2025 Season

Mohamed Diomande Reveals ‘Biggest Challenge’ Ahead as Rangers Aim for Historic Three-in-a-Row Against Celtic

May 4, 2025 RAYMOND 0

Rangers’ hopes for a turnaround next season hinge on players like Mohamed Diomande stepping up. Signed for £4.3m, the Ivorian midfielder has shown growth but still struggles with consistency. While his tally of 14 goals and assists from open play is respectable, Diomande needs to start dominating games like the manager he plays under once did.

As the season nears its end, Diomande is keenly aware that personal development is irrelevant without wins. “We’ve struggled to create chances against defensive teams,” he admitted, acknowledging Rangers’ biggest issue this season has been failing to break down teams outside the Old Firm. With only four games left, Diomande is focused on finishing strong but already setting his sights on next season.

His performance has improved since a midseason benching, and his work rate and intensity make him one of the team’s most valuable assets. If Diomande can continue his upward trajectory and achieve numbers similar to Joe Aribo’s—double digits for goals and assists—Rangers could find themselves in a much stronger position next year.

Veteran Hawk Defies Time: A Stunning Comeback in 2025

May 1, 2025 RAYMOND 0

Jack Gunston is defying the odds in the twilight of his career, proving that even with age, a champion can still shine. At 33, the veteran forward has been in sensational form for Hawthorn, putting together a career-best start to the 2025 season. Despite the Hawks’ forward line struggling in the absence of key players like Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear, Gunston has stepped up as a focal point of attack, contributing 17 goals in just five games and climbing to equal seventh on the Coleman Medal leaderboard.

His standout performance came in Hawthorn’s dominant 50-point victory over the Eagles at Marvel Stadium, where he kicked four goals and made 12 score involvements. This success follows a surprising journey: after being delisted at the end of 2024, Gunston was reselected in the Pre-Season Draft and recalled to the senior side after missing the first two rounds. Since then, he has not only provided crucial goals but also mentored the team’s younger stars like Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan.

Gunston’s remarkable resurgence highlights that you can’t write off seasoned players, even in the later stages of their careers. With his 500th career goal now within reach, he remains a critical piece of Hawthorn’s forward line, helping the team find its rhythm as they move forward in the 2025 season.

Mark Robins’ Bold Half-Time Move Sparks Speculation as Stoke City Enter Season’s Crucial Final Stretch

April 14, 2025 RAYMOND 0

In a tense encounter at Cardiff, Mark Robins made a decisive half-time substitution, swapping Ali Al-Hamadi for Sam Gallagher to ensure Stoke City maintained a full squad on the pitch. Al-Hamadi, who had returned to the starting line-up after a two-week recovery from a hip injury, was involved in creating an early chance for Lewis Baker. However, his yellow card for a foul in first-half stoppage time, following an earlier warning, led Robins to act swiftly.

Robins explained after the match that the decision was a tactical one, aimed at keeping Stoke’s momentum intact without risking another booking. “Ali had run about, but I just felt he was a little bit hot-headed,” Robins said. “I couldn’t risk them throwing themselves to the ground and the referee… it was all on edge.” The move proved crucial, as Gallagher came on and helped Stoke secure a vital 1-0 victory, stretching their lead over Cardiff to five points with just four games remaining in the Championship season.