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New Chelsea chairman taken big hit on Lukaku after loan transfer return to Inter Milan.. but he’s easily replaceable
by Philippa Kaur 22 June 2022, 21:21
ROMELU LUKAKU will be surprisingly easy to replace, despite costing Chelsea £97.5million.The club’s most expensive player scored only eight Premier League goals in his doomed year back at Stamford Bridge, so will hardly be missed.
Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku is close to an Inter return on loanCredit: Rex
New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly will act as interim sporting directorCredit: Getty
But the first business for the new-look board of Chelsea directors, which was unveiled yesterday, was to swallow hard and accept a sizeable financial and reputational hit on a lame duck striker.
The paltry £7m loan fee Chelsea are receiving for sending Lukaku back to Inter Milan is embarrassing in itself.
As it stands, fledgling club chairman Todd Boehly is today staring at a £90.5m loss on one player just 24 hours after officially taking up position at the Bridge.
That would be enough to buy Manchester City’s incoming jewel Erling Haaland — and leave just shy of £40m change!
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Champions City and Liverpool are the teams Chelsea need to catch if they want to regain the Premier League title after a six-year gap.
Right now last season’s top two are heading in one direction and Chelsea the other.
Whatever they ultimately trouser from offloading Lukaku, it will not make up for what the Londoners spent or the time and patience invested in a player who wanted out for six months.
That cash is also at least a year away.
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Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel warns things may get worse before they get better in the bid to overhaul the two teams dominating English football at present.
While Tuchel has been talking exit terms for the player bought to transform Chelsea into title contenders, City and Liverpool have already secured reinforcements.
At Anfield they are waving goodbye to the prolific Sadio Mane but have brought in Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64m.
Nunez, 22, scored 32 goals in 41 games for Benfica last season — although the Portuguese league is hardly a ferocious testing ground.
Darwin Nunez joined Liverpool in a club record feeCredit: PA
While City boss Pep Guardiola has also moved early to secure Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51.4m.
The Norwegian netted 85 times in 88 games for the German giants.
Admittedly, both carry the risk of the unknown regardless of their respective price tags.
Yet already Chelsea — who finished 19 points behind City and 18 adrift of Liverpool last term — are being left even further behind by the two northern juggernauts.
Erling Haaland joined Man City after netting 85 times in 88 gamesCredit: Getty
It is only June and Tuchel has time to get down to serious shopping this summer before the transfer window closes on September 1.
But Chelsea will have to overcome the financial loss on Lukaku, even if his absence will not be noticed on the pitch.
Raheem Sterling, Richarlison and Ousmane Dembele are three attacking players who could provide more firepower for Tuchel albeit in a different way to how Lukaku was supposed to.
Tuchel is pushing hard for new players and is ready to let more of his current group leave if necessary to bankroll future signings.
Thomas Tuchel is pushing hard for new playersCredit: Alamy
However, the feeling on the ground among some of the squad members left behind is that finding one or two players to boost the frontline is nothing compared to the need to replace Antonio Rudiger.
The loss of Chelsea’s leader in defence to Real Madrid is still being felt keenly by members of the dressing room, who are concerned even while on holiday.
Tuchel’s team would have scored a lot more goals last season with better finishing.
But with Rudiger in the side, there was a feeling of utter confidence in the back line even when results were patchy.
Antonio Rudiger completed a free transfer to Real MadridCredit: Getty
Rudiger’s unveiling at Madrid on Monday was beamed worldwide on TV and, for those players who will still be at the Bridge next season, it was painful viewing.
Chelsea have been trying to find the next ‘Rudi’ for some time and are yet to get a deal done.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde came close to joining in January but haggling over the player’s £69m release clause ultimately caused the deal to collapse.
Even now, there are reports Kounde’s representatives are becoming frustrated at a lack of action.
Jules Kounde is being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge for the second summer in a rowCredit: Getty
Chelsea’s new ownership has been swift and decisive in ditching Lukaku.
The fans, who have recently been told they can now start renewing season tickets after Government sanctions were lifted, want to see similarly bold moves for incomings.
Put Chelsea into Google search and dozens of names flash up.
Juventus centre-half Matthijs de Ligt, Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss, Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella, City forward Gabriel Jesus.
A quick Google search brings up a host of names being linked with a move to Chelsea, including Matthijs de LigtCredit: Rex
American Boehly has promised £1.75billion of investment over the next ten years while staying within Financial Fair Play rules.
Lukaku supposedly ‘wept tears of joy’ when he was informed that a nightmare ten months back in London was over.
The supporters and Tuchel could be forgiven for doing the same.
Insiders say that Lukaku remained amicable, committed and part of the overall squad.
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There has been no fallout with Tuchel. The German will keep smiling but needs to get bodies in to keep the punters happy.
