Blog (Page 243)

Birthday boy Antonio Colak was the hero for Rangers on Saturday as his two goals secured a 2-1 victory over Dundee United. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side had lost three games on the spin heading into this one and really needed an injection of positivity to get things back on track, and they needed to wait just eight minutes for that. Colak netted Rangers’ first goal of the month as he thundered home following some excellent work from James Tavernier, who recovered possession and went bombing down the right wing to set up the 29-year-old’s opener. It was all Rangers in the early stages but DundeeRead More →

Jack Grealish has admitted critics were right to lament his recent form in front of goal after finally scoring his first of the season against Wolves. The England international was heavily criticised following a rather poor start to the season, compounded by a particularly poor performance against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, but quickly got on the scoresheet on Saturday in Man City’s 3-0 win over Wolves. Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Grealish gave a refreshingly honest assessment of his recent performances. “ He said: “It was a long time coming. I haven’t scored since…well I don’t know when it was…since the West HamRead More →

Manchester City made light work of Wolves as Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden all scored in a comprehensive victory at Molineux in Saturday’s early kick off. Grealish turned in Kevin De Bruyne’s cross for the opener in the first minute before Haaland made it 2-0 by firing in after Wolves gave away possession. Nathan Collins was sent off for a ludicrously high boot on Grealish and while Bruno Lage’s side remained competitive for large parts of the second half, City extinguished any hope of a comeback when Foden cleverly flicked in another De Bruyne cross to seal the result. The Citizens were straightRead More →

David Moyes has backed West Ham United’s summer signings to make difference for the Hammers this season, but insisted that they need ‘time’ to do so. West Ham were incredibly active during the summer window, forking out £163m on the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd – the latter of which will be out long term due to an injury. Speaking to the press ahead of the Hammers’ Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday, Moyes discussed the squad depth he now has at his disposal. He stated: “That’s exactly what we’ve been after. We’ve not had that for probably the lastRead More →

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Emile Smith Rowe’s fitness issues, revealing the player is not fully recovered from a groin injury. The creative midfielder has struggled for fitness this season so far, dealing with a groin injury which has lingered for an extended period, and due to this he’s been reduced to cameo appearances for the Gunners. The injury meant Smith Rowe was not selected by Gareth Southgate for England’s upcoming games against Italy and Germany. Speaking to the press ahead of Arsenal’s weekend clash with Brentford, Arteta discussed Smith Rowe’s fitness concerns. He stated: “It’s very frustrating. He’s a kid that lovesRead More →

Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid have issued strong statements after the winger was racially abused by a Spanish agent. On Spanish television channel El Chiringuito, agent Pedro Bravo bizarrely urged the 22-year-old to stop dancing when he celebrates goals, claiming “in Spain, you have to respect rivals and stop playing the monkey”. Bravo has apologised for the remark, saying he misused a metaphor, but Vinicius denounced it, calling it racism and being backed up by his club. “While the colour of skin is more important than the brightness of the eyes, there will be war. I have this phrase tattooed on my body. I haveRead More →

Antonio Conte expects Son Heung-min to break his goalscoring duck soon but admits he won’t hesitate to drop the forward from his Tottenham XI if his form doesn’t improve. After winning the Golden Boot last season with 22 Premier League strikes, Son is yet to get off the mark this term and has looked visibly short of the player who was terrifying defences earlier this year. Spurs are next in action when they host Leicester in Saturday’s late kick off and Conte said he may be tempted to bring Son out of the team if form and fatigue dictate it. He said: “I think Sonny,Read More →

Fulham earned a thrilling 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Friday evening, with a flurry of goals around the hour mark proving the difference between the two sides. Forest had taken a one goal lead into the second half, before three goals in six minutes from Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed saw Fulham grab and advantage. Forest managed to grab a goal back but, despite their best efforts, were unable to draw level. After an even opening, the home side would take a crucial lead through Taiwo Awoniyi in the 11th minute. The ex-Union Berlin marksman stole in atRead More →

Arsenal kicked off the 2022/23 WSL season in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 victory over 10-player Brighton on Friday evening. A B*th Mead brace and goals from Kim Little and Stina Blackstenius saw Arsenal to all three points after Emma Kullberg saw red for Brighton. The Seagulls were up against it from the off when Kullberg was dismissed inside seven minutes after clipping the heels of Stina Blackstenius as the Arsenal forward bore down on goal. The Gunners made their extra player count and proceeded to dominate in possession and territorially, Caitlin Foord seeing their best sighting of goal after working the opening herself withRead More →

The Canadian men’s national team head coach John Herdman announced the 27-player roster set to face Qatar and Uruguay in the upcoming September friendlies.  The team will comfort Qatar in Vienna, Austria, on September 23, before traveling to Bratislava, Slovakia, to play Uruguay on September 27 in the last international window before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.  Herdman’s squad includes 11 players from Major League Soccer, and star figures Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies to FC Porto’s Stephen Eustáquio. Longtime CanMNT captain Atiba Hutchinson is absent, while 18-year-old forward Luca Koleosho looks to be getting  his first senior-team cap. “Being our first trip outside of ConcacafRead More →