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2019 is a poignant year for Tottenham. It’s the year they reached the Champions League final and rather shockingly, the same year Mauricio Pochettino was given the boot.

For all of the outstanding work Pochettino did in north London, turning the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane into genuine stars, he left the Lilywhites behind having not won a trophy.

So, what did Levy do? He went and hired one of the most successful managers of the 21st century; Jose Mourinho.

The self-proclaimed Special One has been there and got the t-shirt as far as English football is concerned. He’s a multiple Premier League winner, and a multiple FA Cup winner. He’s even won the Champions League.

Surely he was going to help Spurs earn the trophy they were craving? Think again. It all ended in tears.

Mourinho lasted just 86 games with a points-per-match record of 1.77, the third worst of his career. That rather said it all.

Mourinho's first transfers at Spurs

Entering in November of 2019, it wasn’t until January 2020 that the great Portuguese coach got the chance to welcome his own players to the capital.

It wasn’t the most rip-roaring start to proceedings, bringing Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn to the club. The duo only just left Spurs in the summer but did so having not played very much football.

The summer of 2020 was a tad more promising though. Despite a world ravaged by the global pandemic, he welcomed two faces to the club from Real Madrid.

Mourinho was the one to entice Gareth Bale back to English football, welcoming the Welshman back on a loan deal. Bale was rather forced out of Madrid despite several years of wonderful service, scoring in a Champions League final and winning three LaLiga crowns.

He wasn’t the only player arriving from the Spanish capital, however. Left-back Sergio Reguilon joined and initially started very well in Spurs colours.

Indeed, analyst Raj Chohan admitted that the Spaniard was “unstoppable” at points, notably after a first-class assist for Bale’s goal against Brighton in a 2-1 win.

Remarkably, via loan spells at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford, he is still on the books at Tottenham.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Why it's time for Reguilon to go

It’s now been four years, some might say arduous years since Reguilon first arrived under the tutelage of Mourinho.

In that first campaign, he proved to be an excellent acquisition, supplying five assists in all competitions from the left-hand side of defence.

2020/21

27

0

3

2021/22

31

2

3

2022/23

0

0

0

2023/24

0

0

0

2024/25

0

0

0

In 2021/22, he still impressed in the final third, scoring twice and assisting three goals but he ultimately wasn’t fancied by a ruthless and no-nonsense Antonio Conte who shipped out on loan in 2022/23. Since then, the 27-year-old has struggled to ever really catch the eye.

United only signed him on loan because of a lack of fit left-backs and that deal was cancelled in January 2024. Brentford did come calling and he featured regularly but it wasn’t enough to force himself into Ange Postecoglou’s plans.

Reguilon – who earns £53k-per-week – is still on the books at Spurs but is simply stealing a living at this point.

He’s not played a single minute all season and for the good of everyone, he surely has to leave in the January transfer window. Although he is named in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad, he was omitted from their Europa League squad list.

The Spaniard has gone from being an unstoppable asset during the days of Mourinho to someone with no chance of ever earning minutes again at Spurs. The only good thing for the Londoners is that he is actually out of contract next summer. An end, it would seem, is finally in sight.

Time's up: Spurs can finally axe Dragusin by signing "immense" £68m star

The exceptional star would be incredible for Spurs as a Radu Dragusin replacement.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 11, 2024

Potentially adding further firepower alongside Matheus Cunha, Wolverhampton Wanderers could reportedly take advantage of one club’s financial woes to sign a £29m winger in 2025.

Wolves transfer news

Those in the Midlands certainly have plenty to make up for after a difficult summer transfer window left Gary O’Neil short on options and struggling as a result. Somewhat surprise relegation contenders, Wolves have been particularly short at the back, with Yerson Mosquera’s long-term injury far from helping their situation after they failed to replace Maximilian Kilman.