So far this summer they have lost Lukaku, Rudiger and Andreas Christensen and said goodbye to the ‘bad business deal’ that was Danny Drinkwater. In return they have pocketed just £7m. More
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Raheem Sterling facing transfer dilemma with Chelsea home to vile racist abuse the Man City star suffered in 2018
by Philippa Kaur 20 June 2022, 20:56
RAHEEM STERLING is at a crossroads in his career.For a man who spends most of his working life chopping and changing direction in an instant on a football pitch, normally it wouldn’t present too much of a problem.
Raheem Sterling ran a gauntlet of hate at Stamford Bridge five years ago and is now at a crossroads as he ponders a move to Chelsea
But there cannot be any wrong moves over the next few weeks, as one of the players who polarises opinion more than most when he’s in an England shirt ponders whether to stay at Manchester City or go elsewhere.
At the moment, the most likely destination should he reject a new contract at City is Chelsea.
There is growing momentum in the belief that Sterling is the No 1 transfer target for Blues boss Thomas Tuchel this summer.
With no denials on or off the record from either side of the fence, we can safely assume the story has genuine legs.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}STER IT UP .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Chelsea favourites to sign Raheem Sterling with ‘bid’ expected – latest odds
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For Sterling it might sound like a dream come true getting more game time – and probably more money – playing for the colourful and honest German, who has done wonders for Chelsea’s unpalatable reputation as brassy big spenders with little class.
But going ‘home’ to London where he grew up would also mean playing every other week at the ground where he became a victim of vile abuse in December 2018.
Back then, 60-year-old Colin Wing and his pals chose to spit vitriol right in the face of Sterling as he collected the ball by the corner flag.
And this was during a 2-0 win for Chelsea, so God knows what would have happened if they had been losing.
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Wing later apologised and insisted he called one of England’s best players a “Manc c***” not a “black c***” as was suggested.Not sure that makes it OK but there you go.
Chelsea, to their credit, acted swiftly and with great principle, banning Wing for life and his friends temporarily for using ‘foul and abusive language’.
Sterling and other ethnic minority players suffer racist abuse at grounds all over the world.
Chelsea fans are not the only suspects — but it is Chelsea being linked with his signature for now.
In later interviews, mentally scarred Sterling says that particularly unsavoury episode at Stamford Bridge prompted him to take up arms against the bigots with his ‘Time For Change’ anti-racism campaign.
He has since been awarded an MBE for efforts to combat the issue and for promoting equality.
All of which presents him with a huge dilemma if ‘interest’ from Chelsea morphs into a concrete offer to move clubs for the start of next season.
Frontman Raheem Sterling is seemingly a shoe-in for England but must decide if he should leave Man City for more regular starts at club levelCredit: Getty
If Sterling were to accept the chance to join Chelsea, is he compromising his morals for the sake of more first-team football and a few extra quid?
Would leaving City, where he is much-loved by everyone, to serve a crowd where he has been verbally abused and regularly accused of ‘running like a girl’ by thousands in the stands undo all his work?
Or would taking the plunge and moving to Stamford Bridge count as an impressive act of forgiveness on his part?
A sign that Sterling is actually showing greater strength than any narrow-minded yob by putting aside previous experience to walk into the lion’s den and cow his tormentors?
After all, anyone who previously bought a ticket for Stamford Bridge and fancied having a pop at Sterling would have to think twice about it if he is wearing a Chelsea shirt.
It’s a question only Sterling knows the answer to.
But if he decides to say goodbye to City and sign for Chelsea, it will take the football racism debate to a whole new level.
MIK TAKE
GOT an email a week ago on behalf of Amazon requesting permission to use recent footage of me asking questions in a press conference for a documentary series.
It’s called All Or Nothing: Arsenal.
But after watching the way that Mikel Arteta’s Gunners belly-flopped at the end of last season, surely everyone knows the answer to that already?
You can save yourself a few hard-earned quid on subscription fees there. Don’t thank me. More
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Colin Hart: Recipe for success is Delicious as Commonwealth Games hopeful Orie is ultimate role model for immigrant kids
by Aurelia Butler 16 June 2022, 21:17
THERE can be no more diverse character in the entire England team at next month’s Commonwealth Games than a man called Delicious.Delicious Orie, a 6ft 6in, 16 stone-plus super-heavyweight will be one of the boxing squad’s gold-medal favourites.
Delicious Orie shows off his skills in the ringCredit: Getty
The 25-year-old is set to star at the Commonwealth GamesCredit: Getty
And there can be no greater role model than Orie, 25, for every immigrant kid in this country trying to integrate and overcome adversity.
Delicious certainly comes from a technicolour background. He was born in Moscow, his father Justin is Nigerian and his mother Natalie is Russian. The family suffered obscene and sometimes violent racism on a daily basis.
