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The New Zealand and Rajasthan Royals seamer talks about the club vs country debate, getting Kohli out first ball, and looks ahead to the World Cup

Matt Roller10-May-2023Trent Boult jumps out of the pool, grabs a towel and his Phoenix Suns basketball jersey, and wanders over to perch on a deckchair next to me. Behind him, his wife, Gert, and their three young sons are relaxing in the early-afternoon sunshine in Jaipur.It is the sort of scene that Boult pictured last year, when he requested a release from his national contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC). There would not have been anything stopping him bringing his family to India as a contracted player, but after a decade as an all-format international cricketer, Boult decided it was time to take ownership of his own schedule.Related

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Trent Boult hoping he's not done with Test cricket just yet

“Flicking through the camera roll on my phone, it’s a good feeling, to be honest,” Boult says, reflecting on nine months as a freelancer. “When I made that decision, it was [for] two reasons. One, to get to spend more time with my kids and be around the house; and then two, to get the chance to play in some leagues and play a bit of cricket around the world.”Since September 2022, Boult has played a dozen games for New Zealand across formats, five of them at the T20 World Cup in Australia. He has missed home series against India, England and Sri Lanka, and tours to India and Pakistan, instead playing in the Big Bash, for Melbourne Stars, and the ILT20, for MI Emirates, and, after a two-month break, in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals.”My boys had the chance to come to Dubai. They came to the Big Bash for Christmas – I’ve always wanted to bring them to India and I’ve had the chance to do that with Rajasthan [Royals] as well,” he says. “It’s been cool. It’s freed up a lot of time to spend with them.”But it has also put his international career on pause. NZC made clear to Boult that his decision would mean other players – contracted players – were prioritised in selection, and while he retains ambitions in all formats of the game, he has not played a Test match in nearly a year.In February the unavailability of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry left New Zealand scrambling for replacements ahead of the first Test against England in Mount Maunganui. Boult, who lives a short distance from Bay Oval, was the obvious replacement; instead Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn were drafted in for Test debuts.Boult turning down a central contract means that he has potentially shut the door on his Test career•Getty Images”It felt bizarre,” he reflects. “It really did. I was hoping that I would get a call-up… Test match cricket was on, a couple of kilometres down the road, and I wasn’t part of it. I’ve played nearly 80 Tests and had some pretty great times in the black cap, but they said that if I chose to move away from that contract, my time in it would be limited.”And I’m pretty sure they’ve never had anyone play Test cricket that isn’t contracted – so that probably makes it hard as well. But hey, I made that decision. I’m happy with where I’m at, and I’ve been lucky to experience some cool times over the last couple of months.”It invites an obvious question: has Boult played his last Test match? “Hopefully not, no,” he says. “There are some big Tests coming up next year: Australia and South Africa are due to travel to New Zealand. And Test cricket is still my favourite format.”It is what it is: I’ve made my decision. I’ve been lucky enough to have a 13-year career in the black cap, and hey, I’ve still got a big desire to play in the World Cup as well. We’ll see how that unfolds: there’s still a bit of movement in the landscape at the moment.”Boult has played in five World Cups across formats and has three runners-up medals to show for his efforts. “We’ve been agonisingly close to lifting some pretty prestigious silverware,” he says. “I remember after the 2019 final, I said to Kane [Williamson] that we’ve got to be there again, come 2023 in India.”It’s a shame with what’s going on with his knee but he’ll be working as hard as he can to try and get there. It’s snuck up on us, really: it’s only a few months away. It’s such a great tournament. One hundred percent I’ve got that desire to be out there.”We’re a great one-day side. We’ve got some players that have travelled to India and experienced the conditions a lot, and that’s what it comes down to in World Cups. You can’t buy experience, and you can’t replace players that have toured for however many years across these conditions.”Boult has 64 wickets across five World Cups in both white-ball formats•Getty ImagesIf it seems unjust that Boult wishes to pick and choose which series he does and doesn’t play, consider this: New Zealand’s men played 46 games of international cricket last year, their largest number in a calendar year. In 2023 they have already played 29 and will break that record comfortably.”I’m trying to cast myself back to eight or nine years ago, when tours seemed to be a month long,” he says. “You’d play a couple of Tests and three one-dayers, and that was about it. And I can’t remember the last tour I went on that was under almost eight weeks, really. They’re too long.”And if you play all formats, there were years there where I was at home for probably three or four weeks. I was away on the road both touring in New Zealand and internationally for ten months a year. Doing that while raising a family, getting married – all the things that normal people do – just makes it a bit more challenging.”The sport has changed over the last 12 months, with the launch of new leagues