However, when the January transfer window arrives, O’Neil’s biggest problems could reach a resolution in the form of Nico Elvedi. The Borussia Monchengladbach defender is reportedly a long-standing target of Wolves and could be set to finally complete a move to the Premier League side at their most desperate time.

The 30-year-old would hand O’Neil the Kilman replacement that he’s needed and add key experience in what is a relatively young backline that has been forced to turn towards midfielder Mario Lemina in recent weeks.

It’s not just defensive improvements that the Old Gold have been linked with ahead of 2025, though. According to reports in Spain, Wolves could now take advantage of Valencia’s financial woes to sign Diego Lopez. The La Liga club – like Wolves – are surprise relegation candidates, but can put that down to their lack of finances rather than a sudden patch of poor form.

Wolves want in-demand teenage talent and could sign him for just £250,000

He could be an future star available at a bargain price.

ByBen Browning Nov 28, 2024

Desperate to avoid relegation but seeking much-needed funds, Valencia may be left with no choice but to shoot themselves in the foot by sanctioning the sale of Lopez. As things stand, the winger is reportedly worth around €35m (£29m), but that price could reportedly increase if he continues to impress for the struggling Spanish side ahead of 2025.

With Leicester City and Bournemouth also eyeing a move to sign Lopez, it could be an interesting battle for his signature if Valencia decide to cash in on one of their most prized assets.

"Excellent" Lopez could replace Hwang

When looking at Wolves’ recent problems, it’s clear that O’Neil has more to solve defensively than going forward given how the likes of Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen have impressed throughout the current campaign. But that’s not to say he couldn’t do with more depth amid Hwang Hee-chan’s failure to avoid injury on a consistent basis.

The forward is quickly falling from hero to zero in the Midlands, and with Wolves in need of more reliable options than ever since their Premier League return, O’Neil could replace Hwang by signing Lopez in 2025.

Even in a struggling Valencia side, the winger has earned impressive praise. Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig went as far as describing a performance at the start of the year as “excellent”, in a display that he’s only built on since.

More recently, Premier Sports lauded the youngster for his “perfect technique” against Real Betis as Los Ches coasted to victory last weekend.

With two goals and one assist to his name following last season’s 10 goal involvements, 22-year-old Lopez is one to keep an eye on if Premier League clubs decide to take advantage of Valencia’s worrying situation.

Endrick's future at Real Madrid has been put under question as he continues to be linked with a transfer, and Los Blancos have a clear plan in mind.

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Endrick struggling for playing time at Real MadridPlenty of clubs interested in signing the BrazilianReal Madrid rely on the 18-year-old in the long runFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Endrick joined Real Madrid last summer after he turned 18, having already agreed on a move to Santiago Bernabeu from Palmeiras back in 2022 in a €60 million (£51m/$65m) deal. Since joining Los Blancos, minutes have been scarce for the Brazilian wonderkid, however, his performances have impressed other clubs, as a number of sides are said to be interested in signing Endrick in the summer. However, it has been claimed that Real Madrid are backing the 18-year-old in the long run.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE EXPLANATION

As per Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid are very clear that they trust Endrick in the long run and are not considering selling the Brazilian striker. However, it is said that Los Blancos could be open to sending Endrick out on loan in the summer as they want him to develop further.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As per the report, Real Madrid's decision to not sell Endrick also stems from their belief that there are not a lot of talented strikers coming up in world football, and Los Blancos would prefer to hold onto the Brazilian.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

The 18-year-old has only played a total of 23 minutes under Carlo Ancelotti in Real Madrid's last 11 league matches. As such, his playing time may be limited yet again when Los Blancos take on Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, March 12, in the Champions League.

Can Tamim Iqbal’s men win their first ever ODI in SA, or will Temba Bavuma’s team hold on to a proud 20-year record?

