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      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho must find next Christian Eriksen if he is to deliver Premier League title at Tottenham

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      JOSE MOURINHO needs to find the new Christian Eriksen to unlock a trophy-winning team at Tottenham.
      That’s the expert view of Spurs legend and former boss Glenn Hoddle, who is launching his own podcast this weekend to coincide with the return of the Premier League.

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      Jose Mourinho needs to replace Christian Eriksen to bring trophies to SpursCredit: AFP or licensors

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      That is the view of club legend Glenn HoddleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Hoddle also believes Spurs need to sign a centre-half and left-back to complete a squad to make them capable of challenging for honours.
      Hoddle is sure Mourinho has his eye on winning the Europa League or the FA Cup in a season that ends in ‘1’, traditionally a year in which Spurs deliver trophies.
      But it has been 12 long years since their last piece of silverware — and nearly 60 years since they won the league title in 1961.

      Hoddle said: “Yes, Spurs can win a trophy at long last but it is by no means a given, as there are six or seven clubs with chances of winning one of the cups this season.
      “And I’d put Spurs’ opening opponents Everton as one of those.
      “The only blemish of Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Spurs was that he should have taken the FA Cup more seriously.
      “It should have been a major priority.  Success breeds success and Spurs just needed to get one trophy over the line to give the entire squad a lift and ease the pressure about not winning trophies.

      “Jose is a serial trophy winner and he is building a squad capable of winning one — but while they have strikers who are exciting and will score plenty of goals, they need a creative spark in the centre of midfield.

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      “Jose has to get Dele Alli back to his best and has to get Lucas Moura consistently producing.
      “I don’t think he has the player yet for that vital central midfield role. I don’t see Giovani Lo Celso playing that 360 degrees in midfield. He is best wide.
      “Harry Winks is the best option but Eriksen was that player. Not when he first arrived, not for the final 18 months, but for two or three years in between he was the creative genius.
      “He could lay set-plays on a plate. He could get the best out of Alli and Harry Kane, providing them both with plenty of chances, opening teams up with that spark.
      “With the need for a centre-half and a left-back there are holes in the squad to be filled.

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      “For a time Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were ahead of anything in the Premier League — and that included City and United and Liverpool until Virgil van Dijk arrived.
      “They were the best unit and with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker flying, that was a sound base — but they need to be replaced.
      “The keeper has a little bit to prove this season, so too does Lucas Moura.
      “Son Heung-min took time to settle and Moura has had that time now, so he is under pressure to perform. But there is no doubt Spurs have the firepower with Steven Bergwijn looking promising, Kane, Alli, Son and Moura.
      “As for Spurs’ opponents on Saturday, it’s an exciting time for Everton fans with some of the buys brought in.
      “I’d fancy Everton more if they were at home, despite no fans. But, on balance, I’d make Spurs favourites for this one, as it might be four, five or six games further down the line before we see the best of this new, exciting Everton team brought together by Carlo Ancelotti.”
        The brand new Glenn Hoddle Footy Show podcast is out on Sunday evening.

      Jose Mourinho tells Dele Alli he is ‘f***ing lazy’ in All or Nothing Tottenham doc More

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      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho aims dig at Danny Rose as out-of-favour Tottenham defender eyes Genoa transfer escape

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      JOSE MOURINHO fired a prospective parting shot at Danny Rose — claiming he is not up to playing in a team where his place is under threat.
      Tottenham left-back Rose will miss their Prem opener at home to Everton on Sunday as he mulls over a move to Genoa.

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      Danny Rose’s playing time was limited following Jose Mourinho’s Spurs arrivalCredit: Reuters

      The England ace, 30, is in the final year of his contract and spent the second half of last season on loan at Newcastle after being frozen out at Spurs.
      Rose was seen confronting his manager about his lack of playing time in an episode of Amazon’s documentary on the club Tottenham Hotspur: All Or Nothing.
      Mourinho said yesterday: “If Genoa get Danny Rose,  they get a good player.

      “If they get a good player in the last year of his contract, they’re in a privileged position to do a good deal.
      “If Danny Rose goes there, I wish him all the best.
      “It’s one of the things that was very clear from one of the Amazon bits is that Danny is the kind of guy who wants to play all the time.
      “Some players are more adapted to belong to a squad with quality where competition is higher. Other players are only happy if they’re in a club where they play all the time.”

      Mourinho’s men finished sixth last season — ten points ahead of Everton.

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      But he believes the Toffees under Carlo Ancelotti  are top-six rivals this time.
      He added: “I do see them as top- six challengers. The ten-point distance last season was the consequence of how strange last season was.”
      TOTTENHAM (likely XI) vs Everton: Lloris, Dier,  Sanchez, Alderweireld, Doherty, Sissoko, Winks, Davies, Moura, Son, Kane.

