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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has confirmed that winger Oliver Antman is expected to be out of action for around eight weeks after he suffered a muscle injury in recent days.

The Finland international, signed from Go Ahead Eagles in the summer, started on the right wing against Falkirk on Sunday, and is now set to be out until 2026.

Antman is not the only Rangers player who will be unavailable during the festive period, though, as a couple of players are set to go to the African Cup of Nations with their respective countries.

Rohl is expecting Nasser Djiga and Mohamed Diomande to be unavailable whilst they play in the tournament, which means that there will be several positions that will need to be filled in the coming games.

With these absences, on top of the likes of Mikey Moore, Derek Cornelius, and John Souttar being out with injuries, some of the lesser-seen members of the squad may need to step up.

As unpopular as it may be, Kieran Dowell is one of the players who could step up and benefit from the lack of options available to the manager before the January window opens.

Why Danny Rohl should give Kieran Dowell a chance

After being subbed on in a 1-1 draw with Dundee under Russell Martin, a section of the Gers support, but not all of them, booed the English attacking midfielder’s introduction to the game.

Commenting on the incident, Martin said: “That surprised me. I’m not on any social media or anything like that, so I don’t really know what the narrative is around Kieran. I don’t think it helps him, I don’t think it helps the rest of the guys. That’s how I feel about it really.”

Dowell has not played a league match since that draw with Dundee in August, due to injury, but he recently played for the club’s U19s alongside Dujon Sterling and Clinton Nsiala as he looks to return to full fitness.

Given the reaction to his last league outing for Rangers, playing the left-footed midfielder may not go down as a popular decision with some fans, but the Gers look set to be in a position where it could be needs-must with the players due to be unavailable.

It is also worth remembering that Dowell, as shown in the table above, shone out on loan at Birmingham City in League One in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he is capable of being productive in the right environment.

Unfortunately, as evidenced by a return of two goals and three assists in 38 appearances for the club, the Englishman has not found that environment at Ibrox yet.

Since joining on a free transfer from Norwich City in 2023, the 28-year-old flop has not established himself as a key player for the Light Blues, but the injury and international call-up situation could provide him with an opportunity to finally do so under Rohl.

Chalkboard

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

One of the other reasons why Dowell could end up with a chance to revive his Gers career is that Thelo Aasgaard currently looks like an even worse signing for the Scottish giants.

Why Aasgaard makes Dowell look good for Rangers

The Gers did not have to pay a transfer fee to bring the former Everton and Norwich star to Ibrox in 2023, as his contract at Carrow Road expired, but that was not the case with Aasgaard.

Rangers reportedly splashed out a fee of £3.5m to sign the Norway international from Luton Town in the recent summer transfer window, which shows that the club had to spend significantly more money to bring him in than they did with Dowell.

Unfortunately, the Liverpool-born playmaker has not shown enough on the pitch to suggest that he was worth paying £3.5m for, as he has made Dowell look like a good player by comparison.

Aasgaard has as many red cards (one) as goals (one) for Rangers in all competitions so far this season, per Transfermarkt, with one goal and one assist in 21 appearances for Rangers.

Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar recently posted that he “would gladly never see him again”, referring to Aasgaard, and described him as a “passenger” at the end of November.

It is, unfortunately, hard to argue with the harsh criticism of the Norwegian attacking midfielder, because his performances at Scottish Premiership level make him look even less effective than Dowell.

As you can see in the table above, Aasgaard has already started as many games in the Premiership as the former Norwich man, yet has created 11 fewer chances and has yet to create a single ‘big chance’.

Dowell’s Rangers career has not been good enough to this point, as evidenced by his aforementioned goal contributions, but he also arrived on a free transfer and his creative output looks good in comparison to the club’s £3.5m signing.

That is not to say that the left-footed star should be considered a good signing or that he is the answer to Rohl’s current problems at the top end of the pitch, but it does suggest that those who jeered his introduction against Dundee earlier this season were too harsh on him.