Mohammad Isam17-Mar-2022Big pictureSouth Africa haven’t allowed Bangladesh even a whiff of a chance in 20 years of cricket at home. But as Tamim Iqbal said before leaving Dhaka, and Russell Domingo two days before the first ODI in Centurion, they are here with more than just hope.Bangladesh will always take inspiration from the miracle of Mount Maunganui and though it was a Test win, they will try to condense that calm and confidence and push harder than ever before in order to secure their first ODI win in South Africa.The home side will take heart from their series win against India in January, which followed an indifferent period for them in the 50-over format. Last year, South Africa lost to Pakistan at home, drew an away series in Ireland and then lost to Sri Lanka.The hosts will be at full strength. Many of their first-choice picks are part of IPL squads and even though the tournament starts on March 26, they will only depart once this series is over. South Africa, who have only won three matches out of 10 in the ODI Super League, will need all the talent they have at their disposal to make the climb up the table.Bangladesh are at full strength too after a jaded Shakib Al Hasan was convinced to make the trip. It allows Tamim to stick to a tried-and-tested combination with five frontline bowlers. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain will add depth to the batting line-up at Nos. 7 and 8, something Bangladesh have often wanted when touring bowler-friendly places like South Africa.Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim’s rich vein of recent form adds to the sense of Bangladesh optimism. The fast bowlers too are exciting, particularly Taskin Ahmed, who has started to bowl well in the middle overs, and Shoriful Islam, who is back in the country where he powered Bangladesh to their maiden Under-19 World Cup title two years ago.Tabraiz Shamsi has been leading South Africa’s spin attack with aplomb•AFP/Getty ImagesForm guideSouth Africa WWWLW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWWW
In the spotlightHaving had very little experience against left-arm unorthodox bowlers in general, Bangladesh will find Tabraiz Shamsi quite the handful. The 32-year-old’s last international outing was against India in January, but he has been excellent in the domestic circuit since then (17 wickets) and will be upbeat about the challenge ahead.Outside the four highly experienced cricketers in the visitors’ ranks, South Africa will be wary of the Litton Das factor. He got important runs in Bangladesh’s last three assignments against Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan, effortlessly tailoring his game to suit all three formats. The 27-year-old will be facing another test of his temperament over the next several days but he certainly looks up for it.Team newsSisanda Magala misses this series due to injury. Kagiso Rabada will take his place with South Africa having full access to their best XI.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Dwaine Pretorius, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi NgidiUnless they want to play a batter light, Bangladesh will go into the first game with the same XI that played the third ODI against Afghanistan on February 28.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsGoing by the last six completed ODIs at SuperSport Park, batting first isn’t a very popular decision. Four of those teams have lost the game after choosing to put runs on the board. Weather forecast is mostly dry.Stats and trivia Aiden Markram is 101 runs short of 1,000 runs in ODIs. Mushfiqur Rahim is the only Bangladeshi to score a century in South Africa.

Anrich Nortje, who is recovering from a hip injury, and Sisanda Magala, who failed a fitness test, were unavailable for selection

Firdose Moonda08-Mar-2022South Africa have named a full-strength squad, minus Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala for fitness reasons, for the upcoming home ODI series against Bangladesh.The three-match series, which is to be played in Centurion and Johannesburg from March 18 to 23, concludes just three days before the start of the IPL, which could mean the South African players chosen for the ODIs could miss some of their franchises’ early matches.South Africa’s squad includes eight players who are expected to take part in the IPL – Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Dwaine Pretorius and Marco Jansen.Related

