Football Weeks https://footballweeks.com Football News, Transfers, Features, EPL Fixtures & Tables Thu, 24 Nov 2022 08:02:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.6 https://footballweeks.com/content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-football-weeks-32x32.png Football Weeks https://footballweeks.com 32 32 119036230 Major Problems Ahead Thanks to Winter World Cup https://footballweeks.com/2022/11/24/major-problems-ahead-thanks-to-winter-world-cup/ Thu, 24 Nov 2022 08:02:04 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11547 Manchester City are well on their way to again winning the English Premier League. Will the scheduling of the 2022 World Cup affect their chances of becoming champions?

 

When the decision was made to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, few imagined the disruption it would cause. Rather than the finals being held in the summer, we have a winter tournament. Anyone wanting to see their top domestic teams playing in late November and most of December will just have to look at their DVDs instead.

 

This is going to cause major problems for clubs. For over a month there’ll be no matches to play. That means a massive drop in revenue and for the not so wealthy clubs, it could cause major problems.

 

The lack of matches being played will also affect bookmakers, especially those online. Sports betting has become incredibly popular around the world, particularly in the USA. The state like New Jersey is recording huge figures. There will still be plenty of other sports to cover but for football, just as in the pandemic there will be a search for lower leagues to cover, this online sport betting guide for New Jersey informed.

 

Back to Manchester City and their quest to win a fourth straight English Premier League title . Their squad has players from all over the world. Many will be on World Cup duty in November and December. How will that affect them when the league season resumes just over a week after the World Cup final?

 

One slice of luck is that Erling Haaland isn’t on his way to Qatar. Norway didn’t qualify so he’ll be at home watching the games. He looks like being one of the few members of the City squad not to be playing in the World Cup. Is this good or bad news for the Premier League champions?

 

Haaland will have to work hard on his fitness to ensure he’s ready for when the Premier League season resumes. It might take a match or two to get back into the swing of things. He’ll also probably be fed up of hearing all the stories from other players about their World Cup exploits.

 

Pep Guardiola will be having an anxious time watching the World Cup. He’ll have his fingers crossed that none of his squad picks up an injury in Qatar. The fitness of his players when they return will be a cause for concern for him.

 

Usually after a major summer tournament, players are allowed to delay their training for the new season. That’s not going to be easy this year with Premier League fixtures being played just eight days after the World Cup final.

 

Guardiola is probably dreading England, Spain or Belgium going deep in the tournament. While not wishing ill-luck in some countries, he’d prefer his players back home as soon as possible.

 

There’s another reason for Guardiola to pay close attention to the World Cup matches. It’s common for players to grab the interest of watching club managers. The January transfer window will open soon after the World Cup ends. A sometimes quiet window might be the exact opposite in 2023 as the World Cup stars move clubs.

 

Late December and January is going to be a fascinating time in the footballing world. Will fringe players get unexpected opportunities to play or will the returning World Cup players have to go straight back into the domestic fray?

 

 

 

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How far can Newcastle United go this season? https://footballweeks.com/2022/11/24/how-far-can-newcastle-united-go-this-season/ Thu, 24 Nov 2022 08:01:35 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11545 Heavy financial investment often rocks the footballing fraternity but very few takeovers can compare with the international scrutiny the Saudi Arabian investment at Newcastle United generated in 2021.

One of the great footballing institutions in England and beyond, Newcastle United had endured a relative spell in the doldrums in the 2000s, with Toon dropping down into the Championship on two separate occasions.

Having bounced back under the likes of Chris Hughton and Rafa Benitez, Newcastle looked to have accepted a life of relative mediocrity in the Premier League – battling away for survival under the stewardship of famously frugal chairman Mike Ashley.

The narrative around the club however changed overnight in September 2021, as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund decided to pump over £300 million into the coffers at Newcastle and in the space of just over 12 months, the mood around St James’s Park has transformed.

Eddie Howe was brought in to replace Steve Bruce as manager and with significant financial investment in the playing staff, Newcastle United are a side undoubtedly going places.

How far Newcastle can go this season remains to be seen and ascertaining whether they have the staying power to keep pace with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal will be revealed in their upcoming fixtures.

