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Dodds |
Posted by: themaclad - 03-02-2025, 09:26 - Forum: Wycombe Wanderers
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Wycombe Wanderers have appointed Mike Dodds as their new head coach on a contract until the summer of 2028.
He replaces Matt Bloomfield who left Adams Park last month after two years in charge to become manager of Championship club Luton Town.
Dodds was assistant head coach at Sunderland, where he also had three spells as interim boss, winning four of his 18 games in charge.
"His track record in improving individual players [and] developing young talent was a key factor in our decision, as we believe this will be crucial to our long-term success," said a Wycombe statement.
"In addition, Mike shares our vision of building the club through innovation and data, ensuring that we continue to evolve and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape.
"He also strongly aligns with our commitment to the academy being an integral part of our future strategy, and we are confident that his leadership will help us further strengthen our pathway from youth to first-team football."
The Chairboys are second in League One following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Cambridge United, four points behind Birmingham City but five clear of Wrexham in third.
Dodds, 38, will take up his new role on Thursday.
Until then, the interim management team headed by Sam Grace, who have helped Wycombe take eight points from four games since Bloomfield's departure, will remain in charge.
The club have already signed defenders Sonny Bradley and Anders Hagelskjaer, midfielders Alex Lowry and Magnus Westergaard and winger James Berry during the transfer window, and brought back Caleb Taylor from West Bromwich Albion for a second loan spell.
But they will be anxious to hang on to top scorer Richard Kone, who has 19 goals this season, throughout Monday's deadline day.
On his departure from Sunderland, Dodds said: "I depart with a deep respect for their leadership and vision for the club's future.
"I've had the honour of working alongside some incredible people, including Alex Neil and Tony Mowbray, who were both fantastic mentors.
"The club is in a strong place and I have no doubts that Regis (Le Bris) will lead it to even greater successes alongside an incredible group of players, whose unwavering professionalism and desire to improve meant every day was a privilege.
"Finally, I must express my gratitude to the club's fans for their passion and support, which is truly unmatched. It's never easy to say goodbye, but I leave Sunderland with a full heart and great anticipation for what lies ahead."
His first game as Wycombe boss with be an FA Cup fourth round tie at Championship club Preston North End on Saturday.
They will return to league action with a trip to Crawley Town on 15 February.
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HTAFC Prediction League 2025 Matchday 5 |
Posted by: Lord Snooty - 02-02-2025, 20:53 - Forum: Huddersfield Town
- Replies (30)
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2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points 
The prize for winning the league is one rep point.
Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.
Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in. 
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year. 
At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.
The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.
We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.
The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.
Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.
The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.
Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.
Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.
Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.
Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830
Division One table after Matchday 4:
- neonfoxinthebox = 54 pts
- jjamez = 53 pts
- Baggiebob(BBB) = 50 pts
- Lord Snooty = 46 pts
- St Charles Owl = 38 pts
- themaclad = 31 pts
Friday 7th February:
Mansfield Town v Northampton Town
Saturday 8th February:
Town v Reading
Town scorers:
Reading scorers:
Stockport County v Barnsley (12:30)
Burton Albion v Blackpool
Lincoln City v Cambridge United
Rotherham United v Shrewsbury Town
Tuesday 11th February:
Charlton Athletic v Peterborough United
Crawley Town v Stevenage
Bonus matches:
FA Cup 4th round:
Friday:
Manchester United v Leicester City (20:00)
Saturday:
Coventry City v Ipswich Town
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
Preston North End v Wycombe Wanderers
Birmingham City v Newcastle United (17:45)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea (20:00)
Championship:
West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield Wednesday (12:30)
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