in the UAE, South Africa and the United States – all of them featuring several teams backed by IPL franchises – disrupting the status quo. Some players have started to discuss year-round contracts with franchises; international cricket’s supremacy is being threatened.”It’s an interesting time for both franchise and international cricket, I reckon,” Boult says. “The leagues – there’s a lot of movement happening in that space, but the golden question is what it’s going to look like in a couple of years. International cricket, I think, is going to suffer in some aspects.”The worry for the younger cricketer is simply the choice of chasing money and playing less cricket for more money, basically. First of all, you have to be a good enough player to be able to be selected to play in multiple franchise tournaments; and you have to be a pretty good cricketer to have a ten-year international career.”There’s a place for both of them to exist. You need to have an international presence and ability to be able to come and play in an IPL and be able to deliver. And you’re only a couple of bad performances away from being pushed out of a franchise as well, so you’ve got to be careful.””You’ve only got to get one ball to swing, then you’re in the batter’s head”•AFP/Getty ImagesNot that Boult is likely to be “pushed out” by Rajasthan Royals anytime soon. In the long term, it would be no great surprise if he agreed a deal to play for their teams in the Caribbean and South Africa too. “I can’t really make those decisions until they are put in front of me, I suppose,” he says.Since Royals signed him ahead of the 2022 season, Boult has led their seam contingent, opening the bowling and being given a clear role: to attack with the new ball, and strike early. He has taken 11 wickets in the first over of an innings in the last two IPLs; the next most by a single bowler is five.”As soon as I start thinking about it, I don’t get any wickets,” he says with a grin.”What I’ve really enjoyed coming to Rajasthan is being given that role: ‘You’re here to get us wickets in the powerplay. Go do it.’ It’s a real freedom to express what I feel I can do.”I like to swing the ball, I like to pitch it up and get a bit funky with a couple inswingers, a couple outswingers, whatever it is. I’ll tell you what I’m just thinking in general really, and that’s just: be as accurate as possible. I’ve always thought that, as a bowler, I’ve got full control of dictating the play. Nothing can happen until I deliver that ball. And if I deliver a beauty, then it’s going to be even harder for him.”Without giving away too many secrets, I basically try bowling an inswinger every ball. If it swings in, it swings in; if it doesn’t, it goes the other way, and everyone thinks I’m trying something else. That’s the beauty of being a left-armer. I’ve had many chats with Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas – all the guys I’ve idolised. You’ve only got to get one ball to swing, then you’re in the batter’s head.”One of his first-over wickets this season stands out from the rest. “My kids had just got here,” Boult says. “I was on 99 [IPL] wickets, it was about 700 degrees, and I was bowling to probably the best opening pair in the whole tournament.” The Chinnaswamy Stadium roared as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s openers walked out to bat – then fell silent.”To put one straight into Virat’s knee first ball was pretty cool. I don’t really normally give it too much celebration, but I quickly gave it a big turnaround to the family up in the hospitality area. I remember waking up at about 4am that morning, because my kids were jet-lagged.Boult has struck twice in the first over in the IPL three times since 2020 – Abhishek Sharma (in picture) and Rahul Tripathi were his latest victims•BCCI”I said, ‘Come on boys, you need to go to sleep. Daddy’s got a big game today. I’m playing against one of the best batters in the world.’ My oldest son said, ‘Are you going to get him out?’ I said, ‘Probably not’ – and I actually managed to! I couldn’t believe it.”I don’t really remember too many of my wickets in terms of who, when and where, but I remember my debut IPL wicket was Mahendra Singh Dhoni and he absolutely melted one to cover in the 17th [20th] over at Chepauk Stadium. The crowd went silent as well, but that wicket there [Kohli’s] was probably equal to a silence of a ground that I’ve ever heard as well.”The adulation that both men – Dhoni and Kohli – receive in India is staggering, but overseas players are also conspicuous compared to back home. Boult can walk down the road in Mount Maunganui without much attention, but in India, he is the centre of attention when he steps outside of the team hotel.”When the IPL was in a bubble, the best part about it was that you were locked into one area,” he says. “It was a lot easier – the logistics were a lot easier – but to have it back around the country playing at different grounds in front of big crowds, it’s what the IPL’s all about.”But the home-and-away format does have its challenges, particularly when travelling with a young family. Coincidentally, two days before our conversation, we were on a flight from Mumbai to Jaipur together; Boult was asked for selfies and autographs throughout the journey, even when unfolding a pushchair on the tarmac.”And [carrying] a nappy bag, and everything else!” he interjects. “It can get a bit much. The travel days are pretty tricky with three little boys running around with you, but it just shows the craziness of cricket over in this country; the culture, that everyone follows it, everyone loves it.”They just want a piece of all cricketers. But no, it’s good fun. I’ve been so lucky: it’s probably my ninth year, I reckon, at the IPL…”I’ve been bloody lucky to get the opportunities that I have.”