As well as highlighting that maybe Dowell was not as bad a signing as has been made out, this also highlights how underwhelming Aasgaard has been for a player who was signed for £3.5m.

Rohl can unearth his own Igamane by unleashing Rangers star in new position

Danny Rohl could unearth his own Hamza Igamane by playing this Rangers star in a new role this season.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 2, 2025

The caveat, of course, is that the Norway international only joined in the summer and still has plenty of time left ahead of him to turn things around and prove people wrong, but the signs so far have not been encouraging.

AC Milan have identified Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker as their primary transfer target to replace the departing Mike Maignan, with the Serie A giants preparing a sensational swoop for the Brazilian shot-stopper as Chelsea ramp up their pursuit of the French international amid growing uncertainty over his long-term future at the San Siro.

• Milan identify Maignan replacement

  The goalkeeper merry-go-round for the summer of 2026 appears to be spinning into motion earlier than expected, with major developments in Italy potentially triggering a domino effect that could end Alisson’s illustrious eight-year spell at Anfield.

  According to reports from in Switzerland, AC Milan have resigned themselves to losing their star goalkeeper Maignan when his contract expires at the end of the season and have wasted no time in pinpointing his successor. The Rossoneri hierarchy, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Geoffrey Moncada, have reportedly set their sights firmly on Liverpool’s No.1, viewing the 33-year-old Brazilian as the perfect candidate to maintain the club’s high standards between the sticks.

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  Milan's summer plans

  The report suggests that Milan are preparing for a scorching summer of transfer activity. With Maignan’s exit now viewed as an inevitability, the club are eager to make a big splash to reassure supporters that their ambitions remain undimmed.

  Alisson fits the profile perfectly. An experienced winner with Champions League and Premier League pedigree, he would arrive at the San Siro not as a readymade leader capable of commanding a defence that has occasionally looked fragile this season. Milan have reportedly already established contact with Alisson's representatives to sound out his interest in a return to Serie A, where he previously starred for Roma before his record-breaking move to Merseyside in 2018.

• The Mamardashvili factor

  From a Liverpool perspective, the timing of Milan’s interest may prove fortuitous. While Alisson remains one of the world’s best goalkeepers, the dynamic at Anfield has shifted significantly following the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

  The Georgian international, who was signed from Valencia in the summer of 2024 before officially joining Arne Slot’s squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, has already begun to exert pressure on the Brazilian. Mamardashvili has featured 10 times across all competitions this season, impressing with his shot-stopping ability and commanding presence.

  With Alisson’s contract running until 2027, Liverpool find themselves at a crossroads. The club’s data-driven ownership group, FSG, are notoriously pragmatic regarding player value retention. Selling Alisson next summer, when he will still command a respectable fee, rather than allowing him to run down his contract into his mid-30s, aligns with their traditional operating model. It would also clear the path for Mamardashvili to assume the mantle of undisputed No.1, completing the succession plan that was put in place 18 months ago.

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  Chelsea closing in on Maignan

  The catalyst for this entire chain of events, however, remains Maignan. The French goalkeeper, one of AC Milan’s most important players since their Scudetto triumph in 2022, has seen his relationship with the club’s hierarchy deteriorate over contract negotiations.

  According to reports, Maignan has repeatedly turned down extension offers. With his current deal set to expire, Milan are backed into a corner, knowing they must facilitate a move or risk losing a world-class asset.

  Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature. The Blues have been long-term admirers of the 30-year-old, having identified him as the elite upgrade they have been searching for since the departure of Thibaut Courtois years ago. Despite the heavy investment in Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, neither has truly convinced the Stamford Bridge faithful that they are capable of anchoring a title-winning side.

  Chelsea’s hierarchy are reportedly planning fresh talks with Maignan’s camp to finalise a move, potentially as early as January when he will be able to negotiate with other clubs, to ward off interest from other clubs. 