Mandatory three-day quarantine for teams before entering IPL bubble

South Africa players face 'litmus test of loyalty' ahead of IPL 2022

A three-day quarantine is mandatory for all teams before they enter the IPL bubble, but this rule will be relaxed if players are arriving from another bubble. The South Africa-Bangladesh series is set to be played within a “managed environment”, which is more relaxed than a bio-bubble and which CSA used for its recent domestic T20 competition. This means players will be permitted to go to outdoor spaces including beaches, parks and open-air restaurants, and those South African players based in the Highveld, including Rabada, Ngidi and van der Dussen, may be permitted to stay at home, and not in the team hotel.How this affects their quarantine requirements in the IPL is as yet unclear.There is set to be a bigger clash between national commitments and the IPL, however, when South Africa play their Test series against Bangladesh, which is set to run from March 31 to April 12. CSA earlier confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the choice between the Test series and the IPL would be left to the players; Test captain Dean Elgar suggested the choice would show “where players’ loyalty lies”.”The players in the one-day squad who are not playing in the Tests will likely leave for IPL after the ODI series,” Victor Mpitsang, CSA’s selection convenor, told ESPNcricinfo. “We will have more clarity on the six players who are part of the Test group in the next couple of days.”It would seem that these six players are Rabada, Ngidi, van der Dussen, Markram, Jansen and Nortje, who is a part of South Africa’s Test plans but has missed their last two series against India and New Zealand because of a hip injury. He hasn’t played competitively since the T20 World Cup in November. It isn’t clear if he will recover in time to take part in the IPL, though it appears unlikely.”It’s probably going to be difficult [for Nortje to go to the IPL],” Mpitsang said. “He has not really been bowling much since November. We don’t have any timeframe on his return. It’s been a long one. The medical team will give advice on whether he will be cleared for the IPL.”Anrich Nortje hasn’t played competitively since the T20 World Cup•ICC via GettyAccording to Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer, Nortje’s recovery path has been “frustrating”. “He is currently being investigated,” Manjra told ESPNcricinfo. “He has been seen by three different orthopaedic surgeons. He is struggling with loading and doing most of the other rehab work. He hasn’t bowled for over three months.”He is not ready for the Bangladesh series. We don’t know about the IPL. I guess it’s frustrating. He keeps fit, he works extremely hard. All goes fine, except for when he picks up his bowling loads. He has got discomfort. We have identified three different problems between back and hip and we don’t know which is primary.”Ngidi is also returning from injury, having missed both the Tests in New Zealand with a back issue. “We expect Lungi to be fit,” Manjra said.Magala, meanwhile, has failed a fitness test.The ODIs are part of the World Cup Super League where South Africa remain outside the automatic qualification zone in tenth position after dropping points in Ireland and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are on top of the table with 100 points from ten matches. They have never beaten South Africa in an ODI series in South Africa but won a series against them in Bangladesh in 2015. Bangladesh also have a significant South African backroom staff to strategise with. Russell Domingo, the former South Africa coach, is at the helm while Allan Donald, South Africa’s former bowling coach, joined Bangladesh ahead of this series.South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Keshav Maharaj (vice-capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne

Al-Nassr were on song at Al-Awwal Park as they won 3-0 in the second leg of their AFC Champions League round of 16 clash against Esteghlal.

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Al-Nassr win 3-0 against EsteghlalDuran scores a brace and CR7 nets penaltyQualify for AFC Champions League quarter-finalsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE

Cristiano Ronaldo's hunt for his first trophy with Al-Nassr has continued this season but the Al-Alami look all but out of the Saudi Pro League title race and have already crashed out of the King Cup of Champions. As such, Al-Nassr have shifted their focus towards the AFC Champions League and faced Esteghlal in the second-leg of their last 16 tie at Al-Awwal Park after a dull 0-0 draw in Iran last week.

Al-Nassr were expected to be the dominant force on the night against Esteghlal, who have been struggling this season, and Stefano Pioli's side started the clash in a strong fashion with a high-press. The hosts then took the lead in the ninth minute after Esteghlal keeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini attempted to clear the ball but put it straight into Jhon Duran's path. The Colombian then chipped the keeper from the edge of the box, and despite Hosseini getting his fingers on the shot, the ball found its way into the back of the net.

Esteghlal continued to struggle and then shot themselves in the foot yet again as Roozbeh Cheshmi caught Sadio Mane in the box after Ronaldo's threatening backheel set the Senegal international through on goal. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner converted the penalty to double Al-Nassr's lead on the night. Thing then got even worse for Esteghlal in first-half injury time as winger Mehran Ahmadi was given his second yellow of the night after elbowing Mohammed Al-Fatil.

