ 52 milhões)

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalVasco

'Look how far you've come' – Wojciech Szczesny reveals how he lifted crying Barcelona star's spirits after Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter

Wojciech Szczesny has lifted the lid on an emotional San Siro moment, revealing how he consoled young Barcelona defender Gerard Martin after last season’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter. The veteran goalkeeper opened up about the tearful exchange, his unexpected Barca comeback, and the physical toll of his career in a candid new interview.

  • A dressing room father figure in a young Barcelona squad

    Szczesny may not be Barcelona’s starting goalkeeper, but his influence inside one of Europe’s youngest dressing rooms has become invaluable. The 35-year-old arrived at the club last season after a brief retirement and quickly became a mentor figure, especially during tense, high-pressure matches.

    One of those moments came during last season’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter. Barcelona were minutes away from a historic final before conceding a 92nd-minute equaliser, a sequence that began with a challenge on Martin that the full-back believed should have been given as a foul. The youngster, who earlier had delivered two assists, took the defeat heavily and blamed himself for the decisive moment.

    As the squad tried to process the heartbreak inside the San Siro, Szczesny stepped in with the kind of calm perspective only experience can offer, setting the stage for the emotional exchange he later revealed.

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    Szczesny’s emotional speech that stopped Gerard Martin’s tears

    During an interview with , the Polish goalkeeper recounted the San Siro scene, offering a rare, human look behind the curtain of elite football. “‘Why are you crying?’ I asked. He told me he had lost the semi-final. So I reminded him of his own journey. ‘Where were you two years ago? Playing mediocre football in any stadium. And today you played a Champions League semifinal! You’ll lose a hundred important games and win another hundred. But look where you are now. Man, this is the bathroom at San Siro — and tonight you were in a Champions League semi-final. You say we lost. Fine, we lost. But look how far you’ve come.’”

    The former Juventus keeper added a humorous twist as he explained how he kept delivering the pep talk: “I take a drag. I wait. He needs to process it. Then I see him straighten up and say: ‘Damn, I even got an assist today!’ And he stops crying. He remembers who he is. His pass was an assist in a Champions League semi-final. And when he walked out of that bathroom, that’s exactly how he felt — chest out, head high.”

    Szczesny also opened up about how he ended up returning to top-level football after briefly calling time on his career: “It wasn’t that football no longer excited me. I just wasn’t passionate about the options I had, even though the 10 biggest clubs were sending offers… Three days before announcing my retirement, I spoke to Robert Lewandowski and told him I didn’t want to play for any club again. When Barcelona called, he probably suspected he could persuade me. I played my entire first season for free. What I received from Barca was exactly the amount I had to repay Juventus for terminating my contract early.”

  • A veteran fighting through pain to guide Barcelona’s future

    Beyond his mentorship, Szczesny also revealed the gruelling physical reality of a career that once saw him break both forearms in a gym accident during his Arsenal days. The injury left him with metal plates in both arms plates that remain to this day. “During training, there comes a point when I completely lose feeling in my hands and can’t even hold a water bottle because of the pain… I’m exhausted from this suffering.”

    He continued with more detail about how the condition affects him throughout a season: “It’s hardest during pre-season, in the most demanding sessions. During the season it’s easier — you train twice, then you play, so your hands get some rest and the pain eases. It spreads from the wrist to the elbow.”

    Despite the pain, Szczesny remains an integral squad figure. His contract runs until 2027, and while Joan Garcia has taken over as the club’s current No.1 during Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence, the Polish veteran continues to be valued as a mentor and steady presence.

    With Ter Stegen’s long-term future uncertain following tension with the club hierarchy over the summer, Barcelona may yet call on Szczesny for another season even if this was expected to be his final year as a professional.

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    What comes next for Szczesny and Barcelona

    The Catalan giants return to action against Alaves with the aim of stabilising their form and continuing their development under Hansi Flick. While Szczesny is no longer the starting goalkeeper, his leadership and experience remain vital components inside a youthful squad navigating pressure, expectations and big European nights.

    Whether this is his last season or the start of one more unexpected chapter, Szczesny continues to leave an imprint far beyond the pitch, one pep talk, one story and one lesson at a time.

Thomas Frank facing 'big blow' at Tottenham after news on £50m winger

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is reportedly facing a significant blow to his January transfer plans after news about a top winger target.

While the January transfer window is set to become a major topic of discussion soon, all attention is currently centered around this weekend’s North London derby clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The statistics paint a pretty bleak picture for Frank’s side, with as many as 11 players either set to miss the clash through injury or are doubts at the very least.

Tottenham absentee list

Problem

Estimated return date (subject to change)

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Arsenal prolonged their unbeaten run against Tottenham to six matches in January this year, having also done the double over Spurs in 2023. The Lilywhites have also failed to chalk up a single victory against their fiercest rivals in three years, with their last win coming at the end of the 2021/2022 season under Antonio Conte.

