Posts

Showing posts from December, 2020

City’s shock $160m play for Spurs gun as rivals and old boss plan club raid: Rumour mill

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Manchester City are reportedly planning to throw £90 million ($A$160m) at Tottenham for star striker Harry Kane. January 01, 2021 at 07:25AM

‘Deeply saddened’: Football world in mourning as ex Man Utd boss dies

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty has died at the age of 92 following a long illness, his family announced on Thursday. January 01, 2021 at 12:48AM

Tommy Docherty was an ‘incredible character’ who ‘turned Chelsea into a big club’ and rebuilt Man United after relegation

Image
https://ift.tt/3832w2R Tommy Docherty has been hailed as an incredible character who made Chelsea and Man United what they are today. The legendary manager’s family today confirmed his death at the age of 92 following a long illness. Popperfoto - Getty Docherty will be fondly remembered as one of football’s great characters Docherty, who was affectionately known as ‘The Doc’, left his mark on some of Britain’s biggest clubs as both a player and a manager. While the Scotsman made more than 300 appearances for Preston and became a legend at the club, most football fans will remember the charismatic manager of the sixties, seventies and eighties. Docherty most famously managed Chelsea and Man United, taking fading sides down to the old Second Division before bringing them straight back up with youthful, exuberant sides. Bob Thomas Sports Photography - Getty Docherty rebuilt United following the loss of key players that followed relegation At Stamford Bridge, the Blue...

Tommy Docherty, former Man United and Chelsea boss who led Red Devils back to top-flight after relegation, dies aged 92

Image
https://ift.tt/3rIAFg3 Legendary football manager Tommy Docherty has died at the age of 92. His family confirmed the news on Thursday, which came following a long battle with illness. The Scotsman, affectionately known as ‘The Doc’, famously took Manchester United down to the second division in 1974 before bringing the club straight back up as champions. Popperfoto - Getty Docherty will be remembered as one of football’s great characters In a managerial career which spanned across nearly three full decades, Docherty also managed Chelsea – where he won the League Cup – Aston Villa and Scotland among numerous other sides, totalling 13 by the time he retired in 1988. As a player, the former midfielder became a legend for Preston North End, making more than 300 appearances over a nine-year spell at the club, while also spending three years at Arsenal. Bob Thomas Sports Photography - Getty Docherty rebuilt United following the loss of key players that followed relegation ...

Manchester United trigger one-year extension clause in Jesse Lingard’s contract with midfielder yet to make Premier League appearance this season

Image
https://ift.tt/2X0vv0M Manchester United have reportedly activated a one-year extension clause in Jesse Lingard’s contract. The Red Devils midfielder is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football this season and has been restricted to just two Carabao Cup appearances. Getty Images - Getty Lingard could still leave Manchester United in the forthcoming months Lingard’s deal was set to run out at the end of the campaign, however, it is understood United have triggered another year in his contract. The England international has struggled for form since the 2018 World Cup and has dropped further down the Old Trafford pecking order due to the arrivals of Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek. Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Lingard has had to self-isolate due to coronavirus on more than one occasion recently. “He’s been working hard in training,” Solskjaer said. “He’s been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or clos...

Emile Smith Rowe, France’s next superstar, Liverpool legend’s great nephew… The top wonderkids to watch out for in 2021 including Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United starlets

Image
https://ift.tt/2VXyruA A host of talented youngsters emerged from the ranks of their respective academies in 2020 to make their mark on the first team. Whether it was Arsenal’s brilliant youngster Bukayo Saka or Chelsea’s talented midfielder Billy Gilmour, dozens of promising youth products enjoyed a memorable year despite the four-month break in play caused by coronavirus. GETTY IMAGES Gilmour made his breakthrough 2020 – but who could next make an impact in 2021? Bedding young stars into any first team is often a precarious proposition for a manager, with the physical and mental demands often too much for young shoulders. Yet, every once in a while, a star emerges to dazzle and dance their way into the reckoning and announce themselves as one to watch. In no particular order, here are talkSPORT.com’s wonderkids to watch out for in 2021… Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal) The 20-year-old has shone in his two Premier League starts and is now making himself too hard to ignore for...