      Dele Alli gets debate about ‘top three best chocolate bars’ going on Tottenham’s new Amazon doc – and is NOT Bounty fan More

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      in Soccer

      Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho told to deliver trophies NOW as Spurs move on from ‘sleeping giants’ tag

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      DANIEL LEVY has told Jose Mourinho he wants trophies at Tottenham.
      Spurs have not lifted any silverware since the 2008 League Cup — and for their last top-flight title you have to go all the way back to 1961.

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      Jose Mourinho has been told he must deliver trophies at TottenhamCredit: Rex Features

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      Spurs chairman Daniel Levy says he wants silverware in Amazon Prime’s new All or Nothing documentaryCredit: PA
      Chairman Levy, who was appointed in 2001, tells Amazon Prime’s new All or Nothing documentary on the club: “Tottenham when I took over was a much smaller club than it is today.
      “I saw this club as a sleeping giant.
      “We are now in a period where we need to win.

      “I am a Spurs fan and I want to see this club continue to grow — and I want to see trophies.”
      The North Londoners finished sixth last  season  after Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as manager during a rollercoaster, coronavirus-hit campaign.
      Levy said: “You couldn’t really write what’s happened when you think last summer we were in the Champions League final.

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      “We were also the largest net spenders in the transfer market last summer and sitting here today, Mauricio’s no longer with us, Jose Mourinho’s with us and we’ve had injuries we couldn’t believe.

      “Credit to Jose, he’s been a class act. He’s obsessed in a positive way with winning. But he’s come into a difficult situation.”
      Danny Rose, who was seen having showdown talks with Mourinho in the series before a loan move to Newcastle last season, could now join Serie A side Genoa.

      Jose Mourinho wants to make leader Harry Kane ‘explode’ at Tottenham in All or Nothing doc More

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      in Soccer

      Sausage maker dress goalkeeper as giant cheese grater to fight prostate cancer

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      GOALIE Johnny Coombs is shredding this season — but it’s all for the grater good.
      His non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancer.

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      Keeper Johnny Coombs and his non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancerCredit: GARY MORRISROE
      The firm will be dressing Johnny, 39, as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of “Veg with Edge” bangers.
      His team-mates will wear a carrot-print kit.
      The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 voted worst ever by fans.
      In 2018 it was hot dogs and 2019 it was bangers and mash.

      Heck’s co-founder Andrew Keeble said: “We’ve had some fun along the way.
      “What started as an innocuous sausage kit a few years ago has snowballed into this massive, almost unstoppable force that shows no sign of letting up.

      “Every time we think that’s it, we get another idea for a new kit and away we go again.
      “However, there is a very serious side to all of this because Heck and Bedale AFC continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.”

      The disease kills 11,000 men a year, one every 45 minutes.

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      Heck’s co-founder said the firm and Bedale AFC will ‘continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer’Credit: GARY MORRISROE

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      Heck Food will be dressing Johnny as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of ‘Veg with Edge’ sausagesCredit: GARY MORRISROE

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      The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 which was voted the worst ever by footie fansCredit: North News and Pictures

      Jimmy Tarbuck talks candidly about his prostate cancer diagnosis on Good Morning Britain
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      in Soccer

      Tom Cleverley ready to step up and lead Watford back to Prem if Troy Deeney seals transfer exit

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      TOM CLEVERLEY spent the summer in a bad mood.
      But he has now got itchy feet to turn back the years for Watford this season.

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      Tom Cleverley admits Watford’s relegation led to a miserable summerCredit: Getty

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      The midfielder insists he is ready to take over the armband if Troy Deeney departs the HornetsCredit: AFP
      The midfielder, 31, was one of the many Hornets stalwarts to  suffer as the club returned to the Championship for the first time in five years.
      Even Cleverley, who is enjoying his third stint at Watford over an 11-year period, admits he gave up on survival when Aston Villa beat Arsenal on the penultimate day.
      Ahead of tonight’s opener against Middlesbrough, he said: “The first couple of weeks were hard.

      “It was my first relegation so I had never felt anything like that before. I was pretty annoyed to say the least.
      “But the short break has helped me and the rest of the squad get over that hangover. We footballers like a good break but personally I’m really happy it was a shorter one.
      “We could have dwelt on last season’s disappointment for too long and then ‘bang’ you lose focus on what’s ahead.
      “I accepted we were down when Villa beat Arsenal. We had one game to play and we could have stayed up but that’s when I started getting my head around the prospect of relegation.

