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      Match of the Day fans mercilessly mock caption writers after ‘cringe’ Kai Havertz pun following first Arsenal goal

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      FANS of Match of the Day have mocked the show’s caption writers for a cringey Kai Havertz pun after his first Arsenal goal.The German international, 24, was handed the opportunity to open his Gunners account from the penalty spot by regular takers Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
      Kai Havertz got his first goal for Arsenal in the 4-0 defeat of BournemouthCredit: Rex
      And he made no mistake with his spot-kick, much to the delight of the away supporters and his team-mates.
      The travelling Gooners showered Havertz in song.
      While, the players surrounded the forward to congratulate him for his strike.
      But, most bizarrely, even Match of the Day’s caption writers were in on the fun.
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      They shared an image of Havertz holding the ball in his hands, before his penalty attempt.
      Though, in quite a cringy pun, they wrote on the photo: “Hav-some of that-ertz.”
      Fans on social media were merciless when it come to mocking the words.
      One wrote: “Cringeworthy would be too kind.”
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      Match of the Day’s caption writers had fun with the German’s strike
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      A second added: “Big drop off in quality from ‘Ballon d’Awson’ earlier in the programme.”
      A third penned: “That hurts.”
      A fourth added: “What is this.”
      Havertz had been under scrutiny since signing for the Gunners from Chelsea in a £65million deal.
      Fans and pundits had been critical of his performances since his move across London.
      However, in his 10th game for the club he finally managed to break his duck.
      The Gunners were in irresistible form on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium.
      They romped to a 4-0 win against the woeful Cherries, who had no answer.
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      It was Bukayo Saka who got Arsenal off to a flyer, before Martin Odegaard and Havertz scored from the spot.
      Ben White added gloss to proceedings in injury time with a late header, as Mikel Arteta’s men marched up the table. More

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      Gary Lineker’s diet revealed as 62-year-old Match of the Day presenter explains how he stays in shape

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      GARY LINEKER has revealed how he continues to stay in top shape despite being aged 62.The England legend shot to superstardom across the globe with his exploits in front of goal during the 1980s and early 90s.
      Gary Lineker has revealed how he stays in such good shape at the age of 62Credit: Getty
      The Match of the Day host is sticking to the popular OMAD dietCredit: BBC
      Lineker made the breakthrough with his hometown club Leicester City before going on to fire them in for the likes of Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham.
      He scored 48 goals in 80 caps for the Three Lions and finished his playing career in Japan with Nagoya Grampus before entering the world of punditry.
      Lineker then replaced Des Lynham as host of Match of the Day in 1999 and has remained in the chair since and now earns £1.35m-a-year in the role.
      However, the much-loved icon still remains in impressive shape despite now being well into his sixties.
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      And now he has revealed the secrets behind his success physically and is that he is following  Coldplay singer Chris Martin in the OMAD (one meal a day) diet plan.
      Lineker told The Times: “I care about the way I look. I’m a bit vain.”
      He said that he works out “three days a week with a personal trainer” that he describes as “killer sessions” and he also does “an hour of Pilates”. 
      However, despite sticking to the OMAD diet plan, he still indulges in a drink.
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      He said: “I like wine, I like whisky. I never get hangovers.
      “That’s one of the luckiest things. I’ll get tired the next day if I had a big one, but I don’t get bad headaches or anything. I’ve never had one.”
      Martin embarked on the OMAD diet after seeing Bruce Springsteen’s physique on the same regime and Hollywood star Liz Hurley has also hailed it.
      It has been claimed that eating less and giving food more time to digest lowers inflammation, which reduces the risk of depression, heart problems, cancer and autoimmune diseases.
      And researchers in Canada reckon it can lead to the safe loss of up to 13 per cent of weight, and a US study in 2015 concluded the plan left people less likely to develop coronary artery disease and diabetes.
      But other studies found it hampers fighting infection, increases the risk of heart disease and shortens dieters’ lifespans, because eating all your food in one go can damage cells.
      And nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert says one meal a day could play havoc with blood-sugar levels, leaving dieters feeling dizzy, tired and craving carbs. More

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      Legendary football presenter is now enjoying new career as real-life Dr Doolittle ‘making animals speak English’