After Justin was assaulted on public transport, he uprooted his family from Russia and came to Britain, settling in Wolverhampton.
Delicious said: “I was only seven when I came here and because I couldn’t speak a word of English it caused me some cultural problems.
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“But life was much harder in Moscow – some people didn’t like me purely because of the colour of my skin.”
It didn’t take young Orie long to overcome his problems and thrive in his new environment. He won a place at Aston University and graduated with a 1st Class Honours Economics degree.
In his early teens his sport was basketball and he had no interest in boxing until he saw Anthony Joshua on TV knockout Charles Martin to win the IBF world heavyweight title.
Delicious told me: “From that moment AJ became my idol and I was hooked. I went and joined the Jewellery Quarter Boxing Club in Birmingham and found out I was a pretty good boxer.
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“They say never meet your idols because you will be disappointed. Not only did I meet him I sparred with him on numerous occasions and he couldn’t have been more supportive.
“He has given me invaluable help in all kind of ways – getting my balance right, perfecting my jab and educating me about diet.
“People have told me I’m the new AJ but I aim to be even better than him.”
Considering he didn’t start boxing until he was 18, Orie has made remarkable progress under coach Mick Maguire and despite no youth experience he’s lost just 5 of his 45 contests.
He says he relies on his speed and is more of a Muhammad Ali than a Mike Tyson.
Having received his British citizenship more than a year ago, it’s a style that won him a bronze medal at the European championships in Armenia.
With his academic qualifications, it is no surprise Delicious is articulate and extremely level-headed. Even if he gets the gold in the final at the NEC arena on August 7 he will ignore all incentives to turn pro.
With hard work and the right breaks Delicious can achieve everything AJTrainer Mick Maguire
Ortie said: “I want to box for Britain at the Paris Olympics in two years. I will be 27 which is still young for a heavyweight. Because I started so late, what I lack is experience.
“The way I look at it is by the time I think I’ll be good enough to turn pro AJ, Fury and Usyk will be retired.
“And if boxing doesn’t work out I have my degree to fall back on and I can go into a business career.”
Maguire, who has coached many promising youngsters, predicts: “With hard work and the right breaks Delicious can achieve everything AJ has and I think probably surpass that as well.”
The one dark cloud in Orie’s life is the war in Ukraine. He revealed: “I have family in Russia and Ukraine and I find this horrible war soul-destroying.”
I couldn’t resist asking him if his Christian name his parents gave him had caused him any grief or embarrassment growing up like the “Boy called Sue” country and western icon Johnny Cash sang about.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}WAITING PAIN .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}I was slapped with a £70 parking fine while I waited to get MARRIED
Laughing, he said: “Not at all – in fact I rather like Delicious. It’s different. But I prefer to be called by my initials DJ.”
If he does manage to become Commonwealth champion you can put money on the headline being “Golden Delicious”.
Delicious has trained with idol Anthony JoshuaCredit: DELICIOUSBOXING More
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Don’t expect an exciting England at the World Cup… Hungary hammering will only make Southgate MORE cautious
by Philippa Kaur 15 June 2022, 21:15
GARETH SOUTHGATE admitted it was the most chastening night of his six-year England reign.But if you were expecting Tuesday’s 4-0 humiliation by Hungary to change him, then think again.
Gareth Southgate sparked ire from some England fans by replacing winger Bukayo Saka with centre-back Harry Maguire at 3-0 down vs HungaryCredit: Getty
Skipper Harry Kane and his England team-mates have struggled to create chances and failed to score in open play during this summer’s Nations LeagueCredit: Getty
Southgate may have been stung by criticism of his alleged caution and negativity — but he is adamant that a more gung-ho approach in the second half at Molineux is what caused his side to suffer their biggest home thrashing in almost a century.
The England manager’s critics will hate that reasoning but stubborn Southgate is convinced that his safety-first approach is the only way for the Three Lions to succeed at the World Cup in Qatar.
A man who once turned the nation on at two major tournaments — in the words of his Atomic Kitten anthem — is not interested in sexy football.
Southgate believes there has been a ‘strange’ agenda against him during a horrible run of four Nations League fixtures, during which England failed to win or even score from open play.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}ROD LIDDLE .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Gareth Southgate would be happier as a diversity officer for a county council
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He said: “I have found the ten days strange in terms of the narrative, as I found our last Nations League campaign strange too.
“I didn’t agree with everything that was suggested. Some of the desire to see open play… we saw against Hungary that you’ve got to have the balance of a team right.
“With a club, maybe if you’re at the top, and you’ve got a long time working with the players, you can play a more expensive game — but even the top teams, they’re bloody good defensively, they’re good on transition, the balance of everything is right.
