Posts

Posted on

Transfer window verdict: how every Premier League club fared this summer

Liverpool and Manchester City were restrained but it was noisy again at Chelsea and Brighton spent a record total

Losing Mikel Merino in his first training session wasn’t exactly ideal for Mikel Arteta in a summer when he also added Riccardo Calafiori to an already miserly defence. Yet Arsenal fans, having awaited news of attacking reinforcements, will be relieved Raheem Sterling’s dramatic late arrival increases the competition for places and the cover – especially for Bukayo Saka. The sales of Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah and the loan departure of Reiss Nelson will be difficult for supporters to get used to but they will hope Arteta’s ruthless approach pays dividends. Neto joined on deadline day to replace Ramsdale as the back-up goalkeeper. Ed Aarons

Continue reading...
Posted on

‘Athletes are entertainers too’: Alex Yee on being a showman and dealing with Olympic glory

He went viral with a ‘cold’ celebration labelled cocky after another last-gasp win, but Yee is embracing the chance to get more personality in sport

Alex Yee does not immediately strike you as a showman. There is little brash about the slight, unassuming south Londoner who became the most decorated triathlete in Olympic history just a few weeks ago and when he talks about athletes in ancient times it is not easy to picture him slugging it out in the Colosseum. He is, however, developing a keen sense of theatre.

His individual Olympic gold medal in Paris ranks as one of the most dramatic moments of the Games. He was seemingly out of contention with 1km of the 10km run remaining, scrapping to hold on to silver and 14sec down on Hayden Wilde of New Zealand, but a miraculous surge past his great rival with 400m to go took him to the top of the podium. A few weeks later at an event in Boston he pulled off a similarly dramatic finish, again edging past Wilde near the finish line.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Roob’s 10 areas of concern going into 2024 Eagles season

Before we start, I do want to mention that I think the Eagles are going to have a good year. I’ll be surprised if they don’t win at least 11 games, and I think 12 is a reasonable expectation. I’ve got them winning the NFC East, and I believe that along with the 49ers and Lions, they’re one of the three-best teams in the conference. That said, there are questions. There are concerns. There are players and position groups that will have to come up big if they are going to win 11 or 12 games. So as