However, with over a third of the Premier League season complete, Newcastle find themselves sitting comfortably in the top 4 of the table – above the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Ending the season in the top 4 would be a superb return for Newcastle, with their Saudi Arabian owners having been vocal about their quest to join the Champions League in the not too distant future.

With Manchester City and Arsenal seemingly battling it out for the league title, Toon look to be competing with Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool for two remaining spots.

At +650 with NY WynnBet sportsbook, Newcastle remain on the periphery of finishing the season in the top 4 but they are one of the in-form sides in the division, having only conceded 10 goals in their opening 13 fixtures.

Should the Champions League dream not come to fruition this term, reaching the Europa League would be seen as a significant step in the right direction.

Finishing inside the top 6 at the end of the campaign would enable Toon to play in the Europa League next term and at +225, they look very well placed to do so.

If Newcastle United can keep pace with the rest of the traditional big six this season remains to be seen but with significant financial investment across the whole club, it would appear that Newcastle United are very much here to stay at the top table of English football.

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Wales to change national football team name?! https://footballweeks.com/2022/11/05/wales-to-change-national-football-team-name/ Sat, 05 Nov 2022 07:39:39 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11541 When the Wales national football team arrives in Qatar later this month, they will play in their first World Cup since 64 years. The team of Gareth Bale, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1958, will aim to make a lasting impression on their second outing.

The term “Wales” may no longer be used to refer to the national team after the Qatar 2022 World Cup. After a significant event, “Wales” might change its name to “Cymru.”

Wales is called Cymru in Welsh, which literally translates to “the people.”

Phonetically, it sounds like “kum-ri” or “come-ree.”

After the 2022 World Cup, the Wales team may adopt the name Cymru, according to rumours in town. Locally, they are known as Cymru, which includes on their own website and on social media.

Cymru is used by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) at its headquarters and in all official correspondence and documentation.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney touched upon subject recently and said: “The team should always be called Cymru, that’s what we call it here.

“Our view at the moment is that domestically we’re clearly called Cymru. That’s what we call our national teams.

“If you look at our website, how we talk about ourselves, we are very much Cymru. Internationally we feel we have a bit more work to do yet. So we are going to this World Cup as Wales.

“But I think 2023 will be a year when we have a good discussion with all the different stakeholders – whether that’s governments, our own boards, councils and decision-making bodies, staff, club and players.”

Mooney’s remarks make it abundantly clear that a name change cannot be completely ruled out and will likely be discussed further after the World Cup is over and the new year starts.

Wales could soon change its name to Cymru, which wouldn’t be the first time such a change occurred. FIFA and UEFA gave their approval to Turkey’s action earlier this year when they decided to drop the anglicised version of their name and rebrand as Turkiye.

Similar name changes for nations have happened throughout history outside of the football world. Iran was formerly Persia, Sri Lanka was formerly Ceylon, and Holland is now the Netherlands.

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How to Place a Bet From New York on the 2022 World Cup https://footballweeks.com/2022/10/31/how-to-place-a-bet-from-new-york-on-the-2022-world-cup/ Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:01:43 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11537 The largest sporting event worldwide is the FIFA World Cup. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that soccer is the most popular sport. The finest athletes on earth assemble every four years to compete for dominance in front of a global audience.

There are already several fantastic methods for bettors to gamble on the World Cup 2022 in New York, where sports betting is currently permitted at physical and mortar locations. However, according to the latest information, New York will join other US states that run mobile platforms. You will be able to make secure bets at reputable internet sites in New York City by the time the 2022 World Cup is being wagered on.

Check out the World Cup betting options from sportsbetlistings.com if you’re seeking the latest odds and highest rewards to use when in the Big Apple. This website, already a favorite pick for many New Yorkers, provides new users with alluring welcome bonuses that might help them make more World Cup bets, while also providing them with a list of the best sites to use in the location that they are in.

Following are the steps to bet from New York on the 2022 World Cup.

Make first deposit

You must make your initial deposit after setting up your player account. There are various options, including PayPal, credit card payment, and bank transfer. You must research the available payment options before registering on a site because they vary. You must frequently deposit a minimum wager to be eligible for their welcome promotion. To receive the maximum bonus, be aware of this criterion.