Harry Kane’s brace and a goal from Son Heung-min handed Spurs a statement 3-0 victory on their run to qualify for the Champions League that year, but that remains their only triumph over Arsenal in their last nine meetings.

While the Emirates Stadium is a notoriously challenging hunting ground for Tottenham, having failed to win there in the top flight since 2011, Frank could actually be relieved this clash will be played out on enemy turf.

Frank’s side have lost three Premier League matches on home soil already this season, and their record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the last 12 months has been abysmal with just four victories to show from 20 home league games.

They haven’t won at home at all in the league since their 3-1 win over newly-promoted Burnley on the opening weekend, leaving them second bottom of the home form table but sitting pretty atop of the away form standings (Footy Stats).

Tottenham will be handed some encouragement by Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal just prior to the international break, but it is safe to say they’re up against it on Sunday, with there still being plenty of work to do on Frank’s squad as the Lewis family look to usher in a post-Daniel Levy era.

According to reports, Spurs are in the market for another winger this winter after missing out on Savinho in the summer, with Ademola Lookman believed to be on their radar as one potential signing.

Frank facing 'big blow' at Tottenham after news on Ademola Lookman

The Atalanta winger appeared to be exit bound last summer and even submitted a transfer request, but an exit failed to materialise. Tottenham were repeatedly linked with the Nigerian at the end of the last window, and those links have remained ahead of January.

Lookman bagged 20 goals in all competitions last season and took home 2024’s African Player of the Year award following his stunning performance in the Europa League final that year, which both won Atalanta the tournament and ended Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.

The 28-year-old, who is also out of contract in under two years, would undoubtedly be a superb signing for Spurs and one who can play in many different attacking positions, including as a striker.

However, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider, Frank faces a ‘big blow’ in his pursuit of Lookman, as it is now believed that new Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino could now convince the player to remain in Italy.

Also, if Spurs were to lodge a bid for Lookman in January, Atalanta would demand a minimum of £50 million to consider selling, despite the player’s contract length.

All of this makes the prospect of a winter transfer to N17 looking more and more difficult for the ‘world-class’ forward, but there are alternatives.

Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo is apparently tempted by the prospect of a move to Tottenham amid Real Sociedad’s dismal start to 25/26, and he has a release clause in his contract, which means Spurs could bypass club talks and go directly to the player.

Man Utd now eyeing record-breaking Lammens upgrade who's "good with his feet"

Manchester United are now targeting a record-breaking goalkeeper who’s “good with his feet”, and there are signs he could rival Senne Lammens for a starting spot.

Man Utd looking to sign new goalkeeper to rival Lammens

After arriving from Club Brugge at the end of the summer transfer window, Lammens’ introduction to the Man United starting XI has been gradual, with the Belgian making his first start in the 2-0 victory over Sunderland prior to the international break.

Having kept a clean sheet in his opening game, the 23-year-old is off to a solid start, making two saves from inside the box to keep Sunderland at bay, which resulted in a 7.8 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player.

The Stretford End were clearly left impressed by their new goalkeeper’s performance, chating ‘Are you Schmeichel in disguise’, but it is still very early days, with a difficult trip to Anfield to come on Sunday.

Having struggled to find a suitable no.1 since the departure of David de Gea, Ruben Amorim will be hoping Lammens is the long-term solution between the sticks, but The Red Devils have now joined the race for another goalkeeper.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which reveals SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has emerged as a genuine target for Man United, having watched him in action multiple times already this season.

Graeme Bailey adds that United want to bring in a new goalkeeper regardless of how Lammens performs, with the journalist also hinting that a deal for Atubolu could be possible.

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Bailey said: “United are doing their due diligence on goalkeepers, even if [Senne] Lammens comes in and does well, they still want and need another, as [Andre] Onana and [Altay] Bayindir won’t be hanging around in the long-term.

“They are well-versed on options, but I am told that Atubolu is one who has impressed United’s scouts this season. He is emerging as one of the very best in the Bundesliga, and Freiburg are expecting to sell in 2026.”

Record-breaking Atubolo could be instant Lammens upgrade

Lammens is off to a fantastic start at Old Trafford, but there are signs the Freiburg shot-stopper could be an instant upgrade, having already proven himself at a higher level than the former Club Brugge man.

In the 2024-25 season, the 23-year-old broke a Freiburg club record by going 576 minutes without conceding a goal, and he has since gone on to break a Bundesliga record by saving five penalties on the spin.

Not only has the German goalkeeper established himself as a top Bundesliga goalkeeper, but he is also better with his feet than Lammens, placing in the top 1% for touches per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Noah Atubolu

Senne Lammens

Save % (penalty kicks)

100%

75%

Clean sheet %

34.5%

12.5%

Touches per game

47.99

42.58

Freiburg manager Julian Schuster has praised Atubolu in the past too, saying: “He has good reflexes. He makes good saves and is also good with his feet. We’re very happy to have him.”