Arsenal confirm Sead Kolasinac to Schalke on loan as Mikel Arteta’s plan to cull Gunners squad begins

Image
https://ift.tt/2MqZhtP Arsenal have confirmed Sead Kolasinac will join Schalke on loan until the end of the season as their bid to trim the squad begins. The Gunners are expected to be busy in the January transfer window, but before they can make any additions, they must shift the dead weight from their under-performing squad. Getty Images - Getty Kolasinac has become surplus to requirements at Arsenal Kolasinac, the 27-year-old left-back, is one of a number of players who have barely featured this season, alongside Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil – the latter of whom did not even make Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squad lists. Before Kolasinac’s move to Schalke was announced, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hinted at an upcoming cull of players next month. “We have a large squad and we knew that. A lot of things that should have happened in the summer, we cannot accomplish for different reasons,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom. 🗞 Sead Kolas...

Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani hit with three-game suspension by FA, ruling him out of Carabao Cup showdown with Man City, Watford FA Cup tie and Aston Villa clash

Image
https://ift.tt/3hte5Dy Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani has been slapped with a three-game ban by the Football Association and fined £100,000 after an ‘aggravated breach’ of their rules. The charge related to a comment posted on social media by Cavani back in November. Getty Images Cavani deleted the Instagram post after being made aware how the wording could be interpreted in the UK After inspiring United to a 3-2 comeback win over Southampton, the Uruguayan posted a message on Instagram in response to a fan that featured the world ‘negrito’. He quickly deleted the post and  issued an apology , insisting the word has a different and inoffensive meaning in his home nation. “A comment posted on the Manchester United FC striker’s Instagram page was insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1,” the FA said on Thursday. “The post also constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’. which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included ...

Nuno Espirito Santo faces touchline ban as FA charge Wolves boss for claiming Lee Mason not good enough to be a Premier League referee

Image
https://ift.tt/2KT2AJJ Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association over his scathing remarks made about referee Lee Mason. The Portuguese boss said Mason lacked the ‘quality’ to referee in the Premier League after his side’s 2-1 defeat at Burnley earlier this month. Getty Images Santo is not a big fan of Mason – to say the least! “The referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League,” Santo said. “It is not about the crucial mistakes or decisions, it is about the way he handles the game. The players get nervous, too much voices, he whistles by the voices when some players are shouting. “We are talking about the best competition and clearly he doesn’t have the quality to whistle the game. I’m very disappointed to say this but I would not feel right if I didn’t say it. “I just don’t want to see him more – that’s what I told him. I hope he doesn’t whistle a game of ours again because all the g...

Arsenal news LIVE: Saka boost, Ceballos January exit, Arteta wants outgoings, Rekik set to join

Image
https://ift.tt/31iGxQS talkSPORT brings you the latest Arsenal news, transfer gossip and biggest talking points. The pressure has eased on manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners followed up their fine 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day with a battling 1-0 victory at Brighton. Meanwhile, Arsenal are being linked with a host of players in the January, including former Chelsea striker Diego Costa after his contract at Atletico Madrid was terminated and Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey. Follow our latest Arsenal updates below… Let's block ads! (Why?) December 31, 2020 at 06:17PM Premier League Football Fixtures and Results - talkSPORT https://talksport.com

Alexandre Lacazette rewarded, Gabriel Martinelli benched but Emile Smith Rowe continues as Arsenal face West Brom in the Premier League

Image
https://ift.tt/3hsZGY8 Arsenal may have secured back-to-back wins over Christmas, but they still have plenty to do if they are to get themselves back in the mix for a European spot. Slip ups by those higher in the Premier League table mean an assault on the top six isn’t out of the question anymore. Getty Images - Getty Arsenal’s win against Chelsea was their first since November And up next they face strugglers West Brom on Saturday at 8pm, live on talkSPORT . The 3-1 win over Frank Lampard’s side on Boxing Day appears to have signalled a turning point for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta. They followed it up with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday night, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring 21 seconds after coming off the bench. Both victories were spearheaded by Arsenal’s young attacking trio – Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli. They will all be difficult to drop, but the return of senior players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, plus the form of...

Tim Sherwood gave us the TV moment of the year with commentary of Roberto Firmino’s late winner for Liverpool against Tottenham

Image
https://ift.tt/3gWtGeI There have been many great moments on TV in 2020, but none will top Tim Sherwood! The former Tottenham boss was left with egg on his face when he was commentating on Liverpool vs Tottenham for Amazon Prime in early December. Prime Video Sherwood really should have been more worried As Andy Robertson stood ready to take a corner for Liverpool in the final minute and the game locked at 1-1, Sherwood declared with supreme confidence that Tottenham had nothing to worry about. “Another corner… I’m not too worried about this corner – it might come back to bite me,” he said. “I think Tottenham have the dominancy in the air. “I’m not sure anybody can get their head on the first ball.” We all know what happened next… Roberto Firmino rose above every Spurs defender as Sherwood spoke to bury his header and seal all three points for the hosts. Unsurprisingly, the BT Sport panel couldn’t hide their laughter at his prediction, with one of his colleagues saying ...