Also: what is the lowest run-aggregate for a completed first-class match?

Steven Lynch06-Apr-2021 There were 651 runs in the final ODI at Pune. Was this a record for a match without an individual hundred? asked Ray Penson from South Africa
The highest score in that exciting one-day international in Pune last week was Sam Curran’s unbeaten 95. There has been only one ODI that produced more runs but no individual centuries: in Port Elizabeth in 2001-02, Australia (330 for 7) beat South Africa (326 for 3) in a match that produced 656 runs but a highest individual score of 92, by Ricky Ponting. There have been 23 other ODIs with a total of 600 or more runs, but no centuries.Curran’s score equalled the highest by a No. 8 in one-day internationals, set by Chris Woakes for England against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge in 2015.Both Tests in the recent West Indies vs Sri Lanka series were drawn – when was the last 0-0 draw in a Test series? asked Rishi Ramaswamy from the United States
It has been nearly six years since all the Tests in a series have been drawn – in the rather soggy two-match encounter between Bangladesh and South Africa in Bangladesh in 2015. The last three-Test series to comprise three draws involved New Zealand and England, in 2012-13.In all there have now been 40 Test series which ended up 0-0. That includes 17 of two Tests, 17 of three, and two of four matches. There have even been four five-Test series in which all five games ended in draws: India vs Pakistan in 1954-55, Pakistan vs India in 1960-61, India vs England in 1963-64, and West Indies vs New Zealand in 1971-72.Seven different England bowlers took wickets in India’s innings in the last of the recent one-day internationals – was this a record? asked Alan White from England
You’re right that seven England bowlers claimed wickets in the third ODI in Pune last week: Mark Wood took three and Adil Rashid two, while Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Ben Stokes and Reece Topley had one each.This actually equals the record for an ODI innings: there have been four previous instances of seven wicket-takers, by New Zealand against India in Auckland in 1975-76, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka in Dunedin in 1990-91, Netherlands vs Bermuda in Rotterdam in 2007, and Australia vs Scotland in Edinburgh in 2009.The 1878 Australian team that skittled MCC for 33 and 19. Fred Spofforth (seated, extreme left) took 6 for four in the first innings, Harry Boyle (seated, extreme right) 6 for 3 in the second.•The Cricketer InternationalWhat is the lowest run-aggregate for a completed first-class match? asked SM Nazmus Shakib from Bangladesh
The fewest runs in a first-class game is 85, in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match between Quetta (41 all out) and Rawalpindi (44 for 1) in Islamabad in 2008-09: it was all over in 20.1 overs. There were unusual circumstances: bad weather had prevented any play on the first two days, and both sides forfeited their first innings.The lowest for a game in which all four innings were played is 105 runs, in the match between MCC (33 and 19) and the touring Australians (41 in 66.2 four-ball overs, and 12 for 1) at Lord’s in 1878. It was all over in one day – Fred “The Demon” Spofforth took 6 for 4 in MCC’s first innings, and Harry Boyle 6 for 3 in the second. WG Grace was out second ball in the first innings, for four, and made a duck in the second.”One of the most remarkable matches ever played at Lord’s was commenced at three minutes past 12, and concluded at 20 minutes past six the same day,” said Wisden, which went on to report that at the end, “a stream of at least one thousand men rushed frantically up to the pavilion, where they clustered, and lustily shouted ‘Well done Australia’, ‘Bravo Spofforth’, ‘Boyle, Boyle’ &c, &c; the members of the MCC keenly joining in the applause of that ‘maddened crowd’, who shouted themselves hoarse before they left to scatter far and wide that evening the news, how in one day the Australians had so easily defeated one of the strongest MCC elevens that had ever played for the famous old club.”How often has a first-class hat-trick involved three catches, all by the same fieldsman – not a wicketkeeper – which just happened in a match in Dunedin? asked Russell Smith from New Zealand
The instance you’re talking about was achieved by Otago’s Dale Phillips, off the bowling of seamer Michael Rae, in the Plunket Shield match against Central Districts at Dunedin’s University Oval last week. Phillips, the brother of the New Zealand Test player Glenn, was fielding at short leg.There had been four previous hat-tricks in first-class cricket involving the same fielder. The first was by George Thompson off the bowling of Sydney Smith for Northamptonshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1914, and they were followed by Cyril White (off Raymond Beesly) for Border vs Griqualand West in Queenstown in South Africa in 1946-47. More recently, Ali Waqas caught three in a row off Samiullah Khan for Sui Northern Gas in Peshawar in 2014-15, and Marcus Trescothick took three in a row off Craig Overton for Somerset against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 2018.There have also been five wicketkeeping hat-tricks, all of them caught, apart from Sam Brain’s three successive stumpings off Charles Townsend for Gloucestershire against Somerset at Cheltenham in 1893.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