“So the idea that we can just play lots of attacking players and rely on talent to win matches… it’s not the way it is.
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Island but my fame stops me playing, says Finn Tapp
“And that was a reminder to myself in the second half that ‘OK, that’s a gamble’.
“You go for a gamble to try to win the game because you think that’s important. But what happened can happen.
“We’ve raised optimism and expectation. That’s understandable, because people assume there’s going to be progress.
“But that doesn’t always work that way. The competition at the top level of international football is unbelievably high.”
The defining result of Southgate’s reign, the 2-0 defeat of Germany at last year’s Euros, was achieved with a cagey approach.
And England’s best performance since that tournament — a 5-0 trouncing of an Albania side who were good enough to beat Hungary twice in World Cup qualifiers — came with five defenders and two holding midfielders in the starting line-up.
But when the Molineux crowd turned on Southgate with boos and cries of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ it felt as if we might be bracing ourselves for one of those crushing England inquests which were all-too- familiarin years gone by.
Yet this was no repeat of Roy Hodgson’s infamous ‘I don’t know what I’m doing here’ press conference in the aftermath of the 2016 defeat by Iceland.
Nor Steve McClaren’s floundering after the ‘Wally with the Brolly’ night against Croatia in 2007.
Gareth Southgate says he’ll use the mauling off the pitch after the mauling on it as ‘fuel’ to prove the doubters wrongCredit: PA
Southgate, England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, handled the flak with intelligence and good grace.
He suggested his patriotic pride makes the current criticism more stinging than it would have been for jobbing foreign managers Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson.
He said: “Of course it is. Because I’m a proud Englishman.
“I’ve taken the job to try and make English football better.
“And I’ve had huge pride in being able to match the achievements of some predecessors who I hold in the highest esteem — and go better than them.
“So of course, it’s painful, you can’t park it, it lives with you. But football management does.
“The hard part with international management is you don’t get a game on Saturday to put it right.
“Now myself and my staff, we’ve got to live with this for the next few months. The players have to clear their heads, they’ll come back with fresh minds, looking forward to a World Cup with excitement.”
I’m really clear what went wrong. And what would need to be right to make sure that nights like that don’t happen again.Gareth Southgate
Southgate will hold a full de-brief with his staff before a family holiday next month.
But he insists his self-belief has not been shaken by England’s shock drubbing — and that he will use the abuse he has suffered as motivation.
Southgate, 51, said: “I’ll use it as fuel. Because when you have disappointment and you read negativity, you want to fight and prove people wrong.
“But I’ve done that all my life, so that there’s not an extra incentive because of a night like Tuesday. I know nights like that can happen.
“They’re not pleasant. I’ve seen it with others. But they are the realities of football.
“If I was a younger manager that hadn’t been through the experiences before, I might be thinking, ‘what’s gone wrong? How did that happen?’
“But we couldn’t keep flogging the first-choice players. That would be detrimental further down the line.
“We might have got away with it but I think it was a big risk.
“Now you think ‘God, wish we’d done it’. But actually that would have been selfish to try and keep pressure off me, rather than what’s right for England going to a World Cup.
“I’m really clear on what went wrong. And what would need to be right to make sure that nights like that don’t happen again.
“I’ve been in football for 35 years. I know how it works. And I know how quickly opinion changes.
“But you don’t carry it [criticism] with you as a scar.
“It hardens you. It provides resolve and I’ve had plenty of those experiences as a player and manager.
“It’s just not realistic to go through six years as England manager and not have something similar to this happen.” More
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Ben Hunt: Billionaire boys Stroll and Latifi’s woeful form may make it a miserable homecoming at Canada GP
by Philippa Kaur 13 June 2022, 19:58
FORMULA ONE heads off to Montreal this weekend — although don’t expect much for Canadians to cheer.Despite the country only having 15 F1 drivers throughout the sport’s history, they currently occupy ten per cent of the grid.
Lance Stroll has scored just two points so far this seasonCredit: Reuters
Nicholas Latifi is one of three drivers yet to score a point this seasonCredit: Alamy
However, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and Williams driver Nicholas Latifi are both enduring difficult seasons with some question marks over their futures.
Stroll has scored just a measly two points so far and Latifi is currently sat 21st in a championship that has 20 cars on the grid.
That’s because Nico Hulkenberg’s two races for Aston Martin when Sebastian Vettel was sidelined with Covid have him placed above Latifi on account of his better finishing positions.
It has been frustrating for Stroll, who strangely retired from the race in Baku due to “a vibration issue”.
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The previous day it was an engine problem that caused him to hit the barriers twice in a matter of seconds during qualifying while team-mate Vettel qualified in ninth.
Latifi, too, has had his fair share of errors and crashes.
