Premier League winter break: Clubs favouring rest over foreign trips January 25, 2022 It is four years since West Bromwich Albion players illustrated the perils of Premier League clubs heading to sunnier climes for a winter break. In an incident dubbed “taxigate”, a handful of senior players including Gareth Barry and Jonny Evans commandeered a cab during a late-night trip to McDonalds while on a mid-season warm weather [...]
Roy Hodgson in line for Premier League comeback at Watford January 25, 2022 Former England manager Roy Hodgson could be set for a shock return to the Premier League after emerging as the favourite for the Watford job. The 74-year-old is the oldest man to manage in England’s top division and appeared to have retired after leaving Crystal Palace last summer. But the much-travelled Hodgson is reported to [...]
Watford sack Claudio Ranieri after less than four months in job January 24, 2022 Struggling Premier League outfit Watford have sacked manager Claudio Ranieri this evening. The Italian was in charge of just 14 Hornets games and departs with the club inside the relegation zone. The Ranieri sacking comes after Watford’s humiliating 3-0 loss to Norwich City on Friday. Watford are without a win in their last nine games [...]
Deloitte forecasts late flurry of Premier League transfer activity January 24, 2022 Premier League clubs are being tipped to embark on a trolley dash in the final week of the January transfer window. Spending in the English top-flight has already passed £100m this month, eclipsing the total outlay in last year’s Covid-affected winter window. And Deloitte’s Sports Business Group is forecasting a busy final few days before [...]
Liverpool and Chelsea breathe new life into Premier League title race January 23, 2022 Call off the trophy engravers; hold that order of sky blue ticker tape; put Pep Guardiola’s dancing shoes away for now: we may have a Premier League title race after all. Leaders Manchester City’s slip-up at Southampton on Saturday dropped blood into the water and 24 hours later Liverpool and Chelsea showed they still have [...]
Fifa rules to be introduced which will curb international loanees January 20, 2022 Fifa have announced new rules that will limit the number of international loans going in and out of clubs which come into effect from July. The new rules will see clubs limited to eight international loan signings in and eight loaned out in an attempt to stop teams from stockpiling talent. The international governing body [...]
How Derby County slipped to edge of disappearance January 20, 2022 They are former English champions and in top form under the management of Wayne Rooney, yet day by day Derby County are inching towards liquidation and disappearing from football forever. Their story is one of financial mismanagement in a desperate bid to achieve promotion to the Premier League; administrators scrambling to find a buyer – [...]
Manchester United: Has Rangnick failed to instil his philosophy? January 20, 2022 When Ralf Rangnick arrived at Manchester United last month, the interim manager was expected to reinvent the philosophy from a lethargic and confused style under the previous regime to his trademark gegenpressing. “This is the only way we can compete at this level,” said Rangnick earlier this month. “Whenever you watch games, even if it’s [...]
Qatar 2022 World Cup tickets priced at £50 for overseas fans and on sale today January 19, 2022 The cheapest Qatar 2022 World Cup tickets for travelling supporters will have a starting price of £50. From today, football fans can register to buy tickets for the tournament, which is taking place in November and December this year. Category Three tickets, the cheapest on offer to anyone outside of Qatar, are due to start [...]
Trevor Steven: Supply teacher Rafa Benitez was never right fit for Everton January 17, 2022 Watching them lose at Norwich City on Saturday made me realise that Rafa Benitez’s Everton were in crisis. It was the first time I had worried about their prospects for the rest of the season, the first time I thought that there was nothing left from this group of players under that manager. Although we [...]