All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester United have been boosted by the news that key centre-back Lisandro Martinez has returned to full training after a long injury absence.

After a concerning start to the season, things really feel like they are falling into place for the Red Devils, following three wins in a row in the Premier League, including memorable victory away to rivals and champions Liverpool.

Ruben Amorim has overcome a hugely testing period and now feels like the right man to take United forward, and having as many players available as possible can only be a good thing, with one game a week this season and no European football helping in that respect.

One player who Amorim has had to do without for many months is Martinez, with the Argentina World Cup winner not featuring since damaging knee ligaments at the beginning of February, in a cruel blow for the defender.

The 27-year-old is arguably United’s strongest centre-back, so not having him available for such an extended period of time has been far from ideal, but ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, some great news has emerged regarding his fitness.

Martinez to return to Man Utd action in November

Taking to X on Thursday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Martinez is now back in training for Manchester United, aiming for a return on the pitch in November.

This is fantastic news for anyone of a United persuasion, with Martinez’s tenacity, quality and winning mentality such a loss over the past eight months or so. It has also left Amorim delighted, with the manager saying: “It’s really good. He gives use that edge in every training session, that is also really good for us.”

The Argentine is a hugely popular figure at Old Trafford, playing with so much passion, and Casemiro has heaped praise on him as a character.

“Licha is on the final straight. He is a soldier who works so hard. He is always in the gym working hard. He is a machine that works so hard. He is one of those players that loves to work hard. It is a pleasure to have him here, he works so much. We arrived [today] at 9am and it is now 4pm and he continues working.”

Where Lisandro Martinez ranks among Man Utd's highest-earning players

It is clearly going to take Martinez some time to get back to his very best, given the severity of his injury, but assuming he makes a full recovery and returns as the player of old eventually, he can continue to be a huge player for United for years to come.

Man Utd now targeting Angelo Stiller as Jason Wilcox personal involvement revealed

Man United are looking to strengthen in the middle of the park, and Stiller has now emerged as a target.

ByDominic Lund Oct 31, 2025

He is tailor-made to thrive in Amorim’s back three, bringing the ball out with quality and purpose, and he even has the characteristics to potentially be a future captain of the Red Devils if Bruno Fernandes moves on before him, endearing himself to the fans with his love for the club.

Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie (or is it?). Here are the annual awards that matter