When Clinton Morrison annoyed the whole of Liverpool by telling Michael Owen how to score and prompted brilliant Gary McAllister put down

Image
https://ift.tt/3hw74lf Clinton Morrison once inspired Liverpool to a humiliating win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup, and prompted a brilliant put down from Gary McAllister . The former Palace striker was just 21 when he famously incurred the wrath of Reds fans by joking about Michael Owen’s poor form after he helped his side – then in the First Division – beat the Premiership giants 2-1 at Selhurst Park in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final in 2001. getty Scoring a goal against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final went to a 21-year-old Clinton Morrison’s head But it appears he did more than that, as Owen’s teammates were all fired up for the return leg at Anfield, and absolutely battered Morrison’s Eagles side 5-0. Liverpool later went on to beat Birmingham in the final on penalties to win their first of three trophies that season, but their defeat in London was seen as a major embarrassment for Gerard Houllier’s men. Liverpool had spent big on their for...

Aston Vila are ‘definitely’ top four contenders this season, claims club’s former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich

Image
https://ift.tt/38MIzfP Mark Bosnich insists Aston Villa are genuine top four contenders this season. Dean Smith’s side are fifth in the Premier League table and have at least one game in hand on their rivals. AFP Aston Villa have already beaten Liverpool and Arsenal this season In fact, if Villa win their two games in hand on Liverpool , they will be just a point behind the league leaders. But Bosnich, who made 232 appearances for Villa between 1992 and 1999, believes Champions League qualification is a realistic aim for his former club. He told talkSPORT 2 : “The key for Aston Villa is the fact they’ve beaten one of the best teams in the world 7-2 in Liverpool . “The amount of confidence that’ll give the players, you can’t undervalue it whatsoever. “You’ve got your manager and the assistants having the ability to turn around and say, ‘listen, you’ve beaten the champions 7-2, so that means you can beat anybody. AFP Aston Villa are flying under Smith and his assist...

Three PL clubs face off in Sancho race; Messi’s grand plan revealed?: Rumour Mill

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Manchester United are set to have more competition in the race to sign Jadon Sancho. December 31, 2020 at 04:02PM

Sir Alex Ferguson’s brilliant letter to Manchester United icon Eric Cantona revisited as legendary Scot celebrates 79th birthday

Image
https://ift.tt/3h9QzKC Dear Eric, Some months have passed since we last spoke and I felt that I should write to you as a mark of respect and esteem in which I hold you. When we started training, I kept waiting for you to turn up as normal but I think that was in hope not realism and I knew in your eyes when we met at Mottram your time at Manchester United was over. Although, I still feel you should have taken bot your Father’s and my advice and taken a holiday before making such a major decision. One thing, I would like you to remember is to remain active and fit. I always rememeber when I finished at 32 and I started management, I was more concerned about organising training and the coaching of players that I forgot about my own fitness and then wheh I realised about six years later what was happening I started to train again to recapture my fitness and it was murder, so you do need to keep up your fitness. I am sure you have been keeping an eye on our results and as you can see ...

Bruno Fernandes hailed as ‘best player in Premier League’ as stats back up claim Man United star has overtaken Kevin De Bruyne

Image
https://ift.tt/37r4ji3 Bruno Fernandes has overtaken Kevin De Bruyne to become the best player in the Premier League, talkSPORT has been told. Fernandes was an inspired signing for Manchester United in January 2020 after joining from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth an initial £47million. Getty Images - Getty Fernandes has only been at Old Trafford for 12 months but is already their most crucial player His impact at Old Trafford was immediate and helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side achieve a third-place finish. This term, he’s been even better and already has ten goals and seven assists in just 15 games, with United sitting second in the table at the end of 2020. De Bruyne won the Premier League player of the season prize for 2019/2020 after grabbing 20 assists but former England striker Ashton believes he is no longer the top dog. He told talkSPORT Drive : “I think Fernandes has already overtaken De Bruyne. “You can see the difference when [Sergio] Aguero doesn’t play fo...

