South Africa v England Twenty20I series preview: Roy, Bairstow, Buttler and Malan set to battle it out for opening role February 11, 2020 A short-format series tacked onto the end of a long tour can sometimes carry little significance, but England’s run of three Twenty20 Internationals with South Africa, starting today, is not one of them. Having won the 50-over Cricket World Cup last year, England’s attention is now firmly fixed on repeating that feat at the 20-over [...]
Dominic Calvert-Lewin my favourite in shoot-out with Danny Ings to gatecrash England’s Euro 2020 squad February 11, 2020 This summer’s European Championship may still seem like a speck on the horizon but, for players hoping to gatecrash England’s squad for the tournament, the clock is ticking. Places are up for grabs among the strikers, where the uncapped Danny Ings and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have played their way into competition with Tammy Abraham and Callum [...]
Premier League plots launch of Netflix-style streaming service February 9, 2020 The Premier League is plotting the launch of a Netflix-style streaming platform in a bid to boost revenue from TV rights in overseas markets. Richard Masters, the Premier League’s new chief executive, has confirmed that plans to set up a direct to consumer offering are already underway. The service, which would allow viewers in some [...]
$65bn Ponzi scheme king Bernie Madoff is dying, and wants to leave prison early February 6, 2020 Ponzi scheme king Bernie Madoff has said he is dying of kidney failure and has fewer than 18 months to live, and is seeking to end his 150-year prison sentence. Madoff’s lawyer said the 81-year-old is confined to a wheelchair, often requires oxygen, and suffers from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, insomnia and other chronic and serious [...]
Nottingham Forest eye end to 21-year Premier League exile with promotion push February 5, 2020 This weekend sees two once-great clubs of English football go head to head as they both look to take a step closer to rising from the ashes. Both are battling for the Championship’s automatic promotion places, with Leeds one point off the top in second place and Nottingham Forest, who they visit on Saturday, close [...]
Les Ferdinand interview: QPR director of football on making the club a talent factory again February 5, 2020 Les Ferdinand harbours dreams of leading QPR back into the Premier League but the club legend and current director of football insists a new era of success in west London will not be ushered in overnight. Ferdinand, who marked five years in the role this week, believes the Championship outfit’s return to a philosophy of [...]
Agents row in extra-time: Why Fifa is at loggerheads with football’s leading intermediaries over new rule proposals February 4, 2020 A battle which has been rumbling on behind the scenes in football appears set to explode into full public view over the coming months, with the sport’s governing body going head to head with some of its most powerful figures. The issue at the heart of the matter has nothing to do with what occurs [...]
Sheffield United: Europa League qualification is ridiculous yet looks achievable for Chris Wilder’s never-say-die Blades February 4, 2020 Discussing a recent game, Chris Wilder made the point that football is not all about tactics – and I agree. More than anything it’s about players’ commitment to their job; the raw materials that go into being a professional. After that, extreme talents can make the difference for top sides but, as an example of [...]
Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan are building Serie A title challenge out of Premier League castaways February 4, 2020 From Chelsea to Manchester United and Arsenal, the Premier League is awash with clubs hiring young head coaches committed to putting academy players at the heart of their rebuilding project. It is an understandably attractive ideology that promises to get fans onside – but it is not a trend that has extended to Inter Milan. [...]
Premier League winter break: How does it work and what is every team doing? February 4, 2020 This week marks a Premier League first, with the advent of its inaugural winter break. Each team has been allocated a 13-day rest between top-flight fixtures, but fear not: there is no television blackout. Since the interval is staggered across two weekends, 12 teams have this weekend off while the other eight get to rest [...]