Alan Gardner and Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Dec-2024The cricket calendar is bloated, festooned with arcane traditions, and completely in thrall to money – which means it really comes into its own at Christmas. In the spirit of giving things that are not really wanted but everyone buys into out of a sense of social obligation, here is the Light Roller’s annual awards stocking filler. There is no gift receipt.Conspiracy Theory of the Year: SKY catch
With South Africa’s World Cup dream steadily going the way South African World Cup dreams usually do, David Miller plonked a full toss down the ground, Suryakumar Yadav sprinted around from long-on to complete a running relay catch, and 1.4 billion Indians rejoiced. Meanwhile, over on Reddit, a slightly smaller but no less dedicated community got stuck into poring over footage of the event. Had the third umpire properly checked whether SKY’s foot brushed the boundary marker? Could that slight discolouration of the grass prove said boundary marker had actually been moved earlier in the innings? Was that a puff of smoke on the grassy knoll or could the shooter have been holed up in the book depository? Rarely has the tinfoil-hat brigade had it so good.Runner-up: India’s friendly scheduling at the T20 World Cup. (Wake up, sheeple, it’s all connected!!!)Executive Decision-Making Award: ICC
Everyone knows where the Champions Trophy is being held, right? The dates, the venues, which teams are in which group, etc and so on? We’re all absolutely double-sure – and have been for at least the last three years – that it will be staged by Pakistan, as the first major tournament hosted in the country since its role in the 1996 World Cup. Right? Right?? Well, sort of right. Because India won’t be going there. So those games will be held in the UAE. We think. Can we get back to you? What do you mean it’s supposed to start next week…? []Commitment to Change Award: Pakistan’s groundsmen
Pakistan is the spiritual home of subcontinental fast bowling – although that fine tradition was beginning to look a bit rickety when they were beaten 2-0 in their own conditions by Bangladesh. A pummelling at the hands of Harry Brook and Joe Root on a flat one in Multan followed, after which the Pakistan management had a brainwave. First question: did anyone see England play spin in India earlier this year? Second question: do we still have any spinners? Meanwhile, the ground staff in Multan and Rawalpindi attacked their new brief with the gusto of a middle-class family who had just bought their first pressure cooker. Out came the industrial fans and heaters, and in all likelihood a tandoor was constructed over the strip. By game day, the pitch had been crisped to perfection. With a twirl of that luscious moustache, Sajid Khan provided the choicest accompaniments, doing the rest with Noman Ali.Architectural Feature of the Year: High Ceilings
Previously best known for being the place where Neil McKenzie used to sellotape his bat for good luck, the humble ceiling took centre stage – so to speak – thanks to England’s whimsical approach to selection, which went something like: “Gosh, those stats are rubbish. Are we even sure he plays cricket?” “No, but check out his height/pace/release point/hairstyle. I bet this guy has a really .” Which basically means: might be good, might not. And is in no way a guide to whether you could fit a full-size Josh Hull in their front room.Good thing he’s got a high ceiling, else he’d be knocking his head on it: 6′ 7″ Josh Hull gets his Test cap from Andrew Flintoff•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesAbsolutely Did Not Choke Award: South Africa
Look, the South Africa men’s and women’s teams won World Cup semi-finals this year. Which, given the weight of history, is really quite a thing. Almost as good as lifting the trophy but without needing to put pressure on your luggage allowance. The women didn’t really get close anyway – which is sort of a consolation. And as for the men, well, 30 runs off 30 balls with six wickets in hand really isn’t as simple as it sounds when you factor in Jasprit Bumrah still having two full overs lef- BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH, who are we kidding?ICC Feel-Good Award: Shamar Joseph
As in, makes the ICC feel good about itself. For what’s better than a shooting star of a fast bowler from the backwoods of Guyana’s logging country chopping down Australia’s finest at one of their famed fortresses to distract everyone from the fundamental inequities of the global game? West Indies cricket needs better funding, infrastructure, opportunity… but hey, look over there, Joseph and his team-mates are doing laps of the Gabba! Let’s all pat ourselves on the back and never mention the revenue-sharing model ever again!Runner-up: USA’s T20 World Cup campaign.Administrator’s Administrator of the Year: Jay Shah
A unanimous vote (apart from one abstention). It’s been another blockbuster year for the little big man, who always comes up clutch in the pressure moments – for instance, after guiding India’s men to their first World Cup win in over a decade (), he was on hand with a fun-size flagpole for Rohit Sharma to stick triumphantly into the Kensington Oval outfield. Instantly iconic. We’re not quite sure why he decided to trade in the job as cricket’s No. 1 most powerful person (head of the BCCI) to be the guy pushed around by the head of the BCCI (ICC chairman). But you can be certain he’ll still be the poster boy for go-getting young administrators the world over.Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Cricket and Comedy: Pakistan
We’re living in a golden age here, people. From somehow managing to pit their two star players against each other over the captaincy, losing to USA on the way to bombing out of the T20 World Cup, seeing not one but two head coaches tender their resignations within months of being appointed, cutting daily allowances for female players, to all the fruitless posturing over the Champions Trophy (see above), the self-pwnage was on another level. If Pakistan cricket were a movie, it would be directed by Christopher Nolan, scored by John Williams, and star Tom Hanks. A female supergroup featuring Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Madonna. A gourmet dining experience overseen by Heston Blumenthal, René Redzepi and Carmen Berzatto. They are Sideshow Bob endlessly stepping on a rake, and for that we salute them.Kamindu Mendis: ace batter, versatile bowler, gun fielder, and suspense giver• PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty ImagesWTC Denier of the Year: Ben Stokes
Stokesy, love your work – we really mean that. But the science is in on this critical issue. At least 99% of all serious cricket experts have formed the overwhelming consensus that the World Test Championship is real. In fact – and perhaps you may need to sit down for this – the WTC may have been happening from as far back as 2019. Worse: it’s possible that the WTC is not even a conspiracy against England, the nation that has hosted two finals already. To misquote another beloved Ben (Kenobi): the WTC could bring balance to the global game. Search your feelings, Stokesy. You know this to be true.Setting us up for Disappointment Award: Kamindu Mendis
No Sri Lanka batter has ever had as monstrous a run in their first ten Tests as Kamindu Mendis, who has reaped 1110 runs in his first 17 innings, at an average of 74. Not only have two-thirds of those runs come away from home, the man is also a monster in the field – as safe in the slips as he is dynamic in the outfield. As an aside, he also bowls spin with either arm.This is all sounding way too good to be true for a young Sri Lanka batter, who as a breed have in recent years taken to scuttling their own careers in all manner of creative ways. It seems prudent to prepare ourselves for what may befall Kamindu in 2025. A haunting loss of form? Injury? A night out with Niroshan Dickwella? Life, surely, can’t stay this good.*Nepo-Sensation of the Year: Rocky Flintoff
In the back half of 2024, Flintoff Jr has made a spectacular charge with the bat, impressing for Lancashire’s Second XI, before being vaulted into the England Lions squad for South Africa, and more recently being named in the Lions squad for Australia. And who might be coaching that Lions team, you ask? Why, old man Andrew, of course. Bless.*The Light Roller is too rational to believe in anti-jinxes. But that doesn’t mean we’re not above trying them, just to be safe.More in our look back at 2024