Select the match

Once you’ve made a financial contribution to your account, you may choose the game you wish to wager on. It’s still easy; visit the preferred sportsbook, log in to your account, choose “Football,” then “World Cup.” There will be a schedule for every World Cup 2022 game. Select the one you want to wager on by clicking.

Choose the bet

You are on the page for the game you want to wager on. You will see a list of every wager that may be made on this game, with the associated odds. The odds are a number that governs a bet’s probability. The possibility of victory increases with decreasing odds, but winnings fall. The chance of success decreases as the odds increase, but the potential rewards boost.

Conclusion

There are several viable ways for US residents to place bets on the World Cup 2022 in New York. Just remember that each bettor is different, and what works for one person may not work for someone else.

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Four Most Adored Players of FIFA World Cup 2022 https://footballweeks.com/2022/10/26/four-most-adored-players-of-fifa-world-cup-2022/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 16:33:14 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11535 The FIFA World Cup is undoubtedly the best competition in the world of football, with many of the biggest and best countries all competing for the ultimate glory. Indeed, one of the reasons so many continue to tune in to this particular tournament is due to the fact that it will see a number of the world’s best players all competing.

With this year’s edition set to take place from November 20, there is no doubt that there will be many that will be looking forward to the upcoming spectacle, with the event taking place in Qatar in a list of firsts, including being played in a European winter.

Naturally, the timing of this competition has also seen a number of sports betting fans become excited with anticipation for the event, with many already heading to a platform like the one nhacaiuytin8888.com for Vietnam sports betting, as it provides them with the opportunity to get the best odds and markets possible from the best sites all in one place.

While there will be a number of players ready to wear their country’s colors and look to perform as well as they can in the upcoming competition, the four mentioned below will be among the best that could potentially make a huge difference…

Lionel Messi

You can not talk about a list of players to be adored by fans all over the world at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, without mentioning Lionel Messi. The Argentine is considered to be the GOAT by so many, and with him confirming that this will be his final appearance at the major tournament, it could be one that ends up being very emotional for a variety of different reasons.

Son Heung-Min

Son Heung-Min is going to be a player that many will be watching out for, as he will be the main man for South Korea in Qatar. The attacker is known for being one of Tottenham Hotspur’s key performers and is a likable character, which is why he is considered to be one of the most adored in the game.

Manuel Neuer

One of the best goalkeepers over the last decade and more, Manuel Neuer is going to be another man that will be adored by fans at this year’s World Cup, especially by those that support Germany, as they will be hoping he can lead them to another finals and championship success.

Indeed, as he is 36, it is very likely going to be his last appearance at this tournament, and many feel it could be a fitting way to go out if he was able to capture another winner’s medal.

Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne is known to be one of the best midfielders in the world, and he will be looking to prove that is the case for the Red Devils this winter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the 31-year-old perhaps having a point to prove on the biggest stage of them all.

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A familiar face returns to the Premier League https://footballweeks.com/2022/10/25/a-familiar-face-returns-to-the-premier-league/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:08:54 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11532 After Aston Villa decided to part ways with Steven Gerrard after 11 tough months, there may not have been many that will have been too concerned if the club had looked to take their time regarding appointing someone new to lead the Villains.

Indeed, if Aaron Danks’ first game in charge as caretaker manager was anything to go by, then the 4-0 win against Brentford could have been something that he may have been able to build on. Some will have been left impressed by what he had achieved against the West Londoners, that they may have been looking at the Live Football Scores and wondering whether they needed to have a bet on him becoming the next permanent manager, or at least be given some time to remain in charge and see what happens.

Alas, that is not to be, as the club has decided to bring a familiar face back to the Premier League in a manager that has already had experience of the league.

Aston Villa have announced that they have acquired Unai Emery as their new boss, with the Spaniard set to take the reigns on November 1 – it has nothing to do with his appearance of Dracula and Halloween, we wouldn’t have thought…

Jokes aside, the Spaniard is incredibly experienced and has been able to manage at some of the top clubs in football, with him allegedly having been the main target for Newcastle United before they went for Eddie Howe as he decided to pull out of the race.

He has managed Paris Saint-Germain where he managed to win a Ligue 1 title, as well as two French Cups and enjoy a double French League Cup success, while he has proven that he can win some of the biggest titles in club football, too.

