Yaya Toure left out of Manchester City’s Champions League squad by new manager Pep Guardiola September 2, 2016 Yaya Toure's diminished status at Manchester City was brought into stark focus after the midfielder was left out of the club's Champions League squad for the upcoming season. With teams limited to 17 overseas players in their squad for Uefa competition, City opted to leave out the 33-year-old midfielder. Toure has starred for City in recent [...]
Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka: Playing with likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez made me nervous at first September 2, 2016 Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka has admitted that he's had to be at the top of his game to earn his spot in Arsene Wenger's team. Since arriving in North London in May, the midfielder has started Arsenal's last two fixtures after coming off the bench in their opening day defeat at home to Liverpool. Xhaka, [...]
England boss Sam Allardyce has style as well as substance, says midfielder Adam Lallana September 1, 2016 England midfielder Adam Lallana has dismissed concerns over new boss Sam Allardyce’s reputation as a long-ball merchant as the Three Lions prepare for their opening World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday. Allardyce was handed the reins following England’s disastrous showing at Euro 2016 which culminated in a shock defeat to European minnows Iceland [...]
Sergio Aguero opts to fight violent conduct charge in bid to be available for Manchester derby September 1, 2016 Prolific striker Sergio Aguero has opted to contest a charge of violent conduct in a bid to avoid a potential three-match suspension – and be available for Pep Guardiola’s maiden Manchester derby. Aguero was slapped with the charge by the Football Association (FA) after allegedly elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid during Manchester City’s Premier [...]
Summer transfer window 2016: What does the Premier League’s spending extravaganza mean for the wider European game? September 1, 2016 Just over two months after its national team were humiliated in front of Europe at the hands of Iceland, English football has reminded the world, when it comes to the transfer market, it remains king. The Premier League flexed its financial muscles this summer by spending a record-breaking £1.165bn on new players, crushing the outlay of Europe's biggest leagues. Europe's [...]
Bournemouth can shoot for the stars after signing Jack Wilshere, insists Cherries boss Eddie Howe September 1, 2016 Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe insists loan signing Jack Wilshere will propel his side to new levels after the midfielder joined the Cherries on a temporary basis from Arsenal on transfer deadline day. Wilshere only managed three appearances for Arsenal last season after fracturing his left fibula, while a string of injuries have limited the 24-year-old [...]
Betting: Big Sam to banish Euro misery with win over Slovakia September 1, 2016 Sam Allardyce’s reign as England manager begins on Sunday afternoon as the Three Lions face Slovakia in Trnava. The road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia starts here for Allardyce and his squad, who will be looking to put the disappointment of this summer’s European Championships behind them. Those hoping for revolution from the [...]
Six charts that sum up the Premier League’s record-breaking summer transfer window spending spree September 1, 2016 Premier League clubs have taken football into a new billion pound era this summer by spending more money than ever before in this transfer window. The division's stratospheric spending broke the £1bn mark for the first time with a day remaining and a record-breaking deadline day, in which clubs spent £155m in 24 hours, pushed its [...]
The Premier League’s record-breaking, £1bn-busting summer transfer window summed up in one chart September 1, 2016 Premier League spending reached never-before-seen levels this summer as a record-breaking deadline day sent the division's total outlay soaring past the £1bn mark. The window closed with England's cash rich top divisions spending a total £1.165bn on new players, a 34 per cent increase on the previous record of £870m set last summer according to [...]
Chelsea embark on £60m spending spree as David Luiz secures shock return to Stamford Bridge on deadline day September 1, 2016 Chelsea led the deadline day charge as maverick defender David Luiz made a shock return to Stamford Bridge and the Blues proved the biggest spenders by splashing out close to £60m. On a day when spending during this transfer window surpassed £1.1bn, Chelsea paid £34m to secure the signing of Luiz from Paris Saint-German, two [...]