      “I wasn’t the happiest man in the world that’s for sure. That sort of season takes its toll on you.
      “We lost on the opening day and from there we were in a relegation battle.
      “I know we are paid a lot of money but that stress is more than anyone can imagine.”

      It was my first relegation so I had never felt anything like that before.
      Tom Cleverley

      That stress is now gone from Cleverley’s mind but there is still a bone to pick with himself regarding his shooting boots.
      Since returning in January 2017 and signing permanently that summer — after  an initial loan spell in 2009-10 — the former Manchester United midfielder has netted just three times.
      In that 2009-10 campaign, also in the Championship, Cleverley was named Watford player of the season with 11 goals to his name.
      The Old Trafford academy graduate is not one to look back but he admits that is the type of goal-scoring performance he needs.
      He added: “I am the first one to say I have been disappointed with my goal return since then.
      “You don’t want a small-club mentality but it will be a nice change dominating the ball in the Championship — as well as not having to play Manchester City twice a season.
      “This year I will be making more forward runs. I am a good finisher still.”
      Cleverley is part of an experienced core at Vicarage Road who give the club a real chance of jumping straight back up.

      However, some of those experienced faces could yet move on this summer under the new reign of Vladimir Ivic.
      Abdoulaye Doucoure has gone to one of Cleverley’s old clubs Everton while skipper Troy Deeney appears to be unsettled.
      While Cleverley would love his old mate to stay, he is prepared to stand up should the armband become vacant.
      He said: “I captained the side during our pre-season friendly against Tottenham and I really enjoyed that responsibility. I would be ready if asked.” More

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      in Boxing

      Matchroom prospect Johnny Fisher can be a modern day Gene Tunney thanks to brainy heavyweight’s degree

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      IT is possible British boxing is about to welcome a modern-day Gene Tunney.
      Intellectual Tunney beat Jack Dempsey to win the world heavyweight title in 1926 and he retired undefeated.

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      Johnny Fisher can be a modern-day Gene TunneyCredit: https://www.instagram.com/johnnyfisher1/?hl=en
      But the American was not exactly a fan favourite because he preferred the company of scholars to the bent-nose brigade.
      A student of Shakespeare, he was close to writers Ernest Hemingway and George Bernard Shaw, who he used to correspond with regularly.
      Johnny Fisher is out of the same mould.
      Another 6ft 5in, 17stone giant, he is an Exeter University graduate who has just signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom outfit.

      Johnny’s only been with me a month but though he is a complete novice I’m already excited. I can see he has the potential and the dedication to get to the top
      Johnny Fisher’s trainer Mark Tibbs

      The Romford lad, 21, has decided on a boxing career despite getting a 2:1 history degree which has meant shelving his original ambition to be a barrister.
      Fisher, whose thesis was on the aerial bombing campaign on Germany in World War Two, reckons if he had not sacrificed his final term sparring with Joe Joyce in Las Vegas, he would have ended up with a First Class honours degree.
      With no amateur experience to speak of, Fisher admits when it comes to the Noble Art he is raw.
      A schoolboy and junior ABA champion, he has set out prematurely as a pro because the pandemic has decimated amateur boxing for the last six months.

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      Tunney preferred the company of scholars to the bent-nose brigadeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      With his academic background he fully understands the mammoth undertaking it will take to reach the heights.
      His trainer Mark Tibbs, who did such a brilliant job getting Dillian Whyte to be a top contender, told me: “Johnny’s only been with me a month but though he is a complete novice I’m already excited.
      “I can see he has the potential and the dedication to get to the top.
      “For one thing he is a tremendous puncher.
      “Every time I take him on the pads he’s ripping my arms out and my shoulders are killing me.
      “Because he is so intelligent he’s going to be a quick learner.

      If Daniel Dubois can become British and Commonwealth champion with such a limited amateur background there’s no reason why I can’t do the same
      Johnny Fisher

      “But he knows we have a tremendous amount to do before he hopefully makes his debut before the end of the year. Fisher said: “I’ve only been boxing seriously for 18 months and in every walk of life experience is vitally important.
      “But if Daniel Dubois can become British and Commonwealth champion with such a limited amateur background there’s no reason why I can’t do the same.”
      Hearn said: “When I got the call about a big, strong talented heavyweight from Romford I was already sold.
      “The domestic heavyweight scene is thriving with a host of prospects looking to break through.
      “And Johnny has the raw power to become a real problem.
      “I’m looking forward to mapping out his career. He’s going to be a fans’ favourite.” So just how much of a man of letters was Tunney.
      When he beat the legendary Dempsey, he was asked how it felt at winning the title.

