Fans’ fury prompts Arsenal to back down on Barcelona surcharge for season ticket holders February 6, 2016 Arsenal has backed down on plans to include a surcharge in their 2016-17 season tickets following a furious response from fans. Some Emirates Stadium season ticket holders reacted angrily after receiving an email on Thursday evening informing them they would face an additional cost of up to £30 on next season's renewal prices if they chose [...]
Six Nations 2016: England v Scotland to be live streamed in space for astronaut Tim Peake February 5, 2016 The BBC is making broadcasting history by live-streaming the Scotland v England Six Nations clash in space. In what is a first both for the broadcaster and the sport, Eddie Jones' fortunes in his first game as England coach will be beamed into the International Space Station for British astronaut Tim Peake. Read more: Look away [...]
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suggests huge transfer fees prevent clubs from lowering ticket prices February 5, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has argued the constant increase in transfer fees prevents football clubs from lowering ticket prices for fans. Despite a forthcoming £5bn Premier League TV deal that will guarantee every Premier League club a minimum of £99m a season, decision makers from each club met in London on Thursday and voted against measures [...]
Rangers say goodbye to Mike Ashley: Club formally gives notice to end relationship with Sports Direct February 5, 2016 Rangers are looking to bring their tumultuous relationship with Sports Direct to a close by formally giving notice to the Mike Ashley-owned company to end their commercial partnership – yet the two companies could still be tied together until 2023. In a letter to supporters, club chairman Dave King said he had immediately written to Sports Direct [...]
Six Nations 2016 stats preview: Why England facing the three blue teams away does not bode well for Eddie Jones February 5, 2016 Look away now, Eddie Jones: England have traditionally performed worse in the Six Nations when facing the three blue teams away and Wales and Ireland at home. Every other year the Red Rose travels to Edinburgh, Rome and Glasgow, but despite their two away games coming against the tournament’s two traditionally weaker sides in Scotland [...]
Serious one-day talent Jos Buttler in Indian Premier League auction is win-win for everyone February 4, 2016 There is no doubt that Lancashire and England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is a serious talent in one-day cricket and I’m convinced he will pick up huge money in Saturday's Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Bangalore. He will almost certainly have a clause in any contract he may sign allowing him to return at short notice [...]
Six Nations 2016: England head coach Eddie Jones hits back at caution jibes February 4, 2016 Head coach Eddie Jones has hit back at criticism of his maiden squad selection by insisting the 23 on show against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday are the best group to hand England the perfect Six Nations start. Australian Jones has opted for Danny Care at scrum-half in preference to Ben Youngs and Joe Marler rather [...]
Trumbo sees Bryan Cranston peddling contraband. Again. February 4, 2016 Dir Jay Roach | ★★☆☆☆ Bryan Cranston plays a brilliant, put-upon middle-aged man who is forced into peddling contraband in order to provide for his family. This time his drug of choice isn’t meth but Hollywood scripts, which he’s banned from writing – along with dozens of others – because of his Communist party membership. [...]
Escaped Alone: Caryl Churchill’s incisive take on four women’s friendship has an absurdist streak February 4, 2016 Royal Court | ★★★★☆ At 77, Caryl Churchill isn't so much slowing down as paring down, Pinter-style. Lately, the veteran dramatist – prolific as ever – has been trimming her running times and discarding the grand experimental gestures of her early work, while keeping her wit and moral seriousness. Escaped Alone hews to the trend: [...]
The Master Builder starring Ralph Fiennes at the Old Vic is a masterful adaptation February 4, 2016 The Old Vic | ★★★★☆ Being an Ibsen play, The Master Builder has its fair share of existential angst, with nods to the bitter futility of the human condition, which compels us to drag ourselves through the misery of life, all the while dreading the only thing that will finally relieve us of the torment. But [...]