Manchester United are optimistic that Benjamin Sesko will return to action soon, following the striker's withdrawal from international duty with Slovenia due to a knee injury sustained against Tottenham. Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez has shocked fans by joining up with the Argentina squad for training despite not playing since February, in what the club views as a controlled step toward full fitness.

Man Utd hopeful regarding Sesko's return to fitness

Manchester United striker Sesko has been ruled out of Slovenia's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden after suffering a knee injury during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. The 22-year-old was substituted after 87 minutes in North London, having appeared to jar his knee following a collision with Micky van de Ven. Although Ruben Amorim admitted post-match that any knee issue "you never know" in severity, early indications suggest the problem is not serious.

United's medical team conducted initial assessments at Carrington, and the prognosis remains cautiously optimistic. The club expects Sesko to make a swift recovery and are hopeful he will be fit in time for Everton's visit to Old Trafford on November 24, immediately after the international break. While he will miss Slovenia's decisive qualifiers, there are no fears that the summer signing faces a long-term layoff, with the club privately distancing themselves from reports of a major setback.

Sesko's injury has nonetheless created some anxiety within the squad, given the timing. Manchester United are already managing fitness concerns involving Harry Maguire and Casemiro, who both came off against Spurs. Maguire's condition remains unclear, though Casemiro has since joined up with Brazil's national team, leaving Sesko as the main absentee for now as the club seeks to avoid further disruptions to Amorim's rebuilding project.

AdvertisementGettyMartinez allowed to train with Argentina

In contrast to Sesko’s short-term issue, Martinez's inclusion in Argentina's training camp represents a longer-term recovery milestone. The defender, who has not played since February following major knee surgery, has been granted permission by Manchester United to join Argentina's European-based squad for conditioning sessions ahead of their friendly against Angola. He will not participate in any matches but will be supported by a member of United's performance staff during his time away.

The move marks a carefully managed phase in Martinez's rehabilitation, designed to reintroduce him into full training environments while limiting physical risk. United believe that working alongside the Argentina group – in a familiar setting and without long-haul travel – will help rebuild his match readiness more effectively than isolated sessions at Carrington.

For Argentina, Martínez's presence provides a morale boost as they prepare for their international fixtures, while for United it signals optimism about his potential return before December. His involvement is seen as symbolic of his nearing full recovery after an injury-plagued spell that has kept him sidelined for much of 2024 and 2025.

Sesko's early struggles and Martinez's injury-riddled past

Martinez's career at Old Trafford has been defined by both brilliance and misfortune. Since his 2022 arrival from Ajax, the 27-year-old has been lauded as one of the Premier League's most technically gifted defenders — yet his tenure has been punctuated by repeated long-term injuries. After fracturing his metatarsal in April 2023, suffering further complications in 2024, and enduring an ACL rupture at the start of this year, Martinez has faced nearly 18 months of interrupted progress. His latest setback, a devastating knee injury against Crystal Palace in February 2025, forced him into an eight-month rehabilitation programme that has sidelined him for almost all of Amorim's tenure.

