Brazil national football team: Why playing at home could be crushing Neymar and co August 10, 2016 If there is one event at this year's Olympics that host nation Brazil could safely boast of both packed out stadiums of supporters and the most accomplished athlete in the field, it's football. While the majority of football loving nations shrug at the Olympic event, Brazil arguably have put together the tournament's strongest squad with elite level superstar Neymar leading [...]
How Manchester United stepped up for sponsors Adidas and Chevrolet when unveiling Paul Pogba August 10, 2016 Football players have always had huge marketing value off the pitch. In fact, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez built the club’s whole strategy around it. He invented the concept of Galacticos in his first stint at the club in the early 2000s, bringing in Figo, Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham and Robinho before repeating the trick with Cristiano [...]
Jose Mourinho takes aim at Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp over criticism of Paul Pogba transfer fee August 9, 2016 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho took aim at long-time adversary Arsene Wenger and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after the Old Trafford club completed their world-record £89m capture of midfielder Paul Pogba. Pogba re-joined United from Serie A side Juventus, having left Manchester for Italy in 2012, in the early hours on Tuesday morning in a deal [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]