Mike Yastrzemski made a "catch of the year" quality snag in Wednesday's Giants game vs. the Pirates. About 24 hours later, the outfielder was dealt by the Giants to the Royals right at the buzzer for the MLB trade deadline on Thursday, league insider Mark Feinsand reported.

Yastrzemski will be a good addition for Kansas City, especially with his glove. The Royals are trying to stay alive in the playoff race with a 54–55 record, while the Giants also currently hold the same record.

Adding an outfielder was one of the Royals' biggest needs when approaching the trade deadline. The team was looking for a player with experience to help conduct some outs and provide some strong hitting, too. The Royals hope the veteran Yastrzemski will be the answer they were looking for.

The outfielder has spent his entire career with the Giants since his debut in 2019. Through 96 games for the Giants this season, Yastrzemski is averaging .231/.330/.255 with 74 hits, 38 runs, 28 RBIs and eight home runs.

Archer is set to return to action in the league after having recovered from multiple injuries

Firdose Moonda08-Jan-2023Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
The biggest buy at the auction, with a price tag of R9.2 million (USD 520,000), Stubbs will be keen to show his worth at his home base. He was picked up by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, based in Port Elizabeth, which is also where he began his professional career. He rose to prominence in the 2021-22 season, when he was the second-leading run-scorer in the CSA T20 Challenge, scoring 293 runs in seven innings, including three fifties, at a strike rate of 183.12. Almost two-thirds of his runs in that tournament came in boundaries. Stubbs was picked up by by Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2022, but only played two games and is expected to be much more of a feature in the SA20. He hits the ball cleanly, is quick between the wickets and is an asset on the field. We may even catch him bowling some offspin. Dewald Brevis (MI Cape Town)
The next big thing in South African cricket has already played in the IPL and the CPL and was a pre-auction pick for MI Cape Town for SA20. Brevis is a fearless hitter with a 360-degree game and has some big numbers to his name from a small sample of matches. After finishing as the leading run-scorer in the Under-19 World Cup early last year, he was contracted to Titans and has made an almost immediate impression. He smashed a 57-ball 162 for the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge in October and was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, boasting a strike rate of 176.75.Related