As for Sesko, his Manchester United career suffered a slow start as the Slovenian struggled to find the back of the net. Despite flashes of quality, his goal return of two league goals has led to scrutiny, given the size of his transfer fee. However, Amorim has publicly defended the 22-year-old, and backed him to settle into a rhythm and help the Red Devils attain the success they have desired for so long.

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Getty ImagesWhen Man Utd could get Sesko and Martinez back

Manchester United are expected to receive further updates on Sesko’s fitness following his medical assessments this week, with optimism growing that he will be available for selection against Everton. The club will continue to manage his recovery closely, ensuring he avoids aggravating the knee issue before returning to full training.

As for Martinez, the Argentina camp will serve as a proving ground for his physical readiness and psychological confidence after such a long absence. Should he complete the break without setbacks, he could be named in United's matchday squad before the end of the month – a significant boost ahead of the demanding December fixture list.

Little League World Series legend Mo’ne Davis is no stranger to throwing out the first pitch on MLB bumps. She threw out the ceremonial pitch in Game 4 of the 2014 World Series after she became the first female to pitch a shutout in LLWS history.

She also tossed the first pitch for the Nationals on Thursday, and this one may have been even more special. Behind the plate was Nats outfielder Robert Hassell III, who Davis competed against in Williamsport, Pa.

Hassell, 23, made his major league debut this season. He was drafted with the No. 8 pick by the Padres in the '20 MLB draft.

Davis struck out eight batters and gave up just two hits in her complete-game shutout for the Philadelphia Little League team, which gave them the win over a group from Nashville: Hassell's team. A true full-circle moment on a major league diamond Thursday.

She got the call to throw out the first pitch as part of the Nationals' ladies night celebrations. The timing worked out well, as she's set to return to Nationals Park next week to participate in the historic Women's Pro Baseball League tryouts. The moment came just one day after this year's LLWS kicked off in Williamsport, too.

This time, I'm sure Hassell was happy he was behind the plate and not in the batter's box.

Ivan Juric is on the brink of being sacked as Atalanta manager, with the club already in advanced negotiations with Raffaele Palladino to take over. The decision comes after a disastrous start to the Serie A season and a challenging Champions League campaign, exacerbated by a recent heavy defeat and a deteriorating relationship between Juric and the club's ownership and fanbase.

Juric's imminent sacking following Sassuolo defeat

Juric's tenure at Atalanta appears to be drawing to a close, with reports from and indicating that his dismissal is imminent. The final straw seems to be the comprehensive 3-0 home defeat to Sassuolo on Sunday, a result that has intensified internal discussions within the Bergamo club. Two goals from Domenico Berardi and one from Andrea Pinamonti sealed Atalanta's fate in a match that saw them register only two shots on target despite having 66% possession.

The combination of poor results and a strained relationship with both the club's owners and the fans has reportedly forced the decision, with an announcement expected shortly.

Juric, who previously coached Southampton and Roma, is facing his third dismissal in 12 months, highlighting a difficult period in his managerial career.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRaffaele Palladino in pole position to replace Juric

Atalanta have moved swiftly to identify a successor, with Palladino reportedly in pole position to take over from Juric. confirms that "negotiations between Atalanta and Raffaele Palladino are at an advanced stage," suggesting that a deal is close to being finalised.

Palladino, 41, is a former Fiorentina coach and a student of Gian Piero Gasperini, having also been a teammate of Juric at Genoa. This background suggests a desire for tactical continuity, aligning with the playing style and mentality established by Gasperini during his successful period at the club. Palladino's recent coaching experience includes leading Monza to two consecutive Serie A salvations and guiding Fiorentina to a seventh-place finish in Serie A and a Conference League semi-final last year.

The decision to appoint Palladino is seen as a move to bring stability and a familiar footballing philosophy back to Atalanta, aiming to replicate the successful periods under Gasperini.