Emery became the most successful manager in UEFA Europa League history when he managed to obtain his fourth title – the first with Villarreal when they defeated Manchester United on penalties; having already secured three with Sevilla in the past.

Of course, many will remember his time with Arsenal, although that did not typically go as well as many would have thought it would have. Some might even suggest that he was unlucky to get fired from the role in London, although he will now get to show everyone in the Premier League what he can do while he is in charge at Villa Park.

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The Most Fashionable Premier League Kits Ranked https://footballweeks.com/2022/10/20/the-most-fashionable-premier-league-kits-ranked/ Thu, 20 Oct 2022 13:47:59 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11528 Every season the debate comes up – which Premier League team has the best (and worst) football kit? With a total of 60 kits between the 20 teams, this is a topic that many football fans have an opinion on.

Inspired by London Fashion Week, we set out to answer the question for the 22/23 season. We weighed up the data from Football Kit Archive, along with insight from Ryan Brockbank at The Fashion Retail Academy. Here’s what we learned.

The People’s Choice: Which Kit Do Football Fans Love The Most?

Arsenal features twice on the top 5 list with their away kit (rated 4.4/5) and their home kit (rated 4.1/5). Newcomers Nottingham Forest come in second place with their third kit (rated 4.2/5). The Crystal Palace third kit featured in third place (Rated 4.2/5) making it the second kit Macron manufactured in this lineup. Adidas got featured three times with the third being the Manchester United Away Kit (rated 4.1/5) which ranked at number 5.

The People’s Choice: Which Kit Do Football Fans Hate The Most?

People seem to dislike yellow with both the Wolves home kit (rated 2.7/5) and the Everton third kit (rated 2.6/5) ranking in the bottom 5. Everton also have their away kit (rated 2.5/5) in the bottom 5, which makes them the only team with two kits in the bottom 5. Unlike the white Manchester United away kit, Newcastle’s white third kit (rated 2.4/5) has not been as well received. In last place, we have Tottenham’s away kit (rated 1.9/5) which takes the title of Most Hated Kit Of The Season.

The Critic’s Choice: Which Premier League Kit is The Most Fashionable?

We asked our fashion expert to rank his top 5 kits so we can compare them to the public’s most loved kits. These were the results.

In the first place, fashion expert Ryan Brockbank ranked Arsenal’s home kit, unlike the public that preferred the black third kit. He highlighted the kit’s great collar and the classic shoulder 3 stripes which gives it a retro feel.

In second place he opted for Manchester United’s home kit rather than the public’s choice of white away kit. He said: ‘This kit has a great collar with woven tipping which makes it stand out and gives it a retro kit feel.’

For the third to fifth places, the public and our fashion expert went very different routes. Brockbank went for Aston Villa’s away kit, Leicester City’s home kit and Nottingham Forest’s no sponsor home kit. This shows that while the public enjoyed the crazy patterns on the Arsenal Away Kit and Nottingham Forest’s third kit when it comes to fashion, nothing beats a simple kit.

The Critic’s Choice: Which Premier League Kit is The Most Unfashionable?

We asked our fashion expert to rank his worst 5 kits so we can compare them to the public’s most hated kits. These were the results

The only kit to appear on both the public’s list as well as our fashion expert’s list was the Tottenham away kit. Our fashion expert Ryan Brockbank said “The kit just does not work. The colours do not blend well together and the central crest design looks odd with the sponsor.”

In last place, Brockbank placed the Liverpool home kit which he described as “too simple”.

He also said “ It could be just a red t-shirt. It needs at least a contrast trim on the collar and cuffs to make it stand out.” Comparing it to the Manchester United home kit you can see exactly what he means.

Adding details could also backfire as with the West Ham Home Kit. Brockbank said: “The new details spoiled the kit. The classic Umbro strip across the sleeve would have made it much better.”

In 54th & 56th place we find the complete opposite of simple with the Brentford Third Kit described by Brockbank as “a Jackson Pollock print” and the Southampton away kit described as “not wearable anywhere outside of the house”. This shows the importance of taking risks with kits, but also maintaining harmony with the design.