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder questioned over Rhian Brewster stance as Daniel Sturridge is tipped for January move

Image
https://ift.tt/3pBCEkr Darren Bent has been left bewildered by Rhian Brewster’s lack of first-team opportunities at Sheffield United since the youngster completed a club-record move from Liverpool back in October. Chris Wilder’s men lie rooted to the summit of the English top flight and 11 points adrift of safety, having equalled the longest winless run at the start of a Premier League season [QPR, 16 games – 2012/13] after a 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Tuesday night. Getty Images Brewster has struggled for regular game time and form at Bramall Lane And with the Blades in such dire straits, former Tottenham striker Bent wants to see £23.5million man Brewster given a proper run in Wilder’s side – despite failing to register a single goal for his new side in 12 appearances to date. “If I’m Rhian Brewster I’m thinking just give me five or six games [in the team],” Bent explained. “All it takes is one goal, his confidence is up and their confidence is up… he goes and gets another...

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney hailed as ‘Scottish Pyscho’ who inspires his teammates like Roy Keane and Paul McGrath did for Tony Cascarino

Image
https://ift.tt/3pCbytp Tony Cascarino has hailed Kieran Tierney as the ‘Scottish Psycho’ who lifts players around him like Roy Keane and Paul McGrath. Tierney joined Arsenal in August 2019 but an injury-hit first campaign saw him manage just 15 Premier League appearances. Getty Images - Getty Tierney joined Arsenal from Celtic for £25m and is proving a bargain buy for the Gunners There was talk of an early exit, but the left-back has already played 15 times in the league this season and has been one of the few shining lights for the Gunners in a disappointing campaign so far. The 23-year-old has the most crosses for the club since he joined with 67 while the next nearest player, Bukayo Saka, has just 39. He also gives away a foul every 191 minutes, significantly less than the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles (77), David Luiz (80) and Hector Bellerin (82). Cascarino was impressed with the Scotland international during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Brighton this week and how he i...

Arsenal news LIVE: Leon Bailey linked, Sead Kolasinac set for exit, Tottenham could rival Gunners for RB Leipzig star

Image
https://ift.tt/31iGxQS talkSPORT brings you the latest Arsenal news, transfer gossip and biggest talking points. The pressure has eased on manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners followed up their fine 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day with a battling 1-0 victory at Brighton. Meanwhile, Arsenal are being linked with a host of players in the January, including former Chelsea striker Diego Costa after his contract at Atletico Madrid was terminated and Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey. Follow our latest Arsenal updates below… Let's block ads! (Why?) December 31, 2020 at 12:39PM Premier League Football Fixtures and Results - talkSPORT https://talksport.com

Jurgen Klopp reveals Joel Matip will be out for three weeks through injury with Liverpool braced to enter January transfer window

Image
https://ift.tt/3hw3pEj Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Joel Matip will miss three weeks through injury after suffering an adductor strain against West Bromwich Albion. The Cameroon international missed the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United just three days later as the Reds lost ground in their race to retain their Premier League crown. Getty - Pool Joel Matip will be out of action for three weeks Mohamed Salah endured a miserable evening on Tyneside as the battling Magpies fought their way to a goalless draw with the Premier League champions. The Egypt international missed the target either side of half-time with just keeper Karl Darlow to beat, and strike-partner Roberto Firmino, who saw two headers superbly saved, was similarly profligate at St James’ Park. Three days after lowly West Brom struck late to snatch a point at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s men – who have now won only two of their eight league away games this season – were frustrated once again, although it took a late go...

Steve Bruce insists Karl Darlow will remain first choice at Newcastle after Liverpool heroics – despite return of Martin Dubravka

Image
https://ift.tt/3pCQD9S Steve Bruce insists Martin Dubravka will have to earn his place as Newcastle United No.1 after the sparkling form of Karl Darlow thus far in his absence. The former Nottingham Forest shot-stopper has been between the sticks for the Magpies since the start of the season and was a deserved man-of-the match during a 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Getty Images - Getty Karl Darlow was superb against Liverpool on Wednesday evening Darlow denied the electric front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino time and time again at a bitterly cold St James’ Park to earn a point in the final Premier League game of 2020. As well as officially denying the Reds the chance to achieve 100 points this season, the 30-year-old has further boosted his chances of retaining his first team spot, despite the return of Dubravka to the bench. Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport, a delighted Bruce admitted that although the Slovakia international has returned after cracking a ...