It is always difficult to keep two goalkeepers happy, so it would be a risk to sign the Freiburg star, but there are clear signs he could challenge Lammens for a starting spot.

Hetmyer heroics give Orcas third straight win

His unbeaten 78 off 37 balls consigned San Francisco Unicorns to their second loss in a row

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-2025

Shimron Hetmyer thrashed an unbeaten 78 off 37 balls to take Seattle Orcas over the line•MLC

Shimron Hetmyer was Seattle Orcas’ hero for the third straight time, scoring an unbeaten 78 off 37 balls, consigning San Francisco Unicorns to their second loss in MLC 2025.Hetmyer, who was coming into this game on the back of an unbeaten 97 off 40 balls and 64 not out off 26, was once again the backbone of Orcas’ stumbling chase. Having restricted Unicorns to 168 for 5, Orcas slipped to 56 for 4 in the tenth over. However, Hetmyer stitched important stands with Heinrich Klaasen and Aaron Jones to give Orcas a last-over win for the third game running by four wickets.Orcas’ 169-run chase started on the wrong foot, with Xavier Bartlett ending opener Steven Taylor’s misery for a ten-ball duck. Bartlett struck in his next over again, this time taking out Kyle Mayers.Shayan Jahangir and Sikandar Raza forged a 38-run third-wicket stand, with the former the aggressor. But both batters fell off consecutive deliveries in the tenth over, and Orcas’ chase started falling apart.Then Hetmyer happened. He was out and about in quick time, smashing two sixes in his first three balls. Even as the batters at the other end fell, Hetmyer did not curb his attacking flair. He reached his fifty off 23 balls with a straight six down the ground and ensured the required rate never got out of hand.Sanjay Krishnamurthi top-scored for San Francisco Unicorns with a 28-ball 41•MLC

With 30 needed off the last three overs, he started by smashing Brody Couch over deep backward square leg before going after Bartlett, bringing the equation down to eight in the final over. Hetmyer then deposited Romario Shepherd for a 102m six over long-on before casually finishing off the chase with a couple of runs and three balls to spare.Earlier, sent into bat, Unicorns were rocked early with left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh snapping up Matthew Short with his fourth ball. Jake Fraser-McGurk thrashed Harmeet for three back-to-back fours, while Finn Allen also struck a few telling blows with the duo adding 49 off 31 balls for the second wicket.Left-arm fast bowler Ayan Desai, however, struck in the final over of the powerplay, removing Allen while captain Raza saw the back of Fraser-McGurk soon after. Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Unicorns’ top-scorer, whacked left-arm wristpinner Waqar Salamkheil for two sixes on the bounce and then smoked two more against Raza as Unicorns raced to 94 for 3 after ten overs.But Orcas staged a comeback, conceding just 34 runs in the next seven overs, with Krishnamurthi also falling. Unicorns required Shepherd to thump two sixes off his three balls faced to take them past the 165-mark. For the longest time, it seemed the total would be enough. Then came Hetmyer.This was Orcas’ third win after five straight losses, while Unicorns, who won six consecutive matches, have now gone down twice in two games.

"Idiot" – Ex-chairman slams Newcastle after what PIF did to sign Magpies star

After a frustrating start to the season, one ex-chairman has taken aim at Newcastle United and PIF for what they did for one of their big-money players in the summer.

Howe: Newcastle looked "jaded" in Arsenal defeat

If any 10-minute period could sum up Newcastle’s season so far, it was against Arsenal as the Gunners turned the game on its head with two late goals. The Magpies thought they had done enough.

They had their lead courtesy of Nick Woltemade, who rose highest to head home in the first-half. For the most part, it looked as though they had stifled any Arsenal threat, too. But then Mikel Merino and a last-gasp Gabriel arrived on the scene. With one win in six games, Eddie Howe was forced to reflect on another disappointing evening at St James’ Park.

The Magpies’ poor start follows a difficult summer, in which Alexander Isak finally got his move after a lengthy saga. They’ll be desperate for a change in fortune in Tyneside, but they’re receiving no sympathy from one former chairman.

Rummenigge slams "idiot" Newcastle after Woltemade saga

Despite the fact that he’s now scored twice in three Premier League games, former Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has slammed Newcastle and PIF for their decision to spend a club-record fee on Woltemade in the summer.

He told reporters in a brutally honest assessment:

Of course, this comes just months after Newcastle hijacked Bayern’s deal to sign the towering forward in impressive fashion. Whether Rummenigge’s criticism is fair or simply as a result of the sour taste left behind by that saga is certainly something to ponder.

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So far, Woltemade looks likely to pay back the £69m fee that the Magpies paid out in the form of goals and prove that they were right to pay his £132,500-a-week salary demands.

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