Which Premier League Team is the Most Fashionable: Home, Away, and Third Kit Combined

We’ve weighed up the public’s opinion as well as expert opinion on the best kits. So how does each team line up when we look at all three kits together? We’ve totted up the numbers to see which team comes out on top, along with insight from Brockbank.

1. Arsenal

Public rating: 12.4/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘A classic Adidas 3 stripes home kit, with traditional colour for a smart look. They have a nice away shirt. I particularly like the gold detailing retro print. It is very reminiscent of the 90s banana kit print.’

2. Crystal Palace

Public rating: 12.4/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘This is a great Palace home shirt, especially with the unique take on the stripe detailing. This is visible on all three of their kits. You can also see some nice red tipping on the collar and cuffs which helps tie everything together.’

3. Nottingham Forest

Public rating: 11.4/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘A very unusual lineup without a kit sponsor, but it makes for a simple yet beautiful forest home kit. The 2-star detail is also a great addition signifying European cup wins.’

4. Leeds

Public rating: 11.1/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘All three kits have the iconic shoulder strips from Adidas. The home kit is classic white with yellow detail. All three kits make great use of the sponsor logo, especially with the colour contrast.’

5. AFC Bournemouth

Public rating: 11.1/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘This kit lineup includes a classic Umbro design, with a unique take on the striping visible throughout the lineup. We also see the traditional V neck colour, with a retro 80s feel featured especially in the away kit.’

6. Manchester United

Public rating: 11/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘The red home kit is the classic pinstripe United shirt reminiscent of the classic 1999 shirt. Adidas also brought back the classic shield badge on all their kits. Overall the lineup showcases a range of nice colours with contrast shoulder stripes.’

7. Leicester City

Public rating: 10.9/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Adidas went the 70s style route with this kit lineup. The kit colour matches really well with the shoulder stripes in each of the three kits, especially on the home one.’

8. Westham United

Public rating: 10.9/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Umbro has been making West Ham kits for a while, but for the 2022/23 lineup, they have gone for a bold shoulder detail, reminiscent of the 90s Adidas kits. You can clearly see it on the home kit’s shoulder and on the cuffs of the away kit.’

9. Brighton & Hove Albion

Public rating: 10.8/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘There is no collar on this season’s Brighton shirt, with pin stripe detailing down the front and the classic swoosh making for a great kit lineup.’

10. Brentford

Public rating: 10.6/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘The home kit has some nice Umbro detailing on the neckline and of course the classic Brentford stripes. The third kit is summed up perfectly by its sponsor’. A bit “Hollywood”!’

11. Aston Villa

Public rating: 10.5/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Castore has entered the Premier League kit game and with a great logo, sponsor and Villa badge. It all comes together for a great lineup. The away kit has a strong 80s aesthetic with pin stripe detailing, V neck and piping.’

12. Liverpool

Public rating: 10.4/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Nike were pretty experimental with the away and third kits, but for the home kit is it just a simple Nike design with the swoosh and traditional Liverpool badge.’

13. Manchester City

Public rating: 10.2/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Puma continues with its unique football kit designs with the badge and logo placed in the centre of the kit. The Etihad sponsor adds a touch of elegance to the kit as it is up there with the iconic sponsors, such as Sharp, Panasonic, and Candy.’

14. Southampton

Public rating: 10.2/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘It’s nice to see Hummel moving away from the multiple red and white stripes of the 90s and 2000s. The Saints kit goes back to a 70s design with the bold centre stripe and centre logo design. Not much to say about the third kit, and the less said about the away kit the better.’

15. Newcastle United

Public rating: 9.7/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘As with a lot of kits in the 2022/23 lineup all three designs from Castore have a retro feel to them. They also all have contrast tipping on the collar and cuffs which adds a lot to the design.’

16. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Public rating: 9.7/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Great lineup from Castore. I especially like the home kit design. Castore made a really nice yellow shirt with black shoulder detailing and crisp club badge.’

17. Chelsea

Public rating: 9.4/15*

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Chelsea’s home kit has a really nice hidden pattern on a round, fitted collar. This comes together with the white away kit pattern to make for a very fashionable lineup.’

