NK Domzale 2, West Ham United 1: No panic for skipper Mark Noble despite shock loss to Slovenian minnows July 28, 2016 West Ham skipper Mark Noble refused to panic despite his side slumping to a sluggish defeat against Slovenian minnows NK Domzale in their Europa League third qualifying round first leg clash. With boss Slaven Bilic serving a touchline ban, the Hammers were twice undone by former Maribor winger Matic Crnic, who exchanged penalties with Noble [...]
Adidas results boosted by cancelled five-year contract with Chelsea July 28, 2016 Adidas increased its guidance for 2016 for the fourth time this year when releasing second-quarter preliminary results today. The Bavarian-based sports group reported earnings per share that had doubled – €1.45 per share compared to €0.73 during the same period in 2015. Revealing operating profit that was up 77 per cent to €414m (£348m), the company alluded to a key [...]
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child review at the Palace Theatre: A sappy script but possibly one of the best staged plays the West End has ever seen July 28, 2016 JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series stood apart from the canon of children’s literature by allowing its characters to grow up. Peter Pan famously never aged and Just William was 11-years-old for about 50 years. Harry, Ron and Hermione, on the other hand, were in their late 30s by the end of the seventh book, sending [...]
Now We Are Here at the Young Vic gets to the human stories behind the refugee crisis July 28, 2016 This latest play in the Young Vic’s refugee season was written by refugees themselves, in collaboration with local writers. In the first half, three actors take it in turns to tell the stories of Desmond, Mir and Michael (played with real charm by Gary Beadle, Manish Gandhi and Jonathan Livingstone). They sit on chairs and [...]
Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City’s interest in Everton defender John Stones and reveals former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri’s absence is down to his weight July 28, 2016 Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed his interest in swelling the club’s defensive ranks with the signing of England centre-half John Stones from Premier League rivals Everton. While a deal is yet to be agreed, it is believed that City have opened talks with Everton over the 22-year-old defender, a player the Toffees value [...]
The Plough and the Stars at National Theatre’s Lyttelton: an emotional haymaker about the 1916 Easter Rising July 28, 2016 There’s a tried and tested formula to Sean O’Casey’s 1926 play The Plough and the Stars: he makes us care for his cast of quick-talking, hard-drinking Irish men and women, and then he makes us watch as their lives fall irrevocably apart. The sense of inevitability doesn’t make it any easier. The play caused riots [...]
Leicester City eye transfer market savings after agreeing partnership with FairFX trading firm July 28, 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City have capitalised on their success by striking a partnership with a City-based foreign exchange provider that they hope will save them millions of pounds in the transfer market. Leicester will work with FairFX's international payments service when conducting all overseas transfers after agreeing a two-year deal with the firm. With more money to spend on [...]
Pep Guardiola closes in on defender as Manchester City open talks with Everton over John Stones July 27, 2016 Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City moved a step closer to swelling their defensive ranks after opening talks with Premier League rivals Everton over the transfer of centre-half John Stones. While a fee for the England international is yet to be agreed, it is believed that Everton value the 22-year-old, who was a target for Chelsea last [...]
Olympic Games in Rio will de devalued by Russia absence, says president Vladimir Putin July 27, 2016 Russia president Vladimir Putin insists the banning of his nation’s competitors will devalue the achievements of medal-winning athletes at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. More than one hundred Russians have so far been barred from the Games, which start on 5 August, including 67 of their 68-strong athletics team. The International Association [...]
Jake Ball, not Steven Finn, should replace injured all-rounder Ben Stokes for England’s pivotal third Test with Pakistan July 27, 2016 Head coach Trevor Bayliss was right to say the loss of Ben Stokes leaves a hole in the England side although the form of fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes, who is proving a real asset, can offset his absence. Stokes will miss next week’s third Investec Test against Pakistan with the calf injury he picked up [...]