And he was also embarrassingly outperformed by Nyck de Vries when the Formula E world champion jumped in for one practice session in Barcelona to set a lap time quicker than the Canadian.
Ordinarily, you’d say these two drivers have run out of time to say they deserve their places in F1.
Stroll might have three podiums in his 108 starts, while Latifi has never come close in his 47 GPs.
If both teams have serious aspirations about improving, then perhaps they need to look elsewhere.
However, we would be forgetting the fact that these two aren’t your usual backmarkers who have rustled up a few quid to drive in F1.
These are the billionaire boys. Both their dads are said to be worth over £2.5BILLION each.
Lawrence Stroll made his money through buying fashion brands and is also the owner of Aston Martin.
That makes firing his son a rather awkward prospect when he has spent millions at the team — including a brand new factory at Silverstone — in the hope they can challenge for titles.
On the other hand, Latifi’s dad, Michael, is the owner, chairman and CEO of Canadian food company Sofina Foods Inc.
His money was a welcome boost to cash-strapped Williams under their previous structure when they were owned by the Williams family.
However, now under owners Dorilton Capital, if the rumours are to be believed, then son Nicholas could be replaced by Australian racer Oscar Piastri in the near future.
Piastri, 21, is an exciting prospect after winning the F2 title last year and would certainly be a good fit alongside Alex Albon.
But with doubts over Latifi’s future, and with Stroll on a roll of three races without scoring points, it could be a miserable weekend for the locals.
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THERE was a bust-up in Baku’s Formula 2 paddock which saw a driver fined €5,000 and his dad BANNED from the British Grand Prix.
Charouz Racing System’s Cem Bolukbasi, 24, was slapped with the fine after a heated exchange with Israeli F2 ace Roy Nissany.
Nissany, 27, was blamed for punting Turkish driver Bolukbasi out of the race and has received a three-place grid penalty.
But the drama did not end there as Cem’s dad Yavuz Bolukbasi sought out Nissany after the race.
Nissany’s trainer, Francesco Martinez, also became involved and there was “some pushing and physical contact” — yet according to the FIA’s report “no punches were exchanged”.
Bolukbasi senior has had his credentials withdrawn for the next round in Silverstone, while his son has to pay the fine within 48 hours.
LE MANS NERVES
TOYOTA’S Le Mans-winning star, rookie Ryo Hirakawa, said he “did not sleep for a week” before the weekend’s victory.
That hardly seems like ideal preparation for a 24-hour race.
FREIGHT FEARS
THE key race this week is not the GP in Montreal — but whether the teams’ freight makes it there.
Air delays, plus a 5,565-mile trip from Baku, mean chiefs are sweating on logistics.
CLOSING ING
TOM INGRAM, 28, won two out of three races at Oulton Park to close the gap on BTCC leader Josh Cook to 15 points.
It was his first win at the circuit. Stephen Jelley won race three. More
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Grealish, Foden and Trent must find a way to earn Southgate’s loyalty as England side begins to look like a closed shop
by Philippa Kaur 8 June 2022, 22:28
IS Gareth Southgate too loyal?Are his England team stagnating, rather than evolving and progressing?
England only woke up in the 1-1 draw in Germany when exciting wideman Jack Grealish came on for one of his cameosCredit: Rex
Phil Foden is currently an injury doubt but has all the class needed to show Gareth Southgate he’s worth a start in the World CupCredit: PA
Is Southgate’s starting line-up, for A-list fixtures, becoming something of a closed shop?
The Three Lions boss denies these accusations and insists he is ‘open-minded’.
But ten of the 11 players who lost last summer’s Euros final started in the 1-1 draw in Germany on Tuesday night — only the injured Luke Shaw missing out.
And seven of that 11 also lined up for the World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia at the 2018 World Cup.
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There is a growing feeling that others, especially Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold, are not given a fair crack of the whip.
Meanwhile, established Southgate favourites — in particular Harry Maguire but also Kieran Trippier, Jordan Pickford and Mason Mount — are often included despite their form, and will start at the World Cup in Qatar whatever.
Asked whether he was too loyal, Southgate replied: “No. We’re totally open-minded.
“Bukayo Saka came out of the pack and we didn’t hesitate putting Jude Bellingham in the fray (as an early sub on Tuesday), which was an incredible experience for him.
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“But to win big matches there’s a huge amount of qualities needed. It’s not just about talent. You’ve got to have know-how and awareness.
“Germany tested us tactically without the ball to such a high level, with the movement and runs they made, so the reading of the game and communication on the pitch is vital.
“That group of players have played together a lot and on those nights it’s vital.
“Of course we want to try to develop others and bring that competition and to give them the similar sorts of experiences, which indirectly Jude ended up getting (in Germany). But that’s a process.”
It is a difficult balancing act for Southgate, or any international manager.
