Stories By Pete Hall

• Sport

  Conte mistakes becoming more frequent as Chelsea struggle

  There are some unwritten rules in football that, if broken, earn derision from all quarters, or, even more damagingly, can irrevocably tarnish a reputation. There’s the waving of the imaginary yellow card, that’s a big no-no.

• Sport

  Vardy form means another big club could come calling

  Jamie Vardy form means another big club could come calling Eyebrows were certainly raised around the Premier League elite when Jamie Vardy turned down a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2016, electing to stay with Leicester.

• Sport

  Priorities wrong over diving – there are bigger crimes to eradicate

  Visit www.colossusbets.com now to play our lotto-sized Jackpots To the rest of the world, Britishness is a strange concept. Perhaps it comes from the superiority of when the empire was at its height, or possibly it is a case of small-island syndrome, either way, the traditionalist attitudes on our shores have been hard to shift.

• Sport

  Was keeping hold of Mahrez a victory for Leicester?

  With plentiful restless oligarch and sheikh owners more than willing to invest their surplus millions into football clubs around the world, huge player transfers have become common place. Clubs with a valuable asset are therefore in a powerful position.

• Sport

  Klopp must stop defending Henderson – the captain could bring the ship down with him

  On the big occasion, presidents, generals and football managers aren’t all that dissimilar – they turn to their most trusted lieutenants in their hour of need. While their relationship is not as cordial as it once was, in better times, Sir Alex Ferguson would, without thinking twice, send Roy Keane into battle safe in the knowledge that his skipper more often than not would inspire his charges to victory.

• Sport

  United system at Watford could be winning formula

  Many Manchester United fans longing for a return to the free-flowing attacking days of old got their wish for the visit of Newcastle to Old Trafford two weeks ago. Jose Mourinho swallowed his conservative pride and plumped for a front three, and the result was a return to the four-goal successes that United fans had become accustomed to earlier in the season.

• Sport

  Judge Mkhitaryan and Lukaku upon Pogba’s return, they have an excuse for poor form

  In the fantastic book The Numbers Game, authors Chris Anderson and David Sally argue the point that owners of football clubs can spend all the money in the world on the best superstar striker, but if said club’s weak link in the team keeps giving the ball away, that striker won’t get enough chances to make a seismic impact.

• Sport

  Dembele appearance a gentle reminder of depth of Tottenham squad

  What a night was had by all in attendance at Wembley on Wednesday. Those Tottenham fans who made the journey to northwest London will still be eulogising to anyone who will listen after seeing their side dismantle reigning European and world champions Real Madrid with such consummate ease.

• Sport

  We need to talk about Mkhi – he needs to recreate early season form, and fast

  Mkhitaryan looked unstoppable early on After a difficult first season in the Premier League, it seemed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan had stepped up his game to become the orchestrator-in-chief Manchester United fans had been longing for as he effervescently helped United begin the season in blistering form.

• Sport

  Pass Liverpool Test and Phil Jones’ Doubters Will Have to Take Notice

  Different injuries proven a worry Injuries have arguably been the biggest inescapable blight on the beautiful game throughout history. A myriad of exhilarating footballing careers have been brought to a premature end down the years.

• Sport

  Cruyff’s quest for space lives on in Guardiola as De Bruyne finds calling

  Man City style based on Cruyff’s thinking Johan Cruyff built his footballing philosophy on playing attractive, fluid football – a style which remains at the core of all who he touched within the game.

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