Transfer window catches fires as Manchester United sign Paul Pogba, Manchester City capture John Stones and more than £150m spent in 24 hours August 9, 2016 The Premier League’s anticipated summer of record-breaking spending has finally caught fire after a flurry of deals saw more than £150m spent by top-flight clubs within 48 hours. Contrary to projections, spending by the end of July was down £40m on the £515m invested at the same time last year, significantly short of a predicted [...]
Premier League preview part one: Pep Guardiola factor gives Manchester City the edge over Manchester United and Chelsea in fascinating battle of top bosses August 9, 2016 Only six clubs can win the Premier League title this season – and there are three obvious choices in Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City – but there is no runaway favourite in my eyes. United may have signed four players who will walk straight into their first XI, yet they still need a pattern [...]
Southampton sponsor Virgin Media to subsidise tickets for away fans at St Mary’s August 9, 2016 Tickets for football fans visiting Southampton this season will cost no more than £20, after the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) collaborated with Saints sponsor Virgin Media to subsidise tickets. Virgin Media, who believe that "football fans should be at the heart of the game", are supporting the FSF's 'Twenty's Plenty' campaign, an attempt to counteract the increasingly expensive ticket [...]
Premier League preview part two: Leicester will be rivalling West Ham not the title challengers, and Hull look doomed to be whipping boys August 9, 2016 The Premier League has stepped up a level this year and the beauty of it is that the extra broadcast millions have helped raise the standard from the bottom up. There are still divides though, and I see the top-flight as three mini-leagues: the top six, teams just behind them with an eye on snatching fifth [...]
Rio 2016 Olympics Wednesday guide: What to watch including Chris Froome, rugby sevens, Rebekah Tiler, Andrew Willis, Max Whitlock, Ryan Lochte, Kohei Uchimura and more August 9, 2016 Chris Froome could win Team GB their first cycling medal of the games on Wednesday in the men's road time trial at 2pm. The Tour de France champion is targeting gold after missing out on a medal in a disappointing 12th placed finish in the road race on Saturday. Froome, who took bronze in the time trial four years ago, is [...]
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates review: a backwards buddy movie that wastes Aubrey Plaza and Anna Kendrick August 9, 2016 Mike and Dave are brothers, but more than that, they’re lads. When these liquor salesmen aren’t drowning in their own supply, they’re driving a banterbus made of LOLZ. Understandably, younger sister Jeanie hates them, but she’s getting married and feels some familial urge to invite them, despite them being total dicks. Mike and Dave have [...]
Manchester United’s incredible transfer deficit on the returning Paul Pogba exposed in one chart August 9, 2016 Sir Alex Ferguson brought 13 league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League triumphs to Manchester United in a glorious 26-year reign as manager. His impact on the club is invaluable but even managers as good as Fergie don't turn everything they touch into gold. Their mistakes can even sometimes cost the best part [...]
Manchester City may have let slip John Stones’ imminent transfer from Everton after he is listed in Champions League squad submitted to Uefa August 9, 2016 Have Manchester City accidentally announced the signing of Everton’s John Stones? The club appears to have submitted a Champions League squad list to Uefa for their upcoming qualifier against Steaua Bucharest that includes the 22-year-old centre back. According to Uefa’s website Stones, given the No24, is a member of City’s squad for the upcoming fixture. [...]
This is Pogboom: How the Paul Pogba brand will help Manchester United pay back world record £89m fee August 9, 2016 Paul Pogba, the most expensive footballer in history after signing for United for a record £89m, is a midfielder who can do it all. In a single game he might score a screamer, demonstrate defensive diligence and bamboozle an opponent with tricks while simultaneously outrunning and outworking him. But according to industry experts, United may have been salivating at both [...]
Tom Daley and Dom Goodfellow overjoyed to seal platform bronze at Olympics Games in Rio August 9, 2016 Jubilant divers Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow could barely contain their joy after pipping Germany to a bronze medal in the men’s synchronised 10m platform at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre. The pair were the last to dive but kept their composure to overhaul Germany’s former world champions Patrick Hausding and Sascha Klein with a [...]