Pioli's side took complete control in the second half, but squandered two golden chances to add to their last in the 49th minute. Despite his mistake in giving Al-Nassr the opener, Esteghlal keeper Hosseini was on top form throughout the second half as he made a number of saves to deny the hosts.

Nonetheless, Esteghlal conceded the third goal of the night when Duran was found with a perfect through-ball from Angelo, and Hosseini was unable to stop the powerful strike. The win sees Al-Nassr safely into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP

Marcelo Brozovic had one of his best games of the season at Al-Awwal Park against Esteghlal as the Croatian dominated the midfield and dictated most of Al-Nassr's attacks. The midfielder finished the game with a total of six key passes, and he also completed over 100 passes on the night. Additionally, Brozovic was also able to halt a number of Esteghlal counters before they started.

THE BIG LOSER

Esteghlal were solely to blame for their loss to Al-Nassr as the Iranian side put in a tame showing and allowed Al-Nassr to dominate possession and rotate the ball around their box multiple times. However, their main faults came on the back of two individual mistakes, while Ahmadi's sending off diminished their hopes even further.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Al-Nassr will now return to Saudi Pro League action when they take on Al Kholood on Friday, March 14, as they look to end their two-game winless streak in the league and keep up their chase of Al-Qadsiyah for the final AFC Champions League spot.

It says a lot that there was a feeling of deflation around Parkhead at full-time on Wednesday night, with Celtic forced to settle for a point following what was an even affair with Belgian side, Club Brugge.

While that 1-1 draw may appear like two points dropped for the Hoops – particularly after dispatching RB Leipzig last time out on home soil – it a sign of the club’s growing strength in the Champions League that such a result was viewed with frustration, rather than positivity.

Of course, a place in the play-off round is far from secure, although it is worth remembering that the Old Firm side are just two points off the top eight, having also found themselves above the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, no less.

Faced with a Brugge side who saw off Premier League high-flyers Aston Villa prior to the international break, the hosts can be encouraged by their display, with a handful of individuals having caught the eye across the park.

Celtic's best performers vs Brugge

There’s no getting away from it, this was not Brendan Rodgers’ men at their free-flowing best, with it having taken the half-time interval for the home side to truly get going against the Pro League outfit.

Unsurprisingly, among the catalysts after the break was that man Daizen Maeda, with the relentless forward curling home the effort that his performance deserved, having defended from the front in remarkable fashion.

Elsewhere, a word must also be said for the ever-reliable skipper, with Callum McGregor pulling the strings in the centre of the park, enjoying a staggering 95% pass accuracy from his deep-lying midfield berth, as per Sofascore.

The long-serving playmaker provided that much-needed experience in the heart of the Celtic side, with veteran asset Kasper Schmeichel also again making his mark in the sticks, having made three key saves, while also enjoying a 98% pass accuracy of his own.

That said, it was another new arrival who undoubtedly stole the show, even ahead of that man Maeda…

Celtic's hero vs Brugge

Usually unflappable, Cameron Carter-Vickers had a night to forget following his freak own goal midway through the first-half, with the United States international producing an errant back-pass to gift the visitors the advantage.

Thankfully for the former Tottenham Hotspur man, that early error did not impact the rest of his performance, with the Celtic backline largely holding firm from then on, not least due to his international colleague, Auston Trusty.

The £6m summer signing has now firmly ousted Liam Scales from that left centre-back berth and it’s clear to see why, with the 26-year-old having been simply “tremendous” again on the night, in the words of journalist Ryan McGinley.

