Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle: Aaron Ramsey’s virtuoso display leaves bittersweet taste for Emirates crowd April 1, 2019 It was all about Aaron Ramsey. Mesut Ozil may have brought some tricks and flicks, Alexandre Lacazette some bustling approach play and a neat finish, but for Arsenal fans leaving Emirates Stadium the performance of their Welsh midfielder – and all that it meant – was what had tongues wagging. Strangely for a virtuoso, all-action, eye-catching [...]
Gaming changers: how marketing messages have had to change for gambling companies April 1, 2019 Where do you know Ray Winstone from? If you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll probably recall his early work. Carlin in Scum, Kevin the rocker in Quadrophenia. More of a millennial? Then perhaps it’s his turn opposite Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast or as Frenchy in The Departed. Or maybe it’s simply him yelling “put [...]
Fulham must shed their excess to prepare for relegation and the hard landing looming in the Championship March 31, 2019 The summer was a time of excitement and optimism for Fulham. After an impressive 23-game unbeaten streak and fairytale play-off final win at Wembley, the club set about expensively assembling a squad it thought could not just avoid the drop the following season but thrive in the Premier League. Thanks to the deep pockets of [...]
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Fortune favours the Reds as they go back top of the Premier League March 31, 2019 The title race remains on. It looked very much to be slipping away from Liverpool, but as the ball trickled over the line at the Kop End it was clear fortune favoured the reds. Rather than one of their own players, Liverpool fans were left celebrating the mistake of an opponent, as Hugo Lloris inexplicably [...]
Arsenal v Newcastle: Unai Emery’s incessant tinkering is proving a hidden strength March 31, 2019 In the Premier League’s current climate, new managers are expected to revolutionise the way their team plays, implementing an attractive style of football and instilling a work ethic that often involves pressing high up the pitch. Under Unai Emery this season, Arsenal have been accused of failing to follow that blueprint and told that they [...]
Football Betting Tips: Fresher Liverpool to extend Spurs’ poor away run March 28, 2019 WHILE it’s been less than two weeks, for many it seems an eternity since we’ve had any Premier League action. Yes, England got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign off to the best possible start, but the league is what most are concerned with and it’s back with a bang this weekend. The standout fixture is [...]
Where Huddersfield Town rank among the five worst teams in Premier League history March 28, 2019 Huddersfield's relegation from English football's top tier could be confirmed this weekend. But where do the Terriers rank among the worst teams ever to play in the Premier League? 5. Sunderland 2002-03: 0.50 Points per game The fifth worst team in Premier League history, this Sunderland side took just 19 points from their 38 matches. Under [...]
Wolves on course for Europa League, but is becoming the Premier League’s best of the rest worth it – or a poisoned chalice? March 28, 2019 Should Burnley manager Sean Dyche feel moved to dispense some characteristic no-nonsense wisdom to his opposite number this weekend, it might be of the be-careful-what-you-wish-for variety. Occupying the visitors’ dugout at Turf Moor on Saturday will be Nuno Espirito Santo, a rising star whose Wolves team have cut a dash in their first season back [...]
Chris Tremlett: Ashwin’s Mankad was borderline cheating and should be banned from cricket for good March 27, 2019 Ravichandran Ashwin’s conduct in the Indian Premier League has caused debate right across the cricketing world this week. With his side, Kings XI Punjab, up against it on Monday the Indian spinner decided to run out Rajasthan Royals’ batsman Jos Buttler while he was backing up at the non-strikers’ end. The dismissal, known as a [...]
Cricket’s growing trend? How the success of Twenty20 leagues could lead to a rise in white-ball only contracts March 27, 2019 It’s been over a year since Adil Rashid sparked debate across the cricket world – not with a spinning delivery, but by signing a piece of paper. The England leg-spinner drew criticism after turning his back on first-class cricket by agreeing a white-ball only contract with his county Yorkshire in February 2018. Read more: Meet [...]