Division Two table after Matchday 4:
- ritchiebaby = 79 pts
- theo_luddite = 64 pts
- SHEP_HTAFC = 61 pts
- Devongone = 60 pts
- Amelia Chaffinch = 46 pts
- WakeyTerrier = 34 pts
Saturday 8th February:
Town v Reading
Town scorers:
Reading scorers:
Charlton Athletic v Stevenage (12:30)
Bolton Wanderers v Crawley Town
Tuesday 11th February:
Birmingham City v Cambridge United
Blackpool v Rotherham United
Bristol Rovers v Stockport County
Leyton Orient v Mansfield Town
Reading v Shrewsbury Town
Bonus matches:
Thursday:
EFL Cup semi final 2nd leg:
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (Agg 0-1) (20:00)
Friday:
Scottish Cup 5th round:
Ayr United v Hibernian
Saturday:
FA Cup 4th round:
Leeds United v Millwall (12:15)
Wigan Athletic v Fulham
Sunday:
Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers (12:30)
Monday:
Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace
Tuesday:
Exeter City v Nottingham Forest (20:00)
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
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Plymouth vs WBA - Match Thread |
Posted by: Ska'dForLife-WBA - 31-01-2025, 13:45 - Forum: West Bromwich Albion
- Replies (10)
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After a rocky midweek start at Middlesbrough, last Saturday Tony Mowbray marked his return to the Hawthorns in the rip-roaring style that all expected, as the recently-toothless Baggies hit five past a league opponent for the first time since August 2022. And with two early kick-offs back-to-back, tomorrow Mowbray will be piloting our ship into the Hamoaze on the morning tide for a timely visit to the happy hunting ground of Home Park.
Rock bottom Plymouth, winless since early November - already the longest run in their entire history - have conceded an eye-watering 62 goals this season, the worst in the division, and through the winter it's hit a miserable peak of 2.5 goals per game. Albion, meanwhile, remain unbeaten by Argyle since that memorable oops-a-daisy under Ossie Ardiles in April 1993. One doesn't like to tempt fate or get carried away with the old Arbroath vs Bon Accord predictions, because the Pilgrims are already showing a little bit of fight under Miron Muslic, and if there's one thing you can always bank on it's that Albion are Albion; but one way or another, a goalless draw's looking about as likely as... well, a deadline-day Baggies signing.
Plagued by a dearth of options at the back with injuries to Brendan Galloway, Joe Edwards and Kornel Szucs, Plymouth have loaned left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz on the off-chance that they can avoid relegation with Scrabble points. Albion, meanwhile, will likely soldier on with the Old Reliables who put Pompey to the sword, albeit boosted by the return of Jayson Molumby and with Kyle Bartley making the squad too. While we may not deliver the kind of scoreline that'll make the Plymouth faithful give up and set sail for America, we should absolutely be looking to dodge the banana skin and secure another three points towards the playoff charge here.
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Gibson in and Gibbo out |
Posted by: themaclad - 31-01-2025, 08:53 - Forum: Wealdstone
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Struggling Wealdstone have appointed Neil Gibson as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 45-year-old comes in following the exit of manager Matt Taylor four days ago, who left the club to take the top job at National League rivals Solihull Moors.
Gibson has most recently been manager of Welsh side Connah's Quay Nomads, winning the Welsh Cup and guiding them to Europa Conference League qualification last season.
Former Wrexham forward Lee Jones, who was twice capped by Wales, joins the club as Gibson's assistant manager.
"I've had a fantastic open dialogue with Rory [Fitzgerald, club chairman] and feel the club and I are a perfect fit," Gibson said.
Wealdstone are in the bottom four of the fifth tier, one point from safety and with only five wins in their 26 league games.
The 2-0 loss at Fylde on Saturday leaves them without a win in their past four games.
His first match on Saturday will pit him against former manager Taylor, who faces an instant return to Grosvenor Vale with new side Solihull.
"Neil is someone we have monitored for some time and brings a wealth of experience, a track record of success and a clear vision for the future," Fitzgerald said.
Gibson's appointment means former assistant manager Paul Hughes, who took interim charge of the team last Saturday, has left the club along with coach Peter Stanford.
Welshman Gibson's playing career began at Tranmere, while he also had spells at Rhyl, Southport and Prestatyn Town.
He moved into management at Prestatyn in 2007, where he won the Cymru Alliance three times, and led them to the Welsh Cup and NWCFA Challenge Cup double in 2013, before serving as director of football.