18. Tottenham Hotspur

Public rating: 9.3/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘The home kit is a simple, plain Spurs shirt with a 70s style club crest on the right and a classic swoosh on the left. This simplicity is contrasted really well with both the away and third kit’s wild designs making it a very unique lineup. ‘

19. Everton

Public rating: 8.6/15

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘The kit showcases Hummel’s famous chevron design throughout the lineup. This also evokes memories of the Denmark 1986 shirt.’

20. Fulham

Public rating: 6.9/15*

What Do Fashion Experts Think About The Lineup?

‘Adidas used the same great template as the Arsenal home kit, but without the colour. They also make great use of the Fulham logo in both kits.’

How Popular Is Each Premier League Team Kit Lineup?

According to data from the football kit archive we see that people love the new Arsenal kit line up giving it a rating of 12.4/15. The black third kit, as well as the red home kit, were featured in our top 5 kits list making arsenal the clear winner of the most fashionable kit lineup title. Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively with their great mix of simple and wild kits in their lineups.

How Popular Is Each Kit Manufacturer?

The data from the football kit archive also showed the average rating for each kit manufacturer. We have Macron on top with an average rating of 4/5 for their kits. They only manufacture kits for Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, but both were fan favourites. Coming in the close second we have Adidas with an average rating of 3.7 and Umbro with an average rating of 3.6.

Methodology

We gathered all the premier league kits from the official Premier League website and then asked our expert Ryan Brockbank from Fashion Retail Academy to comment on each of the lineups and rank the top 5 best and worst kits. We also asked him to explain his decisions from a fashion perspective.

We got the general public data from the Football Kit Archive where hundreds of people vote for each kit out of 5.

Our Fashion Expert’s Bio: Ryan Brockbank 

Ryan graduated from Brighton University in 2017 and was voted one of the best 25 collections of graduate fashion week.

He went on to work at the Brighton and London Tailor Gresham Blake, and then Nicholas Oakwell, whilst freelancing for Anthony Symonds.

During this time, he had my own menswear label, Tailored Casuals, a fusion of classic menswear tailoring and classic football aesthetic.

He moved into the education sector a few years ago and is now the Programme Manager for Fashion Design at the Fashion Retail Academy.

Original Piece From Ticket Compare

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Sergio Aguero gives honest opinion on ex-teammate https://footballweeks.com/2022/10/13/sergio-aguero-gives-honest-opinion-on-ex-teammate/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:39:39 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11525 Sergio Aguero has waxed poetic about former Manchester City teammate Gabriel Jesus following his spectacular start to life at Arsenal, but he is concerned about the Gunners’ season as a whole.

The Gunners paid £45 million to lure the Brazilian to the Emirates in the summer, and it has since proven to be a wise investment, as Jesus has breathed new life into what was a dormant front line last season.

This season, the ex-Etihad favourite has five league goals from the first nine games.

Jesus appears to be thriving given that he is no longer in Aguero’s shadow, as he was at City, when he struggled to ever completely displace the Argentine as first-choice striker for an extended length of time.

That’s not to suggest there is any ill feeling between the two. In fact, Aguero has heaped praise on his old colleague.

Speaking to Stake.com, the five-time Premier League winner and City legend said: “Gabriel has always had good respect, he’s truly a complete player. Now, he’s been able to secure a place among the main squad for Arsenal, and his team has many young players with a hunger for glory.

“[Mikel] Arteta has really been able to imbue it with his style. This has all set up Gabriel to be a key piece of the team, and I’m very happy for it.”

Jesus has been instrumental in Arsenal’s amazing start to the season, with the Gunners sitting atop the Premier League standings, one point clear of his former club as Pep Guardiola’s City close in.

The atmosphere at the Emirates is currently at an all-time high, with morale across the stadium sky-high as a result of Arsenal’s flawless play.

The Gunners’ 3-2 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday was quite a statement, given that they had previously failed to defeat Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Despite this, Aguero still harbours some fears for Arsenal over the course of the whole season due to the World Cup interrupting the Premier League schedule from November until late December.

“We’re on the first stage of a Premier League that will be different from many others – by and large because we’ll have a World Cup in the middle of it. That makes it harder to foresee how it’ll turn out,” Aguero explained.

“Consistency is the name of the game to win the title and the missing piece is knowing in what condition each player will rejoin their clubs after the World Cup.

“Arsenal will probably be one of those teams but surely not the only one.”