• Archer is MI Cape Town's wildcard signing

• How Brevis became baby AB

• SA20 auction: Tristan Stubbs the biggest buy

Jofra Archer (MI Cape Town)
Cape Town secured another big coup when they signed Jofra Archer as their wildcard. He is set to return to competitive cricket for the first time since March last year. Archer has been managing an elbow-injury and a lower-back stress fracture and has taken small steps to his comeback, starting with some matches with the England Lions. He has also been named in the England squad to play three ODIs against South Africa, which take place at the end of January, and the SA20 provides him with an ideal opportunity to find form ahead of the international fixtures and the IPL, where he has been retained by Mumbai Indians. At the SA20, Archer will join a pace attack that includes Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Odean Smith and Olly Stone, which makes them among the most formidable in the tournament.Ireland’s Josh Little has been in demand in franchise T20 cricket•Abu Dhabi T10Josh Little (Pretoria Capitals)
“Technically the second,” as the man himself put it, Irish player to play in a league with IPL association (after Eoin Morgan), Josh Little’s rise in 2022 has earned him the status of a T20 superstar. He was the second-leading bowler in T20Is last year with 39 T20 wickets at 18.92 and was the joint-second-leading bowler at The Hundred with 13 wickets at an average of 8.00. He has also been contracted to the Gujarat Titans at the IPL and will now play in the SA20 for Pretoria Capitals, with a brief stop in Zimbabwe for Ireland’s ODI series. Little is known for his ability to bowl at pace, exploit swing through the air and move the ball off the seam, which makes South Africa an ideal venue for him to display his talents. His fast-bowling team-mates include Anrich Nortje and Wayne Parnell which means Capitals would give Cape Town some tough competition in the pace stakes.Quinton de Kock (Durban’s Super Giants)
2022 was the leanest year of Quinton de Kock’s T20I career – in terms of average (25.30) – but he had a standout IPL, where he was the third-highest run-scorer overall. After his retirement from Test cricket in 2021, there are whispers over de Kock’s international future but South Africa could still get the best of him in the SA20. He has been put in charge of the Durban Super Giants despite a patchy run with international captaincy a few years ago. The good news for the Kingsmead-based side is that while de Kock seemed all at sea as a Test captain, his T20I form actually improved when he was leading South Africa. Between September 2019 and December 2020, he captained in 11 matches and scored 416 runs at 41.60, including three fifties, during the period.Donovan Ferreira (Joburg Super Kings)
Little-known Donovan Ferreira became one of the biggest buys of the auction when the Joburg Super Kings splashed out R5.5 (USD 320,000) million for him and you may be wondering what they saw. Ferreira has played 26 T20 matches in South Africa and was the sixth-highest run-scorer at the provincial T20 cup in the 2021-22 season with 152 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 153.33. He scored an 88-ball 98 for the Titans in a one-day cup match against North-West this summer and seems to have caught the eye of those with deep pockets. Plenty will be expected of him in this competition.Andile Phehlukwayo (Paarl Royals)
As one of the most notable names to be overlooked at the auction, Andile Phehlukwayo was given a lifeline by the Boland-based team, who signed him as their wild card, and have essentially offered him the chance to resurrect his T20 career. Phehluklwayo has fallen down the pecking order at international level, with Dwaine Pretorius and most recently Marco Jansen being preferred over him. Phehlukwayo had also missed out on selection of the last T20 World Cups. Known for his ability to bowl change-ups and his finishing skills with the bat, the SA20 is Phehlukwayo’s chance to remind the selectors of his all-round skills.

The most valuable player on a pitch is a striker, and nowadays, being a world-class centre-forward is more than just scoring goals.

Starting the press without the ball and linking up play are also two important attributes, but more often than not, a striker is judged by their goal to game ratio.

Currently, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane are viewed as some of the best strikers in world football.

The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 of the most iconic centre-forwards football has ever seen, factoring in longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their personal accolades and honours they have won.

20

Hristo Stoichkov

An all-rounded forward and the greatest Bulgarian player in history, Hristo Stoichkov kicks off the countdown.

The powerful left-footed striker was famously signed by Johan Cruyff at Barcelona when he was at the top of his game and made the Catalan giants even better.

Stoichkov won five La Liga titles at the Nou Camp and collected the Ballon d’Or in 1994 after picking up the 1994 World Cup Golden Boot.

19

Kenny Dalglish

Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish wasn’t just a goalscorer and could run games of a football as a centre-forward.

‘King Kenny’ starred in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring more than 200 goals and winning 24 trophies during an iconic career.

18

Gabriel Batistuta

Argentine powerhouse Gabriel Batistuta was a goalscoring machine in the 1990s for Fiorentina, outscoring every other Serie A player in that decade.

Named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list in 2004, Batistuta was known for his aerial ability and physical presence, but when he had the ball at his feet, he was an excellent dribbler and clinical in front of goal and had an unbelievable World Cup record.

17

Harry Kane

Harry Kane is one of the most clinical strikers around, and he’s been finding the back of the net on a regular basis for Tottenham, Bayern Munich and England since 2014.

In fact, Kane has scored 17 or more league goals in 12 successive seasons, and his goalscoring record is remarkable. Now England’s all-time top scorer, Kane may not have the trophies to match his individual brilliance, but he is more than just a goalscorer with an incredible passing range.

16

Karim Benzema

One of the most underrated strikers in recent times, Karim Benzema often hasn’t got the plaudits he’s deserved after starring at Real Madrid for 14 years.

