Showing 11 - 20 of 435
Watkins adds spark to England attack
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 13/07/2024
» Considering all the negative comments they have been subjected to throughout the tournament it seems quite remarkable that England have actually made it to the Euro 2024 final. They have achieved this with a mixture of good fortune, battling spirit and a most timely goal courtesy of Ollie Watkins.
Big day for England's 'lost souls'
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 06/07/2024
» The Euro 24 quarter-finals are already under way and unbelievably England are somehow still in the mix. Their performances have been so uninspiring they are going into tonight's match against Switzerland as underdogs. This is a team England would be normally be expected to beat comfortably.
A 'strange environment' for Southgate
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 29/06/2024
» England's progress at Euro 24 has a strong soap opera feel to it. They must be one of the few teams ever to top their group at a Euro tournament and still get booed off by their fans and pilloried in the media. To be fair, the fans cheered their team during the game and saved the boos for after the final whistle... all very English.
Tartan Army in good voice, light up Euros
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 22/06/2024
» While Scotland are unlikely to progress too far in Euro 24 they are certainly worth following while they remain in the tournament if only for the wonderful support they get from their travelling fans, the Tartan Army. Adding to the appeal Scotland also have arguably the most tuneful anthem of the tournament in Flower of Scotland.
Stern test for Southgate, team
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 15/06/2024
» The word "pressure" is overused in football but there will be no one under more pressure than England manager Gareth Southgate as he leads the Three Lions into Euro 24 this weekend. England begin their tournament tomorrow against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and will later face Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.
It's a stable season for managers
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 08/06/2024
» One of the more intriguing aspects of the recently concluded Premier League action is that there were only three managerial changes during the entire season. This was in sharp contrast to the previous season which proved to be a merry-go-round with only nine of the top-flight teams keeping the manager they had started with.
VAR comes under EPL clubs’ microscope
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 01/06/2024
» Next Friday all 20 Premier League clubs will be voting on whether to keep the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology. It will require 14 of the clubs — a two-thirds majority — to vote for scrapping it for it to be discontinued.
Poch chewed up! It’s back to square one at Stamford Bridge
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 25/05/2024
» It is ironic that the first time in the whole season Chelsea fans have been happy with their team’s performance, the owners decide to part ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino. Despite the “mutual consent” statement the owners appeared quite happy to let the Argentine go and did not put in much effort in persuading him to stay.
Can the Hammers upset the applecart on last day of season?
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 18/05/2024
» Only West Ham stand in the way of Manchester City picking up a record fourth consecutive Premier League title tomorrow although it would be fair to say not too many football fans can see the Hammers upsetting City at the Etihad Stadium.
Tractor Boys plough a winning furrow into Premier League
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 11/05/2024
» A dramatic final week in the Championship saw two well-known clubs heading in opposite directions -- Ipswich Town seizing the second automatic promotion spot for the Premier League and Birmingham City plunging into League One.