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      DES LYNAM has swapped presenting for a new career as a real-life Dr Doolittle.The legendary former football presenter is known for presenting Grandstand and Match of the Day during his time on TV.
      Des Lynam has swapped presenting for a career as the real-life Dr DoolittleCredit: Rex Features
      Lynam has written two parts one and two of Now Who’s Talking?
      Lynam also hosted coverage from Wimbledon, the Grand National and the World Cup during his broadcasting career.
      However, he has now swapped TV for the book shelf after writing a series of animal-themed books.
      His first two were even published earlier this year, with parts one and two of Now Who’s Talking? going on sale.
      Speaking to Sussex World in July, Lynam explained: “It never occurred to me about writing about animals.
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      “I was looking out of the window one day, and the two magpies who usually stood together were at opposite ends of the garden.
      “I wondered if they’d had a row. Obviously, we don’t know how they communicate, so I made it up from there.
      “I made them speak English obviously, and created some dialogue, that was the first one and it grew from there, doing other animals. I thought it was quite funny and hoped somebody else would.
      “Then one day Bryony Hill, widow of Jimmy Hill, phoned me up and asked me what I was up to.
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      “When I told her she asked me to read them to her over the phone, thankfully she laughed out loud, she found them hilarious.
      “She then said ‘I’d love to do the illustrations for them’ … she sent me some and they were perfect.”
      Lynam’s idea soon snowballed and he has since written enough for four books, including farmyard and baby animal versions.
      “Someone suggested I get them published,” the 80-year-old added.
      Lynam had his first two animal-themed books published in JulyCredit: BBC
      “So I contacted BBC publications, they said the best publishers out there for this kind of new work were Austin Macauley. So, I sent them in, and they sent back glowing praise, which I found astonishing and very heartening.
      “Jonathan Martin, who was my Head of Sport at the BBC, asked me where I got that imagination from! And Dick Knight (ex-Brighton and Hove Albion chairman) joked ‘If you’re not careful you’ll be rich again!’
      “Since I stopped doing television, people often ask me, what do you do all day now? ‘I say stare out of the window into space’, and this is what that’s produced!” More

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      Gary Lineker nominates two England stars and former title winner to replace him as MOTD presenter

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      GARY LINEKER has tipped two England stars as potential replacements for him on Match of the Day.And he also nominated a former Leicester City Premier League title winner as another contender to step into the much-loved show’s hotseat in the future.
      Gary Lineker has named his tips to replace him in the Match of the Day hotseatCredit: Alamy
      He mentioned England stars James Maddison and Mason Mount as potential hostsCredit: Reuters
      The legendary ex-England striker worked as a pundit on the long-running programme before replacing Des Lynham as presenter in 1999.
      Lineker hit the headlines back in March after he criticised the Government’s treatment of refugees and likened Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s language to that used in 1930s Germany.
      That led to the BBC suspending him, although he returned to hosting duties after a huge show of support from colleagues and the football world.
      The 62-year-old is now back in the famous chair and recently launched The Rest Is Football podcast alongside MOTD pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
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      During the latest episode, the topic of Lineker’s potential long-term successor came up, with Shearer first bringing up the name of Tottenham attacker James Maddison.
      The Newcastle icon said: “I think James Maddison because I think he talks really, really well.”
      Lineker then added: “He’s very eloquent and he’s very good tactically. I think he’s the best of the players in the post-match interview.”
      He then brought up ex-Leicester star Kasper Schmeichel before throwing Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount’s name into the mix, saying: “Kasper Schmeichel as a goalkeeper, very good. His dad’s done lots of punditry, that’s not a bad shout.
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      “Can you remember Alan, when we did the World Cup in Moscow and there were three young footballers?
      “It was Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Ryan Sessegnon. They came to watch us do the TV shows. And Mason Mount sat in my chair and was doing a few things to camera, and he wasn’t too bad.
      “Who knows, maybe Mason Mount, we’ll see.”
      But Micah Richards has his own ideas – and it was another Leicester City player he had in mind.
      The ex-Man City ace said: “A little bit left field, but Conor Coady. In terms of people want strikers, but I’m going with a defender.
      “He knows the game really well, speaks really good. I’ve worked with him on Match of the Day and he’s done Sky as well.”
      Former Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was also mentioned by LinekerCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Gary Lineker reveals Match of the Day’s alternative Premier League table… and it makes bad reading for Chelsea

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      GARY LINEKER has revealed an alternative Premier League table from Match of the Day that will leave Chelsea fans disappointed. Football supporters up and down the country love to moan about their team’s place in the running order on Match of the Day and Lineker has revealed exactly what decides it.
      Gary Lineker has revealed an alternative Premier League table based on last season’s Match of the Day running orderCredit: Getty