It looks as though chairman Andrew Cavenagh was fully invested in hiring Danny Rohl as Rangers’ next manager when everyone thought Kevin Muscat would take charge at Ibrox.

Rangers make Rohl their new manager

Things have moved quickly over the past 24 hours or so, with Muscat’s talks with the Gers falling through when it looked as though he was the front-runner to come in as Russell Martin’s successor at Ibrox.

Rohl has been confirmed as Rangers’ next boss instead, with the German most recently in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, and once enjoying a coaching spell at Bayern Munich, working under legendary boss Hansi Flick.

The 36-year-old has constantly been mentioned as one of the favourites to take charge of the Gers, alongside Muscat and Steven Gerrard, with the latter another who decided not to take the job and enjoy a second stint at Ibrox.

After a dire start to the Scottish Premiership season, Rangers fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Rohl is the right choice, and it looks as though he may have been the leading option for the Scottish giants all along, following a fresh claim.

Cavenagh held secret talks with Rohl during Muscat saga

According to reports, Cavenagh held talks with Rohl last week about becoming Rangers’ next manager, amid constant claims suggesting Muscat would be the man to come in. They did then back away from the discussions when the Australian became the leading target again, prior to his move collapsing.

Only time will tell whether the former Wednesday boss is the right choice for the Gers, but there is plenty to like about him from the off, as he likely prepares to take charge of his first game away to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

At just 36 years of age, he represents a young and long-term option for Rangers, rather than going with the safer bet of an older manager who knows about getting teams out of trouble rather than adopting an attractive playing style.

As mentioned, Rohl excelled at Wednesday, coming in when the Owls looked destined for relegation from the Championship in October 2023, only to turn their fortunes around and finish the 2023/24 campaign in 20th place.

Rohl won't like him: Rangers must drop Ibrox star with "big potential"

It’s unlikely Smith will persist with this Rangers underperformer.

Oct 20, 2025

Interestingly, it does look as though Muscat’s arrival at Rangers was never as concrete as reported by some, hence Cavenagh’s talks with Rohl last week, and hopefully, the German ends up being an inspired choice who gradually brings the glory days back to Ibrox as the months and years pass.

MatériaMais Notícias

A entrevista coletiva de Pedrinho, presidente do Vasco, foi satisfatória e esclareceu a maioria das pontas que estavam soltas. No entanto, poucos questionamentos ainda ficaram em aberto, seja por confienciabilidade, seja pela pergunta não ter sido feita.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoSAF do Vasco: 777 Partners lamenta posição ‘beliciosa’ e ataques públicos da associaçãoVasco16/05/2024VascoFelipe Carregal diz que Josh Wander faltou 1ª reunião por causa de consulta médicaVasco16/05/2024VascoPedrinho chora e diz: “Nunca foi minha intenção dominar o futebol”; veja vídeoVasco16/05/2024

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

Por isso, a reportagem do Lance! apurou e preparou um FAQ para o torcedor do Vasco para sanar alguns destes questionamentos. Vale destacar que a matéria será atualizada sempre que nas dúvidas surgirem e forem respondidas.

