Astra Giurgiu 1, West Ham United 1: Mixed emotions for Slaven Bilic as late leveller sours Hammers’ bid to reach Europa League group stage August 18, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic had mixed emotions after his side were pegged back by a late leveller to leave their Europa League play-off tie with Astra Giurgiu in the balance. Skipper Mark Noble successfully converted a penalty on the stroke of half time to propel the east Londoners to a position of strength, only [...]
David Brent: Life on the Road review: Ricky Gervais plays his excruciating old hits one more time August 18, 2016 Ricky Gervais may have captured the zeitgeist with The Office, but he’s reminded us often enough in the 13 years since it finished that it’s a bar he’s not always capable of hitting. This movie spin-off shows he can still play those toe-curling greatest hits, even if his film isn’t exactly brimming with new ideas. [...]
The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips is an utterly refreshing family drama August 18, 2016 The extravagantly titled 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, is a conventional tale of wartime Britain, made extraordinary by an unusual approach. Stripped-back staging and exaggerated performances create a heightened reality, and pervasive humour means that when tragedy inevitably strikes, it’s blindsiding. Based on real-life events – and a novel by Michael Morpurgo – [...]
Groundhog Day at the Old Vic review: Tim Minchin’s follow-up to Matilda is a bawdy, hilarious modern-day Dickens tale August 18, 2016 At the opening of Groundhog Day I overheard David Walliams say to writer Tim Minchin: “This better be bloody good.” He was saying what everyone was thinking: there’s an absurd amount of expectation heaped on Minchin’s first musical since 2010’s Matilda, a level of hype perhaps not seen since The Book of Mormon. So it’s just as [...]
Jose Mourinho warns Manchester United fans not to expect too much from £89m world record man Paul Pogba August 18, 2016 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Paul Pogba is likely to make his first appearance since rejoining the club in a world record transfer against Southampton tonight. But Mourinho warned United supporters not to expect too much from the £89m midfielder, insisting Pogba is still to acclimatise and reach peak condition ahead of [...]
Final Olympics weekend schedule: What to watch and what time it’s on – don’t miss Mo Farah, Usain Bolt, Adam Gemili, Caster Semenya and Neymar in action August 18, 2016 All good things must eventually come to an end. Team GB has enjoyed a remarkable gold rush at this year's Olympics but there are only three days left for the athletes to add to the medal haul and for you to set grooves in the sofa watching sport. Here's what not to miss. Friday Friday night may [...]
Football betting: New faces should make it a special night at Old Trafford August 18, 2016 After the 26-year reign of Sir Alex Ferguson, the third new manager in four years will take his seat in the home dugout of Old Trafford on Friday evening. Manchester United fans will hope Jose Mourinho’s tenure is far happier than those of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. The former Chelsea man has got off [...]
Football betting: Worried Arsene Wenger to go all Gunners blazing at Leicester August 18, 2016 Last season’s top two meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon after making less than impressive starts to this campaign. Defeats for Leicester and Arsenal to Hull and Liverpool respectively mean another poor result could jeopardise hopes for either side scaling the same heights again. The 2-1 reverse for the Foxes in particular [...]
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger “ready to spend” but warns Premier League clubs risk “suffocating themselves” by paying over the odds August 18, 2016 Arsene Wenger has warned that wealthy English clubs risk straggling themselves with sub-par players on high wages by paying over the odds on European stars. The Arsenal manager has promised fans he is ready to spend big on the right player but added that he was against buying new players for the sake of it. Arsenal were [...]
Why triumphant US Olympians will have to cough up a “victory tax” when they get back from Rio August 18, 2016 The United States' Olympic medal winners will return to the homeland having to contend with thousands of new social media followers, countless media requests, potential endorsement offerings and the pride of friends and family. It probably doesn't get much better. Which is just as well, because added to that list will be a "victory tax" bill. [...]