Deteriorating relationships cited as a key factor in Juric's departure

Beyond the on-field results, a significant factor contributing to Juric's impending departure is the breakdown of his relationships within the club. Reports indicate that his position was already tenuous even before the Sassuolo defeat, with internal discussions intensifying due to a perceived "lack of chemistry between the fans and Juric himself."

This lack of connection with the fanbase, coupled with disagreements with the ownership, has created an untenable situation for the Croatian coach. The club's American co-owner Stephen Pagliuca was present at the Gewiss Stadium to witness the dismal performance against Sassuolo, which reportedly led to a late-night summit and the final decision to make a change.

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Juric's dismal record in Serie A and Champions League

Juric's statistical record at Atalanta paints a grim picture. In 11 Serie A matches this season, Atalanta have collected a mere 13 points, resulting from just two wins and seven draws. This is a stark contrast to last season, where they had 22 points and were in third place after 11 rounds. The team has scored only 13 goals in the league, while conceding 11.

Their last league victory dates back to September 21, a 3-1 win against Torino. Since then, they have picked up only five points and scoring just four goals in their last seven Serie A matches, including consecutive defeats away to Udinese and at home to Sassuolo.

While their Champions League campaign has yielded a more respectable seven points from four games, including a positive performance against Marseille, it has not been enough to secure the trust of the club hierarchy. Atalanta currently sit in 13th place in Serie A, significantly underperforming expectations for a team that has consistently challenged for European spots in recent seasons. Their form in their last five league matches includes three draws and two losses.

He suffered the injury while attempting a catch on July 26 against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2025Rovman Powell, the West Indies batter, was officially ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan following the wrist injury he suffered during the preceding series against Australia. West Indies will not name a replacement.Powell, 32, sustained the injury while attempting a catch in the fourth T20I against Australia on July 26 in St Kitts. He did not feature in the fifth T20I against Australia following the injury, and neither was he part of the first T20I against Pakistan in Florida’s Lauderhill on July 31 that West Indies lost by 14 runs.West Indies and Pakistan face off again on August 2 and 4 in Lauderhill in the three-match T20I series. The two teams then fly to Tarouba in Trinidad & Tobago for a three-ODI series starting August 8. Powell is unlikely to feature in the West Indies ODI squad as he last played in the format in 2023.

West Ham United’s return to Premier League football didn’t entirely go to plan on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked on course to win their third game on the bounce when Callum Wilson made it 2-0 against Bournemouth in the 35th minute. However, the Cherries fought back, and thanks to a penalty and a goal from Enes Unal, came away with a point.

With that said, in the context of the season at large, it’s still a good point for the Hammers, especially as they had to make do without dynamic Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.

Unfortunately, the Dutchman won’t be fit for the Liverpool game, but Nuno might have the perfect solution, one that involves dropping Luis Guilherme.

Guilherme's game vs Bournemouth

Now, the first thing to say is that Guilherme is still a promising talent and someone who could develop into a real star for West Ham.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, what is equally true is that he failed to make a case for why he should be in the starting lineup in place of the injured Summerville next time out.

The young Brazilian wasn’t terrible on Saturday, but he was almost entirely ineffective, looking unable to create chances for his teammates or get himself into positions where chances could be supplied to him.

Moreover, the 19-year-old still looks as slight as ever and lacks any real power or pace, which are two traits becoming increasingly important for attackers in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, the manager decided to take him off at the break, which only made his dire statistics even more pitiful.

Minutes

45′

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.01

Shots

0

Passes

10

Touches

21

Lost Possession

9

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (1)

Ground Duels (Won)

8 (1)

Dribbled Past

1

In his 45 minutes of inaction, the Brazilian registered an expected assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, took just 21 touches, failed in 66% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times, completed ten passes, was dribbled past and lost seven of eight duels.

In short, Guilherme proved he cannot come in for Summerville again, so Nuno has to bring in one of the club’s most exciting prospects instead.

West Ham's Summerville solution

The player Nuno should bring into the squad to replace Guilherme and help solve the blow of Summerville’s injury is George Earthy.

Now, that might sound bold, and perhaps it is, but the academy gem has long been talked about as one of the club’s next stars, and his time at youth level and out on loan suggests as much.