Stat

Highest ranking

Most touches

Cameron Carter-Vickers (160)

Highest pass accuracy

Adam Idah (5/5 – 100%)

Most key passes

Christos Tzolis (4)

Ground duels won

Maxim De Cuyper (7/7)

Aerial duels won

Carter-Vickers (7/8)

Clearances

Joaquin Seys (8)

Most tackles

De Cuyper & Onyedika (3)

Possession lost

Nicolas Kuhn (23)

Notably among the key performers in the triumph over Leipzig, the ex-Sheffield United man was again a man mountain at the back, winning 100% of his aerial duels, as well as winning three of his five ground duels.

For a player who had never played in the Champions League prior to this season, the American has largely taken to Europe’s premier competition like a duck to water, having showcased his composure in possession after racking up a mammoth haul of 133 touches, as well as recording a 97% pass accuracy rate.

After a period of so much turbulence in the centre-back ranks in recent years – amid the failed signings of the likes of Maik Nawrocki, Gustav Lagerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi, just to name a few – Trusty is, as his name suggests, now a trusted performer for Rodgers and co.

Performance in Numbers

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The horror-show in Dortmund aside, the one-time Arsenal man is now part of a defence that looks unlikely to crumble on the big stage, with the Glasgow giants finally having a solid defensive foundation to build on.

Three crucial Champions League fixtures lie ahead to decide Celtic’s fate – does the knockout stage beckon?

Worse than Carter-Vickers: Rodgers must drop Celtic man who won 0 duels

The Celtic attacker did not enjoy a successful evening at Parkhead against Club Brugge.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 28, 2024

Durham left to rue rain earlier in match as Glamorgan recover from top-order wobble

ECB Reporters Network10-Apr-2022Despite a flurry of wickets in the morning session, the final day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match between Glamorgan and Durham in Cardiff finished in a draw after half centuries from Kiran Carlson and Chris Cooke took the home side to safety.The day started with seven Durham wickets falling for 32 runs as Andrew Salter claimed career-best figures. Durham had a first-innings lead of 149 with Alex Lees finishing undefeated on 182.Four early Glamorgan wickets gave Durham some hope of claiming victory but the stand between Cooke and Carlson took the home side to safety with the teams shaking hands with 16 overs un-bowled.Durham will be left ruing the bad weather that took so much time out of this game on the first two days as they were the team best placed to push for a positive result.Durham resumed their first innings 114 runs in front with seven wickets in hand. In a madcap first hour they went from 351 for three to 383 all out. The destroyer-in-chief was Salter who finished with 7 for 45, his first five-wicket haul in the format, as the Durham middle and lower order attempted to press home their advantage with quick runs.Salter dismissed David Bedingham in the second over of the day, well stumped by Cooke with a ball that appeared to swing away from the batter. What followed was a succession of Durham players giving away their wickets with attempted big shots.As his side collapsed around him Lees stood firm, carrying his bat for the second time in his career on his way to his highest first-class score for Durham. While a quick conclusion of the Durham innings may not have been their plan as they started out the final day of this match, it did give them more time to claim the ten Glamorgan wickets they needed for victory.In the 14 overs they bowled before lunch, Durham claimed three Glamorgan wickets with the home side still trailing by 116 at the break. It could have been four wickets before the interval but Paul Coughlin put down a relatively simple chance at third slip that would have dismissed Colin Ingram without scoring.While the morning session was hectic, things settled down after lunch. Durham had Glamorgan 66 for four when Ben Raine had Ingram bowled but a partnership of 90 between Carlson and Cooke took Glamorgan into the lead.It was a breakthrough year for Carlson in 2021 with the Welsh batter scoring 928 first-class runs at an average of 48.84 and he was playing exceptionally before edging one through to the wicket-keeper on 61 off the bowling of Matthew Potts. Glamorgan will be hoping for more eye-catching innings like this one in 2022.Cooke made 59 in the first innings and was 85 not out in the second, those runs combined with the 205 not out he made in the last match of the 2021 season it is an impressing run of scores for the Glamorgan wicket-keeper.Durham take 15 points away from this match while Glamorgan claim 11.