1) QUANTO TEMPO EM MÉDIA DEMORA ESTE TIPO DE AÇÃO?
R: Em média um ano e um ano e meio.

2) A 777 PARTNERS É OBRIGADA A FAZER O APORTE EM SETEMBRO?
R: Assunto não pode ser aprofundado.

2) A 777 PARTNERS, SE QUISER, PODE FAZER O APORTE EM JUÍZO OU NA CONTA DA SAF?
R: Isso será decidido pelo Tribunal Arbitral.

4) QUANDO SERÁ FEITO O TRIBUNAL ARBITRAL?
R: Será instaurado em até 30 dias.

5) SE A 777 PARTNERS NÃO FAZER O APORTE, O CONTRATO PODE SER RESCINDIDO?
R: Questão a ser discutida futuramente. O Vasco pode alegar que sim e a 777 Partners dizer que não.

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Arsenal have held initial talks with the representatives of a budding midfield talent after his rapid rise, according to a new report.

Arsenal look to bounce back against bottom-side Wolves

Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday evening against bottom-side Wolves at the Emirates Stadium in a classic David vs Goliath encounter.

The Gunners saw their advantage at the summit trimmed to just two points following last weekend’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, where Emi Buendia’s last-gasp strike ended their 18-match unbeaten run.

Man City’s victory over Sunderland has intensified the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side, though Saturday’s late kick-off offers an opportunity to extend the gap to five points before City face Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Arsenal responded impressively to that Villa disappointment with a commanding 3-0 Champions League triumph at Club Brugge on Wednesday evening.

Noni Madueke put in a sensational performance, scoring twice, including a stunning 25-yard strike, while Gabriel Martinelli added another beauty to maintain their perfect European record.

Arteta says "really special" Arsenal star has been so good in training lately

The Spaniard is thrilled with him.

ByEmilio Galantini 3 days ago

The victory all but secured automatic qualification for the knockout stages as one of the seeded teams, but Wolves present an entirely different challenge.

Arriving in north London still searching for their first victory of the campaign, Rob Edwards’ side remain rooted to the foot of the table with just two points from 15 games, sitting an alarming 13 points from safety.

Their Monday night 4-1 home humiliation against Man United extended Wolves’ losing streak to eight consecutive defeats, matching their worst run in Premier League history.

Only QPR in 2012/13 and Sheffield United in 2020/21 have endured longer winless starts to a Premier League season than Wolves’ current nightmare.

Their two points also represent a joint-low after 15 games in top-flight history, highlighting the severity of their catastrophic start.

Arsenal boast an intimidating record against Wolves, winning eight consecutive meetings with an aggregate scoreline of 17-3. The north Londoners remarkably haven’t failed to score against them since February 1979, a remarkable 35-match run, so Edwards’ men are certainly the underdogs heading into this one.

Away from the pitch, sporting director Andrea Berta is continuing his mission to identify top talent for Arteta.

Reports this week suggest that Arsenal have held talks with Yan Diomande’s entourage ahead of a potential move for the teenage RB Leipzig winger, and now the same can be said of Polish sensation Oskar Pietuszewski.

Arsenal hold talks with Oskar Pietuszewski's camp

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that Arsenal have held discussions with the representatives of Pietuszewski, even if City threaten to hijack their pursuit of the 17-year-old starlet.

Berta dispatched senior Arsenal scouts to Poland on multiple occasions to watch the Jagiellonia Białystok talent in action this season, alongside Chelsea and City, with all three Premier League giants ‘hugely impressed’ by the teenager’s performances.

Arsenal have engaged in preliminary talks with Pietuszewski’s camp as they assess whether to launch a formal bid for one of Poland’s ‘most complete teenage talents in years’.

However, City have intensified their interest by sending their head of emerging talent to Poland, holding their own discussions with Pietuszewski.

Their aggressive approach appears to have positioned them ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea in the three-way battle, but that doesn’t mean Berta should give up.

Pietuszewski has dazzled in the Polish first tier this season, bagging three goals and two assists across 16 appearances, and according to Transfermarkt, he’s now the Ekstraklasa’s ‘most valuable player’ by transfer value.