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Brighton have appointed an Italian head coach to replace Graham Potter https://footballweeks.com/2022/09/20/brighton-have-appointed-an-italian-head-coach-to-replace-graham-potter/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:07:34 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11523 Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo manager Roberto de Zerbi has been appointed manager of Brighton.

The 43-year-old Italian has been unemployed since leaving Shakhtar in July due to the Ukraine conflict.

De Zerbi has agreed to a four-year contract at Amex Stadium, subject to obtaining a work permit.

He was Brighton’s first option to succeed Graham Potter, who left to take over as Chelsea manager from Thomas Tuchel earlier this month.

Former Napoli midfielder De Zerbi, who was in charge of Italian club Sassuolo for three years, has brought his coaching staff with him, albeit all will require work permits.

The coaching system is expected to be in place for Brighton’s next match against Liverpool at Anfield on October 1.

“I am absolutely thrilled Roberto has agreed to become our new head coach,” said Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

“Roberto’s teams play an exciting and courageous brand of football, and I am confident his style and tactical approach will suit our existing squad superbly.”

Technical director David Weir said: “Roberto has shown his undoubted ability with his work in Italy and Ukraine, and what he achieved at Sassuolo certainly stands out.

“In his short spell with Shakhtar he enjoyed further success, leading the club to cup success and topping the Ukrainian league before the war brought an abrupt halt to his time there.”

Since Sami Hyypia’s departure in 2014, De Zerbi is just Brighton’s third permanent manager.

On Friday night, he flew to England and attended a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

They are now fourth in the Premier League and have not played since Potter’s departure, with games against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace being postponed.

De Zerbi was the only candidate with whom Brighton spoke.

His availability is important, but the work he made with Sassuolo is also appealing.

Successive eighth-place finishes in Serie A meant finishing ahead of more established clubs, which Brighton hopes to replicate after finishing ninth in the Premier League last season.

Sassuolo would have qualified for the Europa Conference League last season rather than Roma, who went on to win it under Jose Mourinho, if not for a somewhat poorer goal differential.

Games against Liverpool and Tottenham represent a tough start to De Zerbi’s Brighton tenure and, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal to face before the World Cup, he will have done exceptionally well if he can keep Brighton close to their current position.

 

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Manchester City continue to show why they will win the Premier League https://footballweeks.com/2022/09/18/manchester-city-continue-to-show-why-they-will-win-the-premier-league/ Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:31:15 +0000 https://footballweeks.com/?p=11521 Following another impressive victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the early kick off on Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side continue to show everyone that they are going to be the Premier League champions once again this season.

The Citizens managed to secure a routine 3-0 victory against the Old Gold at Molineux, a victory that many who looked at the sports betting options available on apostas-desportivas.org will have likely predicted would have happened.

They may have also predicted that Erling Haaland would get on the scoresheet once again, and he duly delivered in the first half; although he was not the man to open up the scoring.

That fell to Jack Grealish as the former Aston Villa midfielder managed to net inside the first minute of the game, as he managed to get on the end of a cross and put the ball home 55 seconds into the game. Phil Foden added the final goal of the game in the second half to seal a comfortable and comprehensive win.

Of course, some will argue that Manchester City are yet to face anyone of serious note when it comes down to the competition at the top of the table, with West Ham United playing well below where they would usually, while their game against Tottenham Hotspur was postponed because of the passing of Her Majesty, The Queen.

Nonetheless, as footballers will tell you, it does not matter who the opponent is, what matters is getting the three points and the Etihad Stadium outfit are doing exactly that at the moment.

Pep Guardiola’s side are dominating and looking extremely deadly whenever they go forward, with Haaland appearing to have the golden touch regardless of where he is playing. A mind-blowing stat to have appeared following his goal against Wolves highlighted how he has managed to score 100 goals in 99 games since leaving Red Bull Salzburg and joining Borussia Dortmund.

We all know the Norwegian is an enigma and a generational talent that we are unlikely to see ever again, and with him in the team, it would be impossible to bet against the Citizens to be the Premier League champions once again.

Of course, it will be interesting to see how well the team does against their main rivals, but with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United far off the pace and perhaps lacking the same kind of quality throughout their squads, it would be hard not to see Guardiola and his team of superstars running away with the title once again.

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