He returned as manager at the club in 2018 and then spent 18 months as boss of Flint United.
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Schumacher |
Posted by: themaclad - 31-01-2025, 08:48 - Forum: Bolton Wanderers
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Bolton Wanderers have appointed former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher as their head coach on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The 40-year-old takes over after the club parted company with former boss Ian Evatt earlier in January.
Schumacher won promotion from League One with Argyle with 101 points before moving on to Stoke, where he was sacked earlier this season.
"So many things have attracted me to this great club," he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"The history, fanbase, the ownership, the quality of the squad. There are so many different things that have made me excited this week.
"I'm the type of manager that is ultra positive, tries to play football in a way the fans enjoy, but ultimately I'm a young manager that's desperate to win.
"Over the years since I've been a coach we've found a way to adapt our teams to try to get points on the board and success - and that's what I want to bring to Bolton Wanderers."
Schumacher was previously assistant to Ryan Lowe and the pair won promotion from League Two with Bury before the club's demise in 2019.
He joined Lowe at Plymouth but stayed with the club after Lowe left for Preston in December 2021 and eventually led the Pilgrims to promotion from the third tier in style with a three-figure points haul.
He then went on to replace former Potters boss Alex Neil on a three-and-a-half-year deal in December 2023 but his time at the club lasted just nine months.
Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters said the decision to sack Schumacher was made to "serve the long-term interests" of the club.
However, Schumacher later remarked that he did not understand the reasons behind his departure.
His arrival at Bolton comes after Evatt left amid a poor 2024-25 campaign relative to last term when Wanderers challenged for automatic promotion before eventually losing to Oxford United at Wembley in the League One play-off final.
Interim boss Julian Darby recorded back-to-back wins in the two games he has taken charge of so far, lifting Bolton up to seventh in the table and level on points with sixth-placed Leyton Orient with 18 games of the season still remaining.
Steven Schumacher arrives at Bolton looking to revitalise his coaching career after a difficult short spell at Stoke City.
Having kept the Potters in the Championship last year, he was dismissed just five games into the new season.
The former Bury and Crewe midfielder had already proven his credentials with a successful managerial spell at Plymouth, first as assistant to Ryan Lowe as they won promotion from League Two, and then succeeding his former team-mate at Argyle.
As manager he led the Pilgrims to the EFL Trophy final at Wembley where they were beaten by Bolton, but he had the last laugh as Plymouth won promotion as League One champions with 101 points.
Schumacher's success as Plymouth boss saw him named League One Manager of the Year in 2023, and leave the club with a 53% win percentage – Bolton will be hoping he can repeat that kind of success and take them to the Championship.
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When Two Towns Go To War |
Posted by: Amelia Chaffinch - 30-01-2025, 21:08 - Forum: Huddersfield Town
- Replies (21)
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![[Image: 86Pio5p.png]](https://i.imgur.com/86Pio5p.png)
Northampton Town FC or The Cobblers were founded in 1897, joined the Southern League in 1901 (Herbert Chapman was player / manager during this first season), and were admitted to the Football League in 1920. They've had one season in the top flight; 1965/66. After relegation from Division 1, they kept falling. Unfortunately, due to this they held the record for promotion from Division 4 to Division 1 and back again in 9 years. They've currently been in League One since 2023. Another thing they may wish to forget is that, having installed floodlights for the 1980/81 season, they failed during the first fixture versus Southend (or as they say, Sarfend) and match abandoned. Another downer was when they went into administration in 1992. However, this led to a good record; a supporter's trust was formed and it's the first instance of its kind. They've had a couple of great escapes from dropping into the Conference; once winning their last game of the season against Shrewbury which was the only way it would be avoided and, more miraculously, when they should have been relegated but
Kidderminster's ground not being up to Football League standards meant they couldn't replace them in League Two. Nine lives or what.
They've had two grounds; the County Ground from 1897 before moving to Sixfields in 1994. The County Ground still exists as home to Northamptonshire CCC where they've been since 1905. Their local derby is with Peterborough Utd and I'm sure that we're all four square behind the Cobblers in those matches.