When fixtures are scarce, particularly elite-level tests like an away game in Germany, there is always a temptation to go with the tried and tested.
And teams that win tournaments — which must be England’s goal after a semi-final and a final — tend to have a shedload of caps behind them.
It was Italian nous and game- management which saw them edge the Three Lions at Wembley last summer, rather than superior talent.
There’s a rising suspicion that Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t had a fair chanceCredit: Getty
Harry Maguire remains a fixture in England’s central defence despite his woeful season with Man UtdCredit: Rex
England are not an old team. Of those who played at the Allianz Arena, only Walker and Trippier are over 30.
But they are in danger of going stale, with Southgate’s commitment to the stalwarts of his Russian campaign never wavering.
Centre-back Maguire is the epitome of this. Despite a shocking season with his club Manchester United, he remains a nailed-on England starter.
Eric Dier, who enjoyed an excellent campaign with Tottenham, did not even make the squad for this current run of four Nations League fixtures.
Southgate’s team were largely poor in Munich, until the introduction of Grealish, 18 minutes from time, gave them renewed attacking impetus, which allowed them to nab a point through Harry Kane’s late penalty.
The Grealish debate has raged long and loud for the last two years — and he lies at the heart of another question mark over Southgate. Is the England boss too cautious and conservative?
Why doesn’t he fully trust the £100million Manchester City man?
Is it simply true that Grealish is more influential as a substitute, when opposition legs are tired and the game is more stretched?
Or is it more accurate that, as Southgate apparently believes, Grealish is most effective as the main man in a lesser team — such as Aston Villa — rather than for England or City, where he has not been a regular for Pep Guardiola’s champions either.
Grealish certainly needs an outstanding start to next season if he is to force his way into Southgate’s starting line-up in Qatar this winter. His City team-mate Phil Foden is perhaps a more likely candidate.
But if, as seems likely, the team which started on Tuesday will be very similar to that which kicks off the World Cup against Iran on November 21, there should be concerns for Southgate.
It would be ironic if Grealish, such a crowd-pleasing buzz-merchant, is offered a start against the Italians behind closed doors at Molineux.
England’s passing was shoddy, they were overly cautious and they struggled to cope with Germany’s fast, fluid attacks.
Yes, they were tired after a gruelling season but it was not so different for the Germans.
The back five of Pickford, Trippier, Maguire, John Stones and Walker all started against Croatia in Moscow.
They are the backbone of Southgate’s team. Along with Kane and Raheem Sterling they are near-permanent fixtures, when available.
Because of the nature of this post-season block of four games in 11 days, there will be changes for England’s home games with Italy on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday.
That chance to experiment should be welcomed, although the exciting duo of Foden and centre-back Fikayo Tomori — title-winners with City and AC Milan respectively — are doubtful.
It would be ironic if Grealish, such a crowd-pleasing buzz-merchant, is offered a start against the Italians behind closed doors at Molineux this weekend.
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One thing is for certain, Grealish, Foden, Alexander-Arnold and the rest of England’s fringe players must find a way to earn Southgate’s loyalty.
Because once the England manager gets loyal, he stays loyal. More
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Dave Kidd: Mourinho, Conte and Ancelotti can’t all be wrong… Gareth Bale’s days as an elite footballer are long gone
by Philippa Kaur 6 June 2022, 19:33
WANT to sign a five-time Champions League winner on a free transfer?Still only 32, one of the most decorated British footballers of all time and about to captain his nation at the World Cup?
Bale says he has ‘loads’ of offers from clubs this summer but what does he have to offer a Premier League side?Credit: Rex
Gareth Bale claimed, with a grin, that he has “loads” of offers for a new club this summer after leaving Real Madrid, then leading Wales to Qatar.
But are any of those offers from the Premier League?
Because, despite his outstanding talent and stellar CV, what sort of signing would Bale be for any English top-flight club?
A player whose devotion to his country is totally unshakeable — but who makes no bones about the waning of his enthusiasm for club football.
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Had Ukraine defeated Wales on Sunday, Bale may have opted for retirement, or the semi- retirement, of Major League Soccer.
So give Bale a one-year deal and you might get a couple of months at full pelt, but as we get close to the World Cup in November, a player who will be more desperate than most to avoid an injury before Qatar.
And after the tournament, a player ready for his pipe and slippers or — more accurately — his five-iron and golf spikes.
Three managerial greats — Jose Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti — have all been reluctant to play Bale in recent seasons. Were they all wrong?
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FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
There will be some in the Newcastle hierarchy who would love to snap up Bale as a marquee signing for the Geordie Arabia project but is the supremely- sensible Eddie Howe likely to concur?
A return to Tottenham seems impossible under the demanding Antonio Conte.
Might his first club Southampton fancy a stab?