Primarily deployed as a left-winger, the versatile youngster can operate as a holding midfielder or anywhere across the forward line.

Arsenal have been informed they must pay a minimum of £13m to secure Pietuszewski’s signature, a figure that could rise with performance bonuses and shatter Jagiellonia’s outgoing transfer record.

Born in Białystok, Pietuszewski rose through Jagiellonia’s academy before breaking into the senior squad last season.

His international breakthrough came with four goals in six caps for Poland’s Under-21 side, underlining his rapid ascent.

While open to a Premier League move, Pietuszewski wants first-team minutes. European rivals including Ajax, PSV, Lille, Bologna and Barcelona have also scouted him, so the player could have a long list of suitors knocking at the door very soon.

Chelsea striker Liam Delap sung the praises of a Stamford Bridge teenager after the 3-0 rout of Barcelona, describing him as “so raw” but “so exciting”.

Blues breeze to victory against Barcelona in the Champions League

The Blues made a major statement by defeating Barca 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, leaving goalkeeper Robert Sanchez optimistic they can go all the way and win Europe’s elite competition for the third time.

Delap scored his first goal since making the move to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich Town in the summer, capping off what was a fantastic all-round display against the reigning La Liga champions, and the centre-forward was left impressed by how they executed the game plan.

The Englishman could be in line for a start on Sunday, courtesy of scoring after replacing Alejandro Garnacho in the second half, potentially alongside Estevao, who bagged the second goal in the 3-0 victory.

Indeed, the 11-cap Brazil international once again caught the eye, also creating one big chance, making three key passes and completing two successful dribbles.

Speaking after the game, Delap took the time to praise his teammate, who has now established himself as a key player for the Blues.

Estevao draws Messi comparisons after remarkable solo goal

It would be fair to say Enzo Maresca was also left very impressed with the Brazilian’s performance, taking the time to praise his fantastic solo goal, saying: “The goal Estevao scored reminded me of the one [Lionel Messi] scored against us in the Club World Cup. It’s very similar, the same action.”

With Sanchez of the belief Chelsea are the favourites to win the Champions League this season, the 18-year-old could be key to their success, having already scored three goals in the competition, which is more than any of his teammates.

Not only has the starlet been impressing at club level, but he has also continued to impress for Brazil, having scored four goals in his last four matches, which bodes well for the Seleção Canarinho as we edge closer to the 2026 World Cup.

Chelsea have already signed another exciting star who's "just like Estevao"

Chelsea have already signed another youngster who could become another Estevao for Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 26, 2025

Perhaps Chelsea’s toughest game so far this season is penciled in for this weekend, as they take on Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, but if Estevao is firing on all cylinders, Maresca’s side certainly stand a chance of defeating their London rivals and closing the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just three points.

The New York Yankees saw superstar outfielder Juan Soto depart for the New York Mets in free agency, but owner Hal Steinbrenner doesn't think the team is worse off without him.

In fact, speaking on the YES Network with Meredith Marakovits, Steinbrenner boldly indicated that he thinks the team's roster heading into the 2025 season trumps the 2024 squad.

"We're excited about them. A lot of hard work, a lot of hard work in December and January. Some people may disagree with me, but I think we have a better team right now than we did a year ago today," Steinbrenner said on Tuesday.

"I think our starting rotation is better. I think our defense is better. And I think that [Cody] Bellinger and [Paul] Goldschmidt are gonna make up for a good deal of Juan's offense, his bat," he said.

It's certainly an audacious claim from Steinbrenner. The team lost Soto and his outstanding production that included 41 home runs and a .989 OPS. But they did make some quality additions, splurging on a long-term deal for left-hander Max Fried in free agency and also signing Goldschmidt. Additionally, the team made multiple trades to add players such as Bellinger, Devin Williams and Fernando Cruz.

Only time will tell if the team is truly in a better situation than they were with Soto hitting behind Judge in the lineup. The 2024 team made a run to the World Series, but were unable to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers certainly improved upon an already elite roster this offseason, as owner Todd Boehly has proven to be willing to spend whatever it takes in order to sign quality players. Steinbrenner is less willing in that regard, thus far unwilling to match the spending heights of Boehly and Mets owner Steve Cohen. Still, he's satisfied with the work that's been done this offseason, and suggested that the 2025 Yankees could be just as good, if not better than last year's group.