      The alternative table doesn’t make good reading for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Not only that, but he has drawn up a league table from last season which shows each team’s average place in the programme’s running order.
      And it doesn’t make particularly pleasant viewing for Chelsea fans with The Blues sat in 18th place despite being considered as one of the “big six” by many.
      Manchester City top the table as with their average position in the Match of the Day running order last season being 2.1.
      Whilst their title challengers Arsenal were just behind them in second with their average slot coming out at 2.4.
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      Lineker explained that teams are often chosen to lead or close the show based on how much their game matters in relation to their league position.
      This means title contenders and relegation scrappers find themselves sitting higher up whilst mid-table fodder is often left till the end of the show.
      Speaking on his podcast The Rest Is Football, he said: “Teams going for the title will be on the top [of the show] more than anyone else because that’s how we watch sporting events.
      “Then you would probably have teams nearer the bottom [of the Premier League table] because they’re fighting a relegation fight.
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      “And then you end up with the mid-table sides usually, probably nearer the end of the running order for most of the time.”
      The table backs up the former Barcelona star’s thinking with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Chelsea sitting at the base of the alternative table after finishing in the Premier League’s three mid-table spots last term.
      Whilst relegated side Leeds were only topped by City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Man United.
      Arsenal’s impressive campaign saw them lead the BBC show more often than mostCredit: AP
      Manchester City were the main event of Match of the Day last season after winning the leagueCredit: AFP
      Fulham’s mid-table finish often saw them pushed to the back end of the programmeCredit: PA
      Leeds were regularly featured at the start of Match of the Day following their disappointing relegation last termCredit: Getty More

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      Gary Lineker reveals he snubbed Premier League manager job offer – and gives three brutally honest reasons why

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      GARY LINEKER revealed he turned down the opportunity to work as a manager in the Premier League.Lineker is arguably the most famous UK media personality thanks mostly to his work as presenter of Match of the Day ever since he took over from Des Lynam in 1999.
      Gary Lineker revealed Match of the Day could have looked very differentCredit: BBC
      However, the popular football show could have looked very different if the ex-England star decided to follow in the footsteps of fellow legends and try his luck in management.
      The 62-year-old was offered the top job at Aston Villa and his beloved Leicester in the 1990s.
      In fact, the late Doug Ellis – who was Villa chairman from 1982 until 2006 – called the Tottenham legend personally and offered him the position.
      But the Barcelona hero turned down the opportunity, just like he did with the Foxes, because that career path never “appealed” to him.
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      The ex-Everton star was certain that wouldn’t work and is adamant he wouldn’t “have been very good at it”
      The popular presenter also remembered how much he disliked training as a player.
      Finally, the former striker wouldn’t be able to handle a dressing room as he couldn’t even be able to leave someone out of the team.
      Lineker told The Rest Is Football: “It never appealed, for a variety of reasons.
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      “I don’t think I’d have been very good at it. I don’t think I could have coped with leaving someone out of the team.
      “I never really loved training, I found it quite boring most of the time. So if I didn’t like training, I’m not going to really like watching training. It just never, ever, ever crossed my mind.
      “I got a couple of job offers, I think Villa, Doug Ellis asked me to be Villa manager, and Leicester did at one point.
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      Lineker was offered the opportunity to manage Aston Villa and LeicesterCredit: BBC
      “I got a phone call from Doug Ellis, it was shortly after, I can’t remember the era apart from the fact that it was relatively soon after I’d finished playing.
      “And he said, ‘Would you be interested in the Aston Villa job?’ And I just said, ‘Management is not for me, sorry Doug’.” More

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      Gary Lineker reveals how Match of the Day chooses running order after fan complaints

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      GARY LINEKER has revealed how the Match of the Day running order is decided after receiving accusations of bias from fans. The 62-year-old faced backlash when his former club Tottenham were played first on Saturday’s show after their 5-2 win at Burnley.
      Gary Lineker has responded to fans’ complaints of the MOTD running orderCredit: Alamy
      Lineker fired back insisting the most exciting Premier League games are always on first on Saturday’s MOTD.
      However other factors are taken into consideration, particularly during the second half of the season, he explained.
      Lineker has hosted the BBC flagship football highlights show for more than two decades.
      But fans still question how the running order is decided.
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      Seeing which games get picked to be shown first is one of the show’s unique selling points and hints which Premier League fixtures have been more entertaining.
      The England legend revealed the show’s editor is responsible for the running order but admits it’s a team effort involving himself and the pundits for the weekend.
      He made the revelation during the latest episode of The Rest Is Football – his podcast with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
      Lineker said: “It is a combined effort but it is ultimately the editor’s decision.
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      “Generally you get the best match on first, it is Match of the Day.
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      “Obviously when you cover a sporting event, the main focus is on the leaders.
      “You don’t watch a horse race and focus on the back six… Towards the second half of the season.
      “Whoever is top of the league has to come into your thinking when deciding.”
      Lineker also said winning results are preferred to draws when it comes to deciding the line-up.
      He added: “We put Forest beating Chelsea 1-0 on second on Saturday night, ahead of Manchester City scoring five against Fulham because it is a big story… You take all those things into account.”
      The BBC has broadcast highlights of the Premier League for most of the division’s existence.
      The only exception was between 2001 and 2004 when ITV obtained the rights. 
      Since regaining coverage Lineker admits he’s worked hard to ensure every team is given a good show.
      He continued: “I had a discussion with BBC bosses when we got the TV rights back from ITV over whether we could show every game.
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      “Back then it was highlights from a few matches, a couple of clips from another and then just goals.
      “They worked it out and I thought ‘at last we won’t get complaints from fans that teams aren’t being shown’. Now it is just them complaining that their team is on last!” More

