After the whistle: Premier League clubs have been busy monetising content this summer which Sky, BT Sport and the BBC would eagerly compete for August 12, 2016 In recent weeks, Sky Sports has had David Beckham running through the streets taking in 10 months of Premier League footballing drama. But the UK’s top flight tournament is no longer seasonal. Over the summer, fans have been assiduously following transfer news and international friendlies with a new level of fervour. And Premier League clubs [...]
Here’s how many homes in Manchester you could buy with Paul Pogba’s transfer fee August 12, 2016 You could buy 537 average-priced properties in Manchester with the money that Manchester United spent on Paul Pogba, it turns out. Pogba holds the world record transfer fee after United forked out £89m for the Frenchman – while the average property value is £165,686, according to research from HouseSimple.com. The online estate agency compared the average property [...]
Heads, shoulders, knees and toes: the cost of footballing injuries August 12, 2016 Injuries cost English Premier League clubs over £157m in wages last year, taking the total cost over the last five years to an eye-watering £0.7bn. Not afraid to complain about injuries, Arsene Wenger's concerns appear to be substantiated as Arsenal players were on the sidelines for a total of 1,553 days during the 2015/16 season. However this only put them second on [...]
Betting: Crisis club Hull set for one-way ticket back to the Championship August 11, 2016 Gaining promotion to the Premier League should be a reason to celebrate, but for Hull fans it’s looking increasingly like a season of pain is on its way. While most teams are strengthening their squads to compete with the step up in quality, Hull’s owners are instead getting rid of players as they look to [...]
Betting: Conte’s men can return Prem title to the King’s Road August 11, 2016 There has been more than £500million spent on transfers already this summer, and the upcoming season must be the most open in Premier League history. Leicester provided a 5,000/1 shock when winning the 2015/16 title, but realistically this year looks to be between the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea. Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United snapped up [...]
Alan Pardew eager for Crystal Palace to adopt tiki-taka style for new Premier League season August 11, 2016 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has promised a new brand of football this season with a slant towards the tiki-taka style pioneered by reigning La Liga champions Barcelona. The Eagles have bolstered their squad with the close season signings of former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, defender James Tomkins from West Ham and Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. [...]
Title rivals must be desperate to spend so much, says Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino August 11, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes the club’s Premier League title rivals’ summer spending sprees are evidence of desperation. Manchester United have led the way with a world record £89m deal for Paul Pogba, while Manchester City have also shelled out around £150m and Chelsea remain in the market having spent £65m. “When you spend a lot [...]
Premier League betting: Toothless Tigers set to feel the full force of fearless Foxes August 11, 2016 Newly-promoted teams normally arrive in the Premier League full of hope and confidence for the season ahead. That can’t be said for play-off winners Hull, though, who start the campaign with a caretaker manager, a host of injuries and an army of angry fans. It’s been a disastrous close season for the Tigers and I [...]
Premier League betting: Absent Arsenal players will give Liverpool reasons to be cheerful August 11, 2016 The first match of the season is a time for optimism, with all football fans dreaming that this could be their year. Sometimes those dreams even come true – just ask Leicester. Such hopefulness is thin on the ground at Arsenal, however, with supporters fearing the club has gone backwards over the summer. Chelsea, Liverpool and [...]
Government urged to lift ban and allow Premier League clubs to introduce safe standing August 11, 2016 Sport Minister Tracey Crouch has come under renewed pressure on the eve of the new Premier League season to allow England’s leading clubs to reintroduce standing areas at their stadia. A report published today by think tank the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) says the use of “safe standing” sections is backed by most top-flight teams [...]