Stories By Graham Ruthven
-
Sport
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Chelsea transfer now looking like a mistake for all parties
Eight touches is all Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could muster before he was hooked by Graham Potter after 64 minutes of Chelsea’s home defeat to Arsenal. The 33-year-old spent the rest of the match watching from the Stamford Bridge bench as his former club claimed another win to take them back to the top of the Premier League table.
-
Sport
Gareth Bale’s MLS Cup final shows what he could still offer Wales at the World Cup
For the majority of the 32 minutes Gareth Bale played in Saturday’s MLS Cup final, the Welsh winger offered next to nothing. It was clear in the lack of movement from the 33-year-old that he was a long way short of full fitness, but the Los Angeles FC attacker still came up with a match-defining moment that ultimately sent his team to glory.
-
Sport
Reiss Nelson can be secret weapon of Arsenal’s title challenge this season
Few expected Reiss Nelson to be Arsenal’s primary difference-maker against Nottingham Forest, but that’s the role he ended up playing as the Gunners claimed a 5-0 win to stay top of the Premier League table.
-
Sport
Can Gareth Southgate really ignore the incredible form of James Maddison?
Only four players (Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Toney) have scored more Premier League goals this season than James Maddison. The 25-year-old is arguably in better form than any other English player right now, but it’s far from certain he will be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2022 World Cup.
-
Sport
Gareth Bale’s fitness troubles becoming a serious problem for Wales ahead of World Cup
Los Angeles FC’s players clearly knew the significance of their MLS play-off win over the LA Galaxy. Celebrations continued into the dressing room after the 3-2 victory where the full squad posed for pictures, some of which will enter the history books if LAFC go all the way and win this year’s MLS Cup.
-
Sport
Casemiro signing has given Man Utd their best midfield since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement
Erik Ten Hag waited for the right moment to install Casemiro as a key part of his Manchester United midfield. Signed for £70m in the summer transfer window, the Brazilian was given time to acclimatise to his new surroundings.
-
Sport
Barcelona’s dreadful defence undermining Xavi Hernandez’s rebuild
Only a handful of clubs spent more in the summer transfer window than Barcelona. The Catalans did this despite the precarious financial position of the club, but there was widespread belief that the spending spree would help Xavi Hernandez build a team capable of winning the biggest honours.
-
Sport
Reece James and Kyle Walker injuries could force Gareth Southgate to rethink his England tactics
It will be a cruel twist of fate if England arrive in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup with a dearth of right back options. For years, Gareth Southgate has been spoiled for choice in that particular position.
-
Sport
Ivan Toney is getting better and better and is ready for ‘Big Six’ transfer
Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have scored more Premier League goals than Ivan Toney this season with the 26-year-old a proven match-winner for Brentford. His early-season form has earned him a first England call-up and there’s no reason why Toney couldn’t make the step up to a ‘Big Six’ club.
-
Sport
Sunday’s Clasico could be the start of a new era of the Barca-Real Madrid rivalry
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo turned matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid into must-watch events. Of course, the rivalry started decades beforehand with the political and cultural differences between the two clubs stark, but El Clasico felt like the pinnacle of the sport for a decade as Barca and Real Madrid dominated Spanish and European football.
-
Sport
Cristiano Ronaldo is changing his game to give Erik ten Hag what he needs
If ever any further evidence was needed of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history, his winner for Manchester United against Everton provided it. The strike didn’t just give Erik Ten Hag’s team a valuable victory away from home, it gave Ronaldo the 700th goal of his career.
Loading...
End of content
No more pages to load