NWSL stars join energy drink giant's roster alongside USWNT talents Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw

Castellanos and Moultrie key for Portland Thorns in 2025Red Bull expands its presence in women's soccer Thorns face challenges with roster changesRed BullWHAT HAPPENED

Portland Thorns FC stars Deyna Castellanos and Olivia Moultrie signed on as Red Bull athletes, joining the energy drink giant's growing roster of soccer talent. This move comes as both players prepare for crucial roles in the Thorns' 2025 NWSL campaign.

The Thorns stars become the latest NWSL athletes to join the Red Bull roster after USWNT stars Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw.

"Before turning pro I had a dream list of brands I wanted to work with, and Red Bull was always on that list,” Castellanos said. “I can't wait for the amazing things we're going to build together." 

Added Moultrie: “I’ve always seen and been impressed with Red Bull athletes. They're inspirational because they're unapologetically themselves while in pursuit of their goals. To me, Red Bull has always represented excellence. I'm honored to be a part of this rare collection of athletes that are striving for the same thing I am: world class greatness!”

AdvertisementWHAT RED BULL POSTEDAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both Castellanos and Moultrie are trailblazers in their own way as the former is the youngest nominee in history for FIFA Best Women's Player of the Year. Moultrie is the youngest player ever signed to an NWSL contract and the youngest goalscorer in NWSL history. She won the 2022 NWSL championship with the Portland Thorns.

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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

The Portland Thorns are set to begin the 2025 NWSL season at Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 15. They then face Angel City FC and North Carolina Courage in back-to-back home games on March 22 and March 30, respectively.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are struggling to get results this term, having won only twice in the Premier League so far.

This means Gary O’Neil is under severe pressure. Depending on their results over the next few weeks, might he be sacked before the start of 2025? As the Old Gold will do anything to preserve their top-flight status.

Indeed, a few managers have recently been linked with the managerial job at Molineux, but a new name has recently cropped up who could be an interesting appointment…

Wolves make Championship manager their top target

According to reports in Italy (via Birmingham World), Wolves are considering an approach for West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

Manager Focus

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The report goes on to state that the Championship boss is the main target to take over from O’Neil should these poor results persist.

Given the rivalry between the two sides, this move could cause plenty of controversy, but it appears that the Old Gold are willing to do anything to remain in the Premier League.

He could even turn out to be their own Enzo Maresca, with Corberan compared to the Italian with regards to his managerial style.

Carlos Corberan could be Wolves’ own Maresca

Maresca has enjoyed a spell in the Midlands before, taking Leicester City back to the Premier League last term as they claimed the Championship title.

This enticed Chelsea to make him their new boss, and he is enjoying an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge. At the time of writing, the Blues are second in the table while topping the Europa Conference League table with four wins from four.

According to the Athletic, Corberan and Maresca have various similarities, such as being obsessed with the game, a link to Pep Guardiola and success during the early years of their careers at U23 level.

As Maresca stepped out of Gaurdiola’s shadow, Corberan did likewise under Marcelo Bielsa, as he spent time coaching Leeds United U23s.

Club

Date appointed

Games in charge

Points per game

West Bromwich Albion

October 25, 2022

103

1.58

Olympiacos

August 1, 2022

11

1.45

Huddersfield

July 23, 2020

102

1.41

The 41-year-old prefers to use a 4-2-3-1 system, which could work wonders for the current group of Wolves players. One lone striker who is supported by an attacking midfielder and two effective wingers.

“I love to illuminate the game,” said Corberan in 2022. “Try to control games with the ball, try to keep the ball all the time, try to dominate.”

Now, imagine how good Wolves could be under his management, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Joao Gomes and Hwang Hee-Chan trying to dominate games via his tactical system.

Hailed as an “elite” coach by scout Petar Petrov, Corberan led West Brom away from relegation to a ninth-place finish in 2022/23 before securing a playoff berth last term.

The club failed to achieve promotion, but hopes are high that they can finish in the top six again this season. Will Corberan be there to oversee this, however? Or will Wolves be his home in the next few weeks?

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