Finally lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Benzema has won 33 honours during his career and scored more than 350 goals during his time at the Bernabeu.

Whether it be in the air or with the ball at his feet, the Frenchman was a nuisance for centre-backs and was often overshadowed by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

15

Jimmy Greaves

Part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup, Jimmy Greaves was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on six occasions in the 1960s and starred for Chelsea and Tottenham during his career.

A Spurs legend with two FA Cup triumphs, Greaves also won Serie A with AC Milan. He finished his career as the highest scorer in England’s first tier of football with 357 goals, highlighting how much of a prolific goalscorer he was.

14

Alan Shearer

The Premier League has been regarded as the best league in the world over time, so Alan Shearer, the divisions all-time top scorer, had to be in the list.

The Englishman netted 260 times in the English top flight for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, winning the title once.

Long range strikes, in the air or from the spot, Shearer could score any type of goal and came third in the 1996 Ballon d’Or.

13

Luis Suarez

Despite plenty of controversies during his career, Luis Suarez’s footballing ability at his peak for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona was incredible.

The Uruguayan has scored goals on a consistent basis for 20 years now and was named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalscorer in 2010, 2014 and 2016.

Suarez has proven he can score all across the world and his 2013/2014 season with Liverpool is arguably one of the best individual seasons the Premier League has ever seen.

12

Wayne Rooney

One of four English strikers on the list, Wayne Rooney is Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer and had every attribute an iconic centre-forward required. From physicality to pace and world-class technical ability, Rooney scored 253 times for the Red Devils and netted 53 times for England.

Dropping deeper in midfield throughout his career, Rooney was unstoppable in his prime as a striker, winning 16 major honours.

11

Josef Bican

Josef Bican represented both Austria and Czechoslovakia on the international stage and was one of the most prolific forwards during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Capable with finishing with ease with either foot, Bican scored more than 800 goals during his career despite making just over 600 appearances.

A ridiculous goal to game ratio, Bican has rightly gone down as a Slavia Prague legend.

Aaron Judge launched home run No. 50 on the season during Wednesday's game against the White Sox, and in doing so, he joined a select group of sluggers in MLB's history books.

2025 is now the fourth season of Judge's career in which he's hit 50 or more home runs. Only three other players in MLB history have ever done that: Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and the legendary Babe Ruth. The Yankees' star finds himself in the mix with some of the greatest sluggers of all time, and deservingly so.

Judge has hit 50 or more homers in three of the last four seasons, and achieved the feat for the first time back in 2017, his first full season in MLB.

He's now up to 365 homers for his career, having reached that milestone in just 1,140 games. Judge was the fastest player in MLB history to hit 350 home runs, needing just 1,088 games to do so, and he hasn't slowed down since checking off that achievement in July.

Judge, an AL MVP candidate, owns the American League record of 62 home runs in a single season, though it's possible Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, with whom Judge is competing for MVP, could dethrone that mark this year.

West Ham United have a proud history of developing and promoting some brilliant youngsters from their academy system.

The most recent one to really make his mark on the team and then be sold on for a massive fee was Declan Rice.

Freddie Potts looks like he could be the Hammers’ next homegrown superstar after his sensational Premier League displays before the international break.

However, while the club try their best to keep hold of their most promising talents, they aren’t always able to, and one youngster they may rue losing more than any other looks like he could be a bigger prospect than Potts and a future England star.

West Ham's next academy star

While Potts is the current academy product getting the attention and adulation from fans and pundits alike – justifiably so – he could soon be joined in the first team by another of Rush Green’s best: George Earthy.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Now, the 21-year-old has made four appearances for the first team and even scored a brilliant goal against Luton Town in the Premier League a couple of years ago, but due to loan moves and injury, those four appearances have amounted to only 36 minutes.

In other words, most fans aren’t really thinking about the youngster, and those that occasionally do aren’t sure what sort of player they’ll be getting when he returns from his hamstring injury.