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, during his time with the u21s, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3618 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 113.06 minutes.

In other words, the Havering-born gem is a dual threat: a goalscorer and a creator.

Appearances

60

55

Minutes

4804′

3618′

Goals

25

18

Assists

18

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

111.72′

113.06′

Moreover, with 40 appearances for Bristol City last season, during which he was named young player of the year, he has plenty of genuine first-team experience under his belt already.

With all of that said, the “priceless” youngster, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and so it would make sense to play him there against Liverpool, which means the man who’d actually outright replace Guilherme is actually Paqueta.

Yes, the Brazilian is also primarily a central player, but has made 36 club appearances on the left-hand side in his career, as well as six for the Brazilian national team.

Anyway, having the former Lyon gem further forward could help make the team more dangerous in attack, while also allowing the 21-year-old to get up to speed in a more familiar position.

Ultimately, it is not ideal, but Guilherme made it clear against Bournemouth that he cannot start games at the moment. Therefore, bringing the incredibly talented Earthy into the middle and allowing Paqueta to play on the left could be the answer to Summerville’s absence – at least for now.

West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern about star winger

The England international is their most crucial man by some distance.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 21, 2025

South Africa will play two matches in Colombo, first against Sri Lanka and then against Pakistan

Madushka Balasuriya16-Oct-2025For the first time this World Cup, South Africa will be playing in Colombo. While this is going to be a fairly significant change in conditions as far as batters are concerned with the pitches at the Khettarama having shown to be tougher to score on, South Africa are banking on the knowledge gained on their recent tour of Sri Lanka to help them manage.”I think now we as a team, we kind of know the players, especially me as a bowler. I know there are ways to bowl, their strengths and their weaknesses,” stated Nonkululeko Mlaba on the eve of their match against Sri Lanka. “So yeah, it was very important for me to actually read and to know the players.”Mlaba is likely going to play a crucial role if South Africa are to come away victorious, with the left-arm spinner having picked up eight wickets across the first four games of the tournament. With those wickets coming in India, she would have been forgiven for being excited by the prospect of bowling on the spin-friendly surfaces in Colombo, however she’s happy to focus on keeping things simple. After Sri Lanka, South Africa will face Pakistan in Colombo on Monday, before moving to Indore to meet Australia.Related

Rain, redemption and a race for the semis: SL face SA in crucial Colombo clash

“I think it’s my second time playing here. Because we had a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India, and yeah, it’s always good to come back here and hopefully this time around I’ll just do well for the team.”One thing that I normally do best is just sticking to my good lines and lengths, and the rest will take care of itself.”South Africa have faced some tough challenges already across this tournament, most notably in their heavy opening game loss to England. But even in their three wins, they have been forced to work hard for the results.Against India and Bangladesh, it was a strong rearguard that saw home two tricky chases, while it was only against New Zealand where the win was relatively comfortable. Mlaba believes there are no easy games in this tournament

“As a team we don’t underestimate any team, we just play our own game and try our best to win the game.”Mlaba on playing against Sri Lanka

“I just feel like each and every team is very hard to play against because we played against Sri Lanka in a tri-series and also played against them at home, and they beat us in a few games.”They definitely have a good team – the spinners, they’re very good. And [Chamari] Athapaththu herself, she’s quality. So as a team we don’t underestimate any team, we just play our own game and try our best to win the game.”One running theme across South Africa’s matches this tournament has been a tendency to allow teams back into the contest from a position of strength, most recently when Bangladesh fought back from 78 for 5 to post a total of 232. Mlaba, however, is not unduly concerned.”That’s obviously part of the game,” she said. “You know we as a team, you start off well and then sometimes you just lack here and there, but then it’s just a matter of trying to bring the team together and just try and focus and do well in that certain period.”I’ve watched a lot of games and a lot of teams, they’ve also been going through the same as us. So, it’s just part of the game, it’s cricket.”

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is enjoying his All-Star break elsewhere, but he may have won the Home Run Derby night with an unbelievably funny sequence of posts on his X account as he watched with the rest of us.