MORE STATS (i.e., the bits I forgot above and didn't save the slides so I could add to them later )
HEAD TO HEAD
Not much to see here; fairly even
But that last match wasn't too good; don't look, Ethel
NTFC TOP SCORERS 2024/25
PLAYED FOR BOTH
PRESS CONFERENCE
Nothing from the Northampton Nolan so he can take advice from the other Nolans from Ireland and / or Blackpool
A MUSICAL interlude (if more is required)
When two towns go to war
The boys are back in town
Dirty old town (I know we ain't got room to talk)
I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT A TRIBUTE TO A WOMAN WHO LIVED AND CAMPAIGNED IN NORTHAMPTION. UP THE WOMEN.
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Blackburn Rovers Ewood 31/1/2025 |
Posted by: themaclad - 30-01-2025, 17:46 - Forum: Preston North End
- Replies (1)
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Blackburn Rovers
Ewood Park 31/1/2025 20.00 hrs
It's on the TV as about 6700 of us pay our annual visit to the land of the Beverley Hillbillies.
https://www.rovers.co.uk/
MANAGER
https://i.ibb.co/r93r3Jn/Screenshot-2025...080859.png
To be fair rate this fella, decent manager
LAST TIME ON THE PITCH
![[Image: Screenshot-2025-01-30-080831.png]](https://i.ibb.co/TDzH68dQ/Screenshot-2025-01-30-080831.png)
Form guide
Rovers 3 PNE 11
NOTCHERS
![[Image: Screenshot-2025-01-30-080807.png]](https://i.ibb.co/TqdCJ1dX/Screenshot-2025-01-30-080807.png)
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom feels Friday night’s all-Lancashire clash against Blackburn Rovers has all the ingredients to be a good game.
The gaffer will take his North End side to Ewood Park for an 8pm kick-off, looking to build on their seven-point week and back-to-back victories.
Fans up and down the country will be tuning in live on Sky Sports, while more than 6,000 PNE fans will be crammed into the away end.
Hecky said: “Everyone's looking forward to it. We’re filling our end, which is great. The atmosphere will be good. Night games always have a different feel and I think Friday nights can be different again from a fan's point of view.
“So yeah, we're looking forward to it. It'll be a good game. It's on TV as well. All the ingredients that you think could add to it being a good game are all there.
“It’ll be a great atmosphere because it's a derby and we're taking 6,000 fans there. It's something you should relish and look forward to.
“I think when you throw it all in together, it's one you desperately want to play in, but there's nothing that you want to do differently to prepare.”
North End are facing a Blackburn Rovers side sitting just two points outside of the top six, after enjoying a good start to the season under John Eustace.
They took a point from a goalless draw at Deepdale earlier in the campaign, in a match which saw Sam Greenwood sent off in the first half. Rovers will be looking to get back on track following three successive defeats.
On their league position, Hecky said: “They're up there on merit. We know they probably didn't show their best version against us, I didn't think, at home. I've seen them play a lot better than what we faced the last time.
“We always try and prepare for the best version of whoever we’re playing against. They have dangerous players, especially on the counter. They’re really well organised without the ball and then that lends itself to when they win the ball then being a threat in transition.
“We know we're up against a good side. They've had injuries like us and that's probably taken its toll, but they're welcoming a few back. As I said, all that adds to it being a better game as well.”
THINGS TO DO IN EAST LANCASHIRE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT
WIN THEN LEAVE
The Fitness Test
Jayden Meghoma was forced off with an ankle injury in his home debut last weekend, but manager Paul Heckingbottom expects him to be available for selection come Friday night.
Likewise, Robbie Brady, who finished the Middlesbrough match with a back injury, is also expected to be involved.
Ben Whiteman is the only player definitely set to miss out with an ankle issue which is likely to keep him out “for a while”.
Rovers
Despite a positive start to the season, Blackburn Rovers head into this Lancashire derby after suffering three successive defeats.
John Eustace’s side have spent the majority of the campaign in the top six, with their best string of results so far coming between November and December when they won six on the bounce.
