Stories By Harry De Cosemo

• Sport

  Newcastle United fans have cause to be positive despite current woes

  Mike Ashley departed Newcastle United at the beginning of October like an overthrown dictator. Not two months on, the full force of the empty destruction he left is being felt hard. It will be no consolation to Eddie Howe, in the St James’ Park dugout for the first time against Norwich City on Tuesday night after a bout of coronavirus, that without Ciaran Clark’s ninth minute red card, his team would most likely have won their first Premier League game of the season.

• Sport

  Criticism of Ralf Rangnick appointment is no more than lazy punditry

  As Ralf Rangnick takes charge of Manchester United on an interim basis, his doubters have become writing him off before he’s even taken charge of a game.   It is human nature to fear the unknown but, for British football pundits, we are past the point of not knowing being a problem.

• Sport

  Is Ollie Watkins the key to life after Grealish at Aston Villa?

  Despite their expensive new signings, Ollie Watkins could still be the key to filling the void left by Jack Grealish at Aston Villa.   Villa Park was an expectant place on Saturday afternoon. For the biggest club in the Midlands, former European champions and a Premier League original, nothing short of victory is often demanded.

• Sport

  Noni Madueke could be the next English star

  There is something different about Noni Madueke, the person and the player. Even in the current age of English footballers finding their feet and an opportunity abroad, his story is unique. Having grown up at Tottenham, he played for the under-18s three years ahead of schedule.

• Sport

  What is stopping Frank Lampard from taking his next job?

  Football moves fast and it is easy to be forgotten if you don’t keep up. When football managers lose their jobs, more so than when they vacate them voluntarily, they are usually extremely non-committal when answering questions on their next move, because they can’t guarantee there will even be a next move.

• Sport

  Is Aleksandar Mitrovic finally proving himself as a top striker?

  Dusan Vlahovic, Serbia’s new hope up front, started against Portugal, but Aleksandar Mitrovic finished the game and did so emphatically. It was his goal, late on in Lisbon, which brought tears to the eyes of Cristiano Ronaldo and sent Serbia through to the World Cup in Qatar next winter and forcing Portugal, European champions until this summer, into the play offs.

• Sport

  David Moyes finally restoring reputation at West Ham

  David Moyes is proof that, for all the certainty of cancel culture, there can be a way back. Modern football is ever-evolving; it moves at a pace which demands those involved keep up. But there are plenty of ideas of what constitutes a successful football coach which have been peddled over the past decade or so, which have left managers like Moyes scrambling to stay relevant.

• Sport

  Tottenham and Conte: Marriage made in heaven or bound for divorce?

  It is strange to think that the Manchester United fans who watched their side decimate Tottenham Hotspur away last weekend probably feel like the real losers. It was a toxic evening in North London when everything changed.

• Sport

  Can Callum Hudson-Odoi emulate the success of other youth players?

  Jadon Sancho was a trailblazer in terms of breaking down barriers for young English talent heading abroad. Until he joined Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City, in 2017, it was a rarity. His success has changed the mindset of British youth players, proving to them there are opportunities elsewhere and that they do not simply have to become part of a major hoarding operation at major Premier League clubs.

• Sport

  Have Ronaldo magic moments masked United deficiencies?

  On Sky Sports’ flagship Monday Night Football show last week, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville turned their attention to Manchester United vs Liverpool. It is the match which gave their bosses the idea of making them the perfect foil for one another, a sort of anti-double act.

• Sport

  Despite slow start, Leicester are still a threat to the elite

  Expectation is a funny thing, and Leicester City have fallen victim of it. Their Premier League title win stands as one of if not the greatest sporting upset in British history, after narrowly avoiding relegation the previous season.

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