The fourth-year first baseman got all his thoughts down on the internet and provided some colorful commentary as the drama unfolded at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz put on a show in the first round, smashing 21 home runs including a 513-foot bomb. He smacked line drives so hard that the youth fielders shagging balls could only run to get out of the way. In case any fans questioned that incredibly savvy business decision, Pasquantino assured everyone that he feels the same way when playing against Cruz:

Later, he had a hilarious post about Seattle Mariners star catcher and Major League home-run leader Cal Raleigh putting on a show just like he has the whole season:

In case anyone thought he was serious—don't worry, it was just a joke:

He also made an incredibly honest admission when he noticed Paul Skenes with Spanish-speaking stars Elly De La Cruz, Ketel Marte and Fernando Tatís Jr.

He had some thoughts on Raleigh advancing on an extremely close longest home run tiebreak over Athletics slugger Brent Rooker:

He took to X a couple weeks ago to make a joke about being the batter for two of Shohei Ohtani's fastest pitches thrown, too. Never change, Vinnie. Never change.

Tottenham have given the green-light for Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange to hold talks over signing a ‘top talent’ from Man City, but it isn’t Savinho, who was heavily linked in the summer.

Tottenham making transfer plans amid Thomas Frank pressure

Cristian Romero delivered a captain’s performance to salvage a dramatic 2-2 draw for Spurs at Newcastle on Tuesday evening, scoring twice, including a stoppage-time overhead kick that temporarily eased mounting pressure on manager Thomas Frank.

The Argentine’s heroics prevented what would have been Spurs’ fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions, with his diving header cancelling out Bruno Guimaraes’ opener before his acrobatic finish in the 95th minute rescued a point.

Tottenham struggled throughout at St James’ Park, managing just two shots on target from eight attempts while Newcastle dominated possession and created significantly better opportunities.

It was a stark reminder that Spurs need more creativity in their side if they’re to challenge for major silverware this season or seal a top four Premier League finish.

Behind the scenes, Tottenham’s hierarchy are actively preparing significant January reinforcements as Frank desperately seeks attacking solutions.

16. Burnley

2

1

3

7

-1

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

5

1

10

Media sources are convinced that a new forward will arrive during the winter window, with Spurs identifying multiple targets, including FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.

The Lilywhites are said to be huge admirers of Aghehowa, who’s free scored in Portugal since the start of last season and was once on the verge of joining Chelsea before he rejected the move.

Jamie Carragher says he's always imagined "master" manager joining Tottenham

The former Liverpool defender believes he’s a great fit.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2025

Meanwhile, despite stiff competition, Spurs are also intensifying their interest in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, with the 25-year-old available for £65 million during the early stages of January thanks to a release clause in his contract.

There have also been murmurs of Tottenham re-opening discussions over a potential Savinho deal after his move to N17 was blocked in the summer, but amid the uncertainty surrounding Guglielmo Vicario, it is actually another City starlet that Spurs are taking interest in.

Tottenham green-light January talks for Man City keeper James Trafford

That is according to TEAMtalk, who state that Tottenham have green-lit exploratory talks over a January deal for City goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Englishman would come as a potential replacement for Vicario, who has attracted interest from Inter Milan, and Spurs are apparently entertaining the possibility of selling him for £30 million.

Sources say that Spurs view Trafford as an ideal long-term solution between the sticks, offering Premier League experience combined with significant potential.

Trafford’s situation at the Etihad has become increasingly frustrating following City’s signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG for £26 million, relegating the young stopper to backup duty.

The goalkeeper is eager for regular first-team football, making Tottenham’s project an attractive proposition, with a TT City insider quoted saying the Spurs project would be ‘perfect’ for the ‘top talent’.

Vicario arrived from Empoli eighteen months ago for £17 million as Hugo Lloris’ successor, initially impressing with performances that even earned him leadership responsibilities within Frank’s squad.

However, recent performances have declined, with errors costing Tottenham and supporters notably jeering him when Spurs lost 2-1 to Fulham last weekend.

Vicario being caught in no mans land for Harry Wilson’s goal ultimately cost Spurs precious points at home, and Fabrizio Romano has actually confirmed Inter’s interest already, so this could have some legs to it.