Since then, though, it’s one win in nine in the league. They’ve added Dion Sanderson and the experienced Adam Forshaw to their ranks this month to try and help them in their Play-Off push.
The Officials
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Sam Lewis and Mark Dwyer
Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson
Josh Smith will referee his second PNE match of the season on Friday, with the first game being the home victory over Coventry City in October.
Smith officiated North End's 4-1 victory at Ewood Park in December 2022, when Ched Evans scored twice and Ben Whiteman and Ben Woodburn were on the scoresheet.
So far this season, Smith has shown 100 yellow cards and one red in 25 matches.
MACS VIEW
Apparently it's our cup final, strange folk those from the East of the County, still living on the fact they won the title 30 years ago mainly because a Frenchman two footed a Crystal Palace fan after being sent off. Seems to be an annual televised game these days usually pours down, depressing place
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The Owls v Luton SBC Match Thread |
Posted by: Owlkev71 - 29-01-2025, 15:39 - Forum: Sheffield Wednesday
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THE MATCH
SATURDAY 1ST JANUARY KO 3PM
v ![[Image: OIP.AK5sVrDnx-B5PLUuHeV2lwAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain]](https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.AK5sVrDnx-B5PLUuHeV2lwAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain)
LAST MATCH
We ended the 3 game week with a deserved win at QPR. QPR did start the better but didn't create too much while Wndass had a shot saved, Ihiekwe fired in a low hard shot which was saved by there keeper. 0-0 at the break. Onto the 2nd half and we were the better team although they did force Beadle into a save and they hit the post we created more chances and finally took one when Bannan crossed for Smith to flick in off the post. Pato nearly made it 2 when flicking just past the post but then did put the game to bed when firing in from the edge of the box after cutting in from the right.
DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB
THE MATCH
Back to Hillsborough next as the Hatter journey north. Freshly relegated from the Premier League, it has been a terrible season for the Hatters, currently in 23rd position and in danger of back to back relegations. Rob Edwards, who got Luton promoted to the Premier League, lost his job in early January and has been replaced by Matt Bloomfield who had been doing a good job at Wycombe this season, 2nd in League One. I would say they are too good to go down, but that is usually the kiss of death for a team. If he can get if going, they should avoid the dreaded drop. There leading scorer is Morris with 7 goals and an assist.
DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB
ALL TIME H2H
OWLS 23
LUTON 20
DRAW 21
CURRENT FORM
OWLS W D L L D W
LUTON L L D L L L
EFL STOOGES
DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT 
BEN TONER
Greg Read and Matthew McGrath
Fourth Official: Josh Smith
THE TEAM
Beadle
Palmer Bernard Iorfa Johnson
Bannan Ingelsson
Musaba Windass Gasama
Smith
SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)
2-1 Gassama
WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME
26
ATTENDANCE
24575
BML LEAGUE
Imre 20
SCO 19
Washington 19
Maddix 17
Wereham 11
BMPL
Stateside 15
Owlkev 13
Southey 12
Pei 8
OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST
Ipswich v Southampton
Derby v Sheff Utd
Reading v Bolton
Walsall v Salford
Braintree v Hartlepool
HAAHA
THE MUPPETT LEAGUE
![[Image: tenor.gif?itemid=7264048]](https://media1.tenor.com/images/3abb4487946c076e9d085c45ae6b955c/tenor.gif?itemid=7264048)
![[Image: accountants-accounts-accountants-account...22_low.jpg]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/accountants-accounts-accountants-accounting_errors-losses-mistakes-mfln922_low.jpg)
KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC
![[Image: iypski5vqnrtadp4tw17.jpg]](http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/iypski5vqnrtadp4tw17.jpg)
![[Image: Kate1.jpg]](http://twistity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Kate1.jpg)
![[Image: rs_600x600-170411105514-634-kate-beckins...quality=90]](https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2017311/rs_600x600-170411105514-634-kate-beckinsale-bikini-1.jpg?fit=around|700:700&crop=700:700;center,top&output-quality=90)
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