Well, firstly, even though his primary position is attacking midfield, the Havering-born gem has and can play in several positions across the pitch.

Second, he’s as comfortable scoring goals as he is providing assists, and has a seriously impressive record from his time in the academy.

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists.

That comes out to 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.

Finally, while he’s not played much for the Hammers, he has gained a decent amount of first-team experience from his time on loan with Bristol City last season, where he was named Young Player of the Season.

In all, so long as he can remain fit, West Ham have another superb homegrown talent on their hands in Earthy, which should help make up for them losing another, arguably more promising talent last year.

The Academy gem West Ham will rue losing

One of the most exciting talents to come through West Ham’s academy in the last five years or so was undoubtedly Divin Mubama.

During his time in West London, the Englishman was utterly unstoppable for the junior sides, racking up a staggering tally of 40 goals and five assists for the u18s and then 18 goals and two assists for the u21s.

This brilliant output saw him get a chance with the first team, and over the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons, he made 18 senior appearances, totalling 431 minutes.

However, in August 2024, then Premier League champions Manchester City came knocking, and despite their best efforts to keep him, Julen Lopetegui and Co had to make do with a measly £1.2m as he joined the Citizens.

To nobody’s surprise, the goalscoring machine continued his fine form in the North West, and ended the 24/25 campaign with 16 goals and four assists in 14 appearances for City’s u21s.

Moreover, Pep Guardiola gave him two run-outsrun-outs in the first team, and on his debut in an FA Cup game against Salford, he scored his first senior goal for the club.

Coming into this season, it was crystal clear that the 21-year-old is too good to play in the youth sides, and so he was sent out on loan to Stoke City in the Championship, where he has done a reasonable enough job.

For example, even though it’s his first season of regular first-team football, the “powerful” strike, as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 15 appearances.

In addition to making his way in the club game, the Newham-born monster has also been in incredible form for England’s u21s.

In five caps, the game-changing marksman has already scored five goals and provided one assist.

Ultimately, it’s not West Ham’s fault, but if Mubama continues to develop in the way he has over the last year or so, they could really come to rue losing him.

West Ham given January greenlight to sign forward who Nuno called "unique"

The Hammers boss is a big fan.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 20, 2025

MLB just wrapped up the 2025 All-Star Game, which was held at Atlanta's Truist Park, home of the Braves. The National League emerged victorious courtesy of an enthralling Home Run Derby-style "swing-off" tiebreaker after the first nine innings of the game finished in a 6–6 deadlock.

Now that this year's All-Star Game has officially come and gone, fans will be turning their heads towards next year. We've got the information about where the game will be played in 2026 and even in '27, as well as some reports about what's in store for 2028.

Future MLB All-Star Game Locations

2026 MLB All-Star Game Location

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, home of the Phillies. The last time the Phillies hosted an All-Star Game was back in 1996, when they played at Veteran's Park. Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004, so '26 will be the first time this stadium welcomes a crowd for the Midsummer Classic.

In all, it will be the fifth time the Phillies have been MLB's All-Star host. They've previously done so in 1943, 1952, 1976 and 1996.

2027 MLB All-Star Game Location

After spending the 2026 All-Star break in Philadelphia, MLB will return to one of its most renowned playing grounds for the 2027 All-Star Game; Chicago's Wrigley Field. The Cubs' stadium is one of baseball's most recognizable landmarks, but it hasn't hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Almost four decades later, the event is coming back to the North Side of Chicago.

In total, the Cubs have hosted the All-Star Game three times, so 2027 will be their fourth. In addition to '90, the Cubs hosted it in 1947 and '62.

2028 MLB All-Star Game Location

No official decision has been made in regards to the location of the 2028 MLB All-Star Game, but reports indicate that Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, is the early front runner. Whether they're able to secure the Midsummer Classic in '28 remains to be seen, but it's looking optimistic for The Bay.