Bournemouth, under Bale’s former Spurs team-mate Scott Parker?
But any of them would be grappling with exactly the same issues.
Spending a weekend in Cardiff for Wales’ play-off victory over Ukraine was to experience a cultish hysteria around Bale.
While the skipper’s free-kick led to Andriy Yarmolenko’s own-goal winner, and he played with energy and passion, this Welsh victory was not truly about Bale.
Bale has got used to life on the bench at Real MadridCredit: Getty
Burnley’s second-choice keeper Wayne Hennessey had the game of his life, while Ben Davies and Neco Williams were magnificent in defence — and substitute Brennan Johnson was arguably the liveliest Welsh attacking player.
But the mutual love-in between Bale and his homeland is extraordinarily strong.
A succession of Wales managers are adamant that he is an outstanding individual player who fully buys into the team collective and that the national team is where he feels a sense of belonging, especially given his fractious relationship with Madrid.
Recalling his sicknote for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, the Wales fans love to sing: ‘Viva Gareth Bale, he had a bad back, f*** the Union Jack, Viva Gareth Bale’.
That dodgy pull-out is long-forgotten elsewhere in Britain — but in Wales it is used to add to a growing sense of Welsh nationalism.
Wales will be dangerous group-stage opponents for England in Qatar — the first-ever all-British match at a World Cup finals.
Gareth Southgate would have preferred to avoid a domestic tear-up. He was wary of the unique atmosphere around such matches before last summer’s Euros clash with Scotland. And he was right, as that goalless draw was comfortably England’s worst performance of the tournament.
The England boss will also know that Bale — who scored against England at Euro 2016 — will be a dangerous opponent, given the right preparations.
But where will those preparations be, given that Bale stated this weekend that it is ‘very unlikely’ that he would go to Qatar as a free agent?
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The one club to have gone public about their desire to sign Bale is Cardiff City, where he would be afforded hero status, boost gate receipts and merchandising income, as well as being allowed to pick and choose matches in the grind of a Championship season.
For while Qatar may afford Bale a glorious swansong with Wales, his days as an elite club footballer are surely in the past.
MUST BE KIDDING
SO the children of Hungarian racists turned out to be racist and booed England’s players taking the knee. Who’d have imagined it?
If Hungary – or England, or any other nation – are to be punished for fan misbehaviour – then behind-closed-doors must mean behind-closed-doors.
Allowing 30,000 schoolkids in – or even the couple of thousand expected at Molineux on Saturday for England’s ‘behind closed doors’ Nations League fixture with Italy – is a farce.
But then this is UEFA and, as anyone who was in Paris for the Champions League Final can attest, farce is simply what they do.
NATIONS PLEAS
THE Nations League is a fundamentally good idea. It provides competitive fixtures instead of friendlies.
And when England are winning in it, we do consider them to be competitive.
It is the staging of four Nations League fixtures at the end of a congested domestic season which caused Kevin De Bruyne to criticise the competition as “unimportant”, amid fears about burnout.
International sides need matches — it is the club game which is bloated.
The only answer to this mess is less club football. Good luck with that one, Kev.
GOD, IT’S SO SILLY
THERE was uproar on social media, and if there wasn’t uproar it wouldn’t be social media, after Trent Alexander-Arnold refused to sing God Save The Queen before England’s loss in Hungary.
After four days of parades and bunting and Paddington Bear (who’d be heading off to Rwanda if he’d arrived from Darkest Peru now), it’s worth remembering many of us are able to feel pride and joy in being English, while not wanting to sing about a hereditary monarchy.
BAT’S IT JOE
FOR two years or more, it felt as though the England captaincy was an unnecessary burden on Joe Root — and that Ben Stokes, an obvious natural leader, should have succeeded him.
So it was heartening to see that switch pay off in the First Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s — with Root playing one of the innings of his life to secure a rare England victory over the world champions in Stokes’ first match in charge.
Root, a hugely likeable bloke, a magnificent batsman, but pretty average skipper, admits he had an ‘unhealthy relationship’ with the captaincy for some time.
After he became only the second Englishman to reach 10,000 Test runs, we might now reasonably expect the Yorkshireman, 31, to have a damned good go at surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921.
BUM STEER
ONE of my favourite things about a day at the cricket has always been bumping into David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd for a chat about the usual subjects.
Such as locating the best real ale pubs in the vicinity, the fortunes of Accrington Stanley FC and the music of Half Man Half Biscuit.
And one of the best things about watching cricket on Sky was the gentle humour of the former England coach, which gave their coverage a welcome change of pace.
Sky dropped a ricket by axing Lloyd.