كشف إبراهيم حسن مدير منتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم، عن وصول باقي أفراد الجهاز وعدد من اللاعبين المختارين لمعسكر نوفمبر قادمين من القاهرة، إلى الإمارات وتحديدًا مدينة العين في السابعة مساء غدًا الأحد. 

يذكر أن معسكر منتخب مصر في الإمارات سينطلق  في الفترة ما بين 10 إلى 18 نوفمبر الجاري، ويأتي في إطار استعدادات المنتخب للمشاركة في بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025.

طالع.. قائمة منتخب مصر لمعسكر نوفمبر.. عودة نجم الزمالك

ويشهد المعسكر الذي سينطلق في نوفمبر الجاري، مواجهة ودية ستجمع بين منتخب مصر مع منتخب أوزبكستان يوم 14 من نوفمبر الجاري على ملعب هزاع بن زايد.

 كما أكد إبراهيم حسن، أن اللاعبين المختارون من فرق الأهلي والزمالك وبيراميدز وسيراميكا كليوباترا سيلتحقون بالمعسكر يوم 10 نوفمبر بمدينة العين بالإمارات عقب انتهاء مباراتي السوبر.

وتابع إبراهيم حسن أن الفريق سيبدأ تدريباته يوم 10 نوفمبر استعدادًا لودية أوزبكستان، على أن يواجه الفائز منهما المنتصر من مباراة كاب فيردي وإيران.

Serie A outfit Fiorentina are set to part ways with Italian head coach Stefano Pioli after their defeat to Lecce. The Viola are currently navigating profiles who could be potential replacements for Pioli and are assessing the financial impact of removing their head coach.

• What led to Fiorentina's decision?

  Medon Berisha scored the only goal of the match in the 23rd minute as Fiorentina went down to Lecce in the Serie A. This was their third loss in the last five games, and apart from Lecce, they also faced defeat at the hands of Inter and Milan, while securing a 2-2 draw against 10-man Bologna. The latest defeat is believed to be the root cause behind the potential sacking of Pioli, who joined the club this summer after a stint in Asia with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr. Notably, the Viola, after 10 games in the domestic league, are yet to register a victory, losing six games and drawing the other four. Despite possessing players like Edin Dzeko and Italy international Moise Kean up front, they have struggled for goals.

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  Fiorentina board exploring options

  According to a report by TuttoMercatoWeb, the administrators are currently working on settling the financial aspect of the deal, which will be paid as compensation to Pioli. The former Al Nassr supremo was signed on a three-year contract with a salary of over €3 million net per season. The decision-makers, technical director Roberto Goretti and general manager Alessandro Ferrari, are looking for new options, with Paolo Vanoli emerging as a top candidate to take over the reins. However, Fiorentina might also make a shocking move by appointing the youth coach Daniele Galloppa as an interim solution. 

• Is Pioli ready to step down?

  A twist in the tale, or the most recent development, is that Pioli had a long call with the Fiorentina board. At the same time, he has communicated his decision not to step down. According to Football Italia, the coach is ready to make adjustments in his existing contract; however, he is not ready to  resign. He has been in charge of Fiorentina for 114 days, managing them in 14 matches. While he has won four games, the fact that his side are yet to record a victory in Serie A has left trigger fingers in the boardroom rather itchy. 

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  What comes next for Fiorentina?

  Whether Pioli would be forcefully sacked in the upcoming days is a matter for the future. Fiorentina now have two important fixtures before the November international break commences. On Thursday, they will face German side Mainz in the Conference League, and three days later, they will lock horns with bottom-placed Genoa in a vital clash. The positive so far about Pioli is that his side has won both their Conference League games, and successive wins against Mainz and Genoa might offer him a cooling period before club football resumes in late November, where they'll have to face Juventus and Atalanta in the league and AEK Athens in the continental competition. If they record two wins this week, it would mark the first time that Pioli has managed the side to successive victories. 

Everton have made a noticeable step forward in the early stages of the 2025/26 season.

Under David Moyes, the team has shown more cohesion, tempo, and tactical clarity than in recent campaigns.

They currently sit eighth in the Premier League with three wins and eleven points, having also picked up victories against Wolves and Brighton, while suffering narrow defeats to Leeds and Liverpool.