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      Mason Greenwood saga reveals shocking truths about Man Utd leadership, says Gary Neville – as striker axed

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      MANCHESTER United legend Gary Neville has condemned the club for its “horrible” handling of the Mason Greenwood saga.The Sky Sports pundit and ex-Red Devils captain tonight said Greenwood’s newly-announced exit exposed leadership failures at the Old Trafford club.
      Gary Neville has accused his old club Manchester United of failing to be ‘strong’Credit: PA
      Mason Greenwood’s United exit is finally the ‘right decision’, Neville saysCredit: Getty
      Former England international Neville said it was the “right decision” to announce this afternoon Greenwood would be leaving United.
      But he told Monday Night Football on Sky Sports tonight the six-month process ahead of the announcement was “pretty horrible”.
      And he accused club chiefs of failing to be “strong and authoritative”.
      His intervention came after the BBC’s Match Of The Day host and ex-Three Lions skipper Gary Lineker broke his silence on the news.
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      Lineker posted on X, formerly named Twitter, how he felt United’s move was the “inevitable and right” end to an “untenable situation”.
      United today announced they had come to a “collaborative decision” with the 21-year-old forward that he would be moving on.
      But the club did not say whether his £75,000-a-week contract would be terminated or whether he would be put on loan or sold.
      Greenwood hasn’t played for the first team since being arrested in January last year on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
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      All charges against him were dropped in February but the footballer remained suspended by United.
      Members of Manchester United Women’s team reportedly raised concerns about Greenwood returning to the training ground.
      Women’s charities have welcomed today’s decision and told of survivors’ “relief” but say more must be done by football clubs.
      The move was also tonight praised by Channel 4’s Countdown co-host and Strictly Come Dancing star Rachel Riley, who said last week she would stop supporting United if they allowed Greenwood back.
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      And when asked this evening about the development ahead of the Premier League derby between Crystal Palace and Arsenal, Neville criticised United officials for their handling of the situation.
      He said: “Yes, they have made the right decision and finally got there – however, the process of getting there has been pretty horrible.
      “When you have significant situations and difficult situations like this, you need strong and authoritative leadership and Manchester United don’t have that.”
      He also called for an “independent review” in similar situations of alleged violence against women.
      Neville added: “It should not be that Manchester United are the judge and jury on a significant situation – not only for themselves, but also for the game.
      “People talk about the representation of Manchester United, but it’s the Premier League as well.
      “My view is on issues of this importance and severity, they should be dealt with independently because it’s clear that Manchester United have not had the skill and ability to deal with this situation.
      “It’s been well above their experience and ability.”
      Greenwood’s last game was on January 22, 2022, in a Premier League clash against West Ham United, which United won 1-0.
      He was charged in October last year and was due to stand trial in November this year.
      But prosecutors withdrew the case on February 2 after his alleged victim and a dozen more witnesses refused to co-operate.
      United said today they had taken into account the “wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible”.
      The club added: “Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material alleged did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged
      “That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
      “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.”
      GREENWOOD ACCEPTS HE ‘MADE MISTAKES’
      Greenwood also released a statement insisting he had not done what he was accused of but was “learning to understand” his “responsibilities as a professional footballer”.
      He added: “I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me and I know people will think the worst.
      “I was brought up to know that violence or abuse is wrong.
      “I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.
      “However, I fully accept I made mistakes.”
      He added: “I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
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      Bradford-born Greenwood has scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United, having joined the club as a six-year-old.
      He was given his England debut by manager Gareth Southgate as a late substitute against Iceland in September 2020, though has not played for the country since.
      United’s handling of the case prompted Old Trafford protests last weekCredit: Getty More