Having also lost the wonderful Michael Holding, to retirement, and the amusing Rob Key, to his new role as England supremo, they need old Bumble back. More
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More Isle of Man TT deaths spark calls for dangerous race to be axed but riders know the risks – the decision is theirs
by Philippa Kaur 6 June 2022, 16:04
AROUND this time of year, there are calls from people who have never attended any form of motorsport event to put a stop to the Isle of Man TT race.It usually follows a tragedy and sadly this year Welsh rider Mark Purslow and Frenchman Olivier Lavorel became the 261st and 262nd riders to lose their lives on the Mountain Course, which has hosted the race since 1911.
The last time the Isle of Man TT caused no fatalities was way back in 1982Credit: 2022 Dave Kneen
It is an incredible statistic in itself but also surpassed when I tell you that since 1937, the only time there were no fatalities at the TT race, was in 1982.
Of course, by modern standards, a sporting event with that level of fatalities would – and should – not be allowed to continue, but this is an exception.
As a motorcyclist myself, I accept the risks whenever I use my bike but I ride it because I enjoy it.
Now, I am not putting myself in the same category of those racing in the Isle of Man this week, far from it, but the basic principle is the same.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}TT TRAGEDY .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Mark Purslow dies aged 29 at Isle of Man TT following horror crash
I went to see the race in 2019 and was blown away by the speed. I was also slightly unnerved by the lack of safety measures.
I say lack because of what I was used to in F1 where there are run off areas, gravel traps and crash-absorbing Techpro barriers.
At the TT, there are stone walls, post boxes and kerbs to negotiate – but I quickly learned that was the point.
It is not as if the risks aren’t unknown to the riders either.
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Back when I visited, I spoke to famed TT specialist John McGuinness and I put it to him that it was ‘a bit dangerous’ and his response has lived with me since.
He said: “You don’t just jump on a Superbike and fly down Bray Hill without knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into.
“James Hunt died as a 40-year-old of a heart attack, Barry Sheene died at 52 years old of cancer.
“If somebody dealt me a pack of cards right now and said ‘You can have 48 great years or 60 s*** ones’, I’d take 48 great years.
“I’ve lost a few mates around here but there’s no gun to anybody’s head to do it.”
He is right too, for when I was reading about Purslow’s tragic accident, I recalled McGuinness’s words.
As the Welshman’s family grieved for the 29-year-old, there was something telling in what his family wrote on the racer’s Facebook page.
They said: “He loved to ride, and he knew the risks but he loved racing since such a young age… we are going to try and get some solace in the fact he always told us if he was going to go, this would be the way he would want to, and that he would be smiling.
“He will be telling us all to stop crying, have a laugh and a drink for him, and celebrate his achievements.
By modern standards, a sporting event with this level of fatalities would – and should – not be allowed to continue, but this is an exception.Ben Hunt
“We love you Mark forever and always you were one in a million, always in our hearts. The Purslow family.”
It was a poignant reminder that while the Isle of Man TT remains dangerous, as does all motorsport, it should still be allowed to continue.
Because if you attended the event, spoke to every rider, mechanic and fan, they’d all tell you the same thing as McGuinness told me: “People always try to stop things they don’t understand.
“So before you make your mind up, come to the Isle of Man, watch the racing, talk to the riders and teams, and then decide.”
Azerbaijan GP
I am excited to be heading back to Baku this week for the Azerbaijan F1 GP – mainly for some normality.
After chaotic and sold-out races in Miami, Barcelona and Monaco it will be great to see some half-empty grandstands again in a destination that people have never heard of.
Giovinazzi’s switch
Former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi must be feeling drained after such a miserable time since making the switch to Formula E.
He’s currently last in the championship after some dreadful performances – but he exceeded himself at the Jakarta ePrix.
First he almost took out his Dragon Penske team-mate Sergio Sette Camara with an over-ambitious overtake that sent him into a spin.
He then was forced to retire from the race five laps from the end for running out of battery life.
Too soon for Espargaro
Aleix Espargaro was another racer to come up short at the weekend in embarrassing circumstances.
The MotoGP rider, who was running in second place in his home race in Barcelona, pulled over and started celebrating – only it was not until he was overtaken by other riders he realised he’d gone a lap too soon.
Eventually, after realising his mistake, he was classified in fifth place in the Catalan Grand Prix.
Espargaro was distraught afterwards – especially seeing race winner Fabio Quartararo extend his championship lead over him to 22 points.
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Mansell Mania
Nigel Mansell will celebrate 30 years since winning the F1 title by starring at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Organisers are looking to recreate ‘Mansell Mania’ as he will be reunited with his 1992 championship-winning Williams FW14B and drive a number of other cars from his Formula One days, including the Lotus 91, Ferrari 639 and 640. More

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More Isle of Man TT deaths spark calls for dangerous race to be axed but riders know the risks – the decision is theirs

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