The improvement is clear, yet one area that remains a concern is Everton’s attacking output.

Despite the team showing better structure, their forwards have struggled to consistently convert opportunities into goals.

Moyes’ side has been effective in linking midfield to attack, but the finishing touch has often been missing.

This leaves room for a player capable of creating, unlocking defences, and elevating teammates to make a difference in front of goal.

The spotlight has primarily fallen on Thierno Barry and Beto, Everton’s two principal options at the No. 9 position.

Both have their strengths, but neither has yet stamped themselves as the first-choice striker capable of leading the line consistently.

That is where one of Everton’s best players comes into the conversation, ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Manchester City.

Beto and Barry's continued struggles at Everton

Barry, the French U21 international, arrived at Everton in the summer for £27.6m from Villarreal, bringing a profile similar to that of Dušan Vlahović or Ollie Watkins, as noted by FBref.

At 6ft 5in, he possesses a commanding aerial presence, winning nearly two-thirds of the duels contested in the penalty area last season and ranking in the 87th percentile for aerials won (3.84 per 90).

Barry is also adept at carrying the ball forward and stretching defensive lines, ranking in the 74th percentile for progressive carries (1.70 per 90) and the 62nd percentile for successful take-ons (0.77 per 90).

Despite these promising metrics, Barry has yet to make a significant impact in the Premier League.

Against Crystal Palace, for instance, he played 19 touches, completing only four of eight passes, registering no shots, and losing possession ten times, as per Sofascore.

While Moyes has cautioned that Barry needs time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, the sense remains that Everton require more immediate returns from their striking options.

Beto, meanwhile, is alternating with Barry in the forward role, showing glimpses of promise but failing to assert himself as the consistent focal point of attack.

Everton’s system demands a striker who can both finish and facilitate; however, both Barry and Beto have, at times, been inconsistent in contributing the decisive final action.

The rotation between them means neither has yet fully settled, and the team’s attacking rhythm has suffered as a result.

This scenario highlights the need for a complementary presence in midfield or wide areas, someone capable of linking play and providing the incisive passes that could allow Barry or Beto to flourish.

How Moyes can get Beto & Barry firing

Illiman Ndiaye, the 25-year-old French midfielder signed from Marseille, has the potential to be that catalyst.

His skill set is ideally suited to Everton’s current configuration: he can operate from the right wing or as a No. 10, carrying the ball, creating overloads, and providing decisive passes into the penalty area.

Ndiaye has already shown glimpses of his technical ability, composure under pressure, and intelligent movement.

He excels in transitioning defence to attack and ranks highly in progressive carries, progressive passes, and successful take-ons per 90 minutes.

His ability to break lines, maintain possession under pressure, and combine effectively with creative teammates could provide the service both Barry and Beto have been missing.

Matches Played

7

Goals

3

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

16

Progressive Passes

10

Described by Ben Mattinson as a “creator of chaos,” One of Ndiaye’s defining qualities is versatility.

Moyes has recently deployed him on the right flank, where he can drift inside to create space for overlapping full-backs, although he should be shifted into the No. 10 role, orchestrating attacks behind whichever striker starts.

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Putting greater onus on his talents in a central role is crucial, particularly with Jack Grealish unavailable for Everton’s upcoming trip to the Etihad.

In his absence, Ndiaye can offer the creative spark necessary to maintain attacking fluidity, with the likes of Dwight McNeil or Tyler Dibling able to vie for Grealish’s vacant berth down the left.

Beyond statistics, Ndiaye brings energy and tactical intelligence, allowing Everton to press effectively and recover possession quickly, maintaining the high-intensity style Moyes demands.

His combination of technical ability and physical dynamism ensures that he can influence games even when the forwards are struggling for confidence.

For Moyes, integrating Ndiaye successfully could address Everton’s ongoing attacking inconsistencies.

If the Frenchman can link up effectively with Barry or Beto, it could unlock the finishing threat that has so far been sporadic.

Ndiaye’s ability to combine creativity, energy, and positional intelligence may prove the difference in converting strong performances into consistent wins.

Moyes can finally ditch Beto & Barry for Everton's "prolific" 19-year-old

Barry and Beto battle for Everton’s No.9 role, but 19-year-old could be the long-term solution

ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025