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      This is what he said: “In human endeavour, the most important thing is not so much the realisation of the goal, the effort of the chase is worth more to the hunter than the actual capture.
      “I cherish the crown. But my greatest thrills came not in winning it but in my climb to the top.”
      It sure beats ‘I’m over the moon’.

      Dillian Whyte’s coach reveals incredible reaction to shock Povetkin KO that left him asking ‘What’s happened?’ More

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      in Soccer

      Premier League chiefs accuse Mike Ashley of LYING about Newcastle’s failed Saudi takeover

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      FURIOUS Prem chiefs went to war with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley — as they accused him of LYING about the failed Saudi takeover.
      Less than 48 hours before the season kicks off, League bosses issued an astonishing statement berating Ashley for deliberately misleading fans after the £300million deal foundered this summer.

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      Mike Ashley has been accused of lying by the Premier LeagueCredit: PA

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      The Newcastle owner tried to blame PL chief Richard Masters for the demise of the Saudi takeoverCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And in a further sign of their anger, they insisted Ashley was fundamentally and factually wrong in trying to blame Prem chief executive Richard Masters for the collapse of the deal.
      Ashley had lit the black and white touchpaper for a legal battle as he threatened to sue the League and claimed Prem bosses had pulled the plug on the takeover led by the Saudi state’s Public Investment Fund.
      But in a brutal response — the most savage assault on a League member since West Ham were fined £5m over the Carlos Tevez affair in 2006 — Prem bosses insisted Newcastle had been deliberately spreading falsehoods about how the deal fell through.
      Ashley claimed the Prem had officially rejected the proposal by ruling the Saudi-led consortium had failed their Owners’ and Directors’ Test.

      But the Prem responded: “The Premier League was disappointed and surprised by the Newcastle statement regarding its potential takeover.
      “The club’s assertion that the Premier League has rejected the takeover is incorrect.”
      Ashley had pointed a finger directly at Masters, bringing a stinging retort: “It is also incorrect to suggest these decisions were taken by any individual.
      “They were agreed unanimously by all Premier League Board members.”

      The Saudi PIF, headed by ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, was due to stump up 80 per cent of the deal price, with ten per cent each from the billionaire Reuben brothers and PCP Capital Partners, headed by Amanda Staveley.
      But the bid collapsed over the Saudi state’s involvement in ‘piracy’ of the broadcasts by the League’s official Middle East partners, Qatar-based beIN Sport.
      The Prem statement makes clear that the Saudis have not come back for a second attempt after announcing in July its bid was dead.
      It went on: “The Board has, on a number of occasions, given its opinion about which entities it believes would have control over the club should the consortium proceed with the acquisition. That opinion is based on legal advice.
      “This means the potential takeover could  go  to  the  next stage should the relevant entities provide all appropriate information.
      “They would then be subject to a suitability assessment by the Board. As an alternative, the Board has repeatedly offered independent arbitration as a way forward.”
      Toon fans have accused Masters of letting them and the club down over the proposed deal and also suggested that he has bent to the will of the Big Six, arguing those clubs fear the threat of a newly-enriched Newcastle.
      But the statement calls Newcastle’s bluff, with Ashley now under pressure to prove his claim that the League rejected the bid rather than the Saudis pulling out, as they had themselves announced.

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      The Saudis have NOT come back in for another attempt since the demise of the original deal in JulyCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Micky Quinn questions why Newcastle Saudi Arabian bidders were put under such scrutiny compared to other club’s owners More

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      in Soccer

      Mason Greenwood told to train alone at Man Utd after England dream became nightmare

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      MASON GREENWOOD has been told to train on his own at Manchester United for the next few days.
      The forward, 18, returned to Carrington on Thursday for the first time since his England dream turned into a nightmare.

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      Mason Greenwood returned to Carrington on Thursday and has been told to train on his ownCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

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      Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to hold talks with the 18-year-old following his England debacleCredit: AP:Associated Press
      But he was told he must only arrive after boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his first-team squad had gone home.
      Greenwood and Phil Foden were sent home from England duty after breaking the squad bubble in Iceland by inviting two girls to their hotel.
      United insisted Greenwood should be given a coronavirus test earlier this week before coming back into the fold.
      He will not be involved in a friendly against Aston Villa this weekend.

      And Solskjaer plans to hold talks with the youngster over his conduct, although he will not be disciplined.
      He could still feature when United open their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on September 19.
      Meanwhile Judd Trump has admitted it was “scary” to learn of Harry Maguire’s Greek nightmare.
      Snooker’s world No 1 celebrated his 31st birthday with the United man in Mykonos, just hours before the defender was arrested.

      Maguire, 27, was found guilty of verbal and physical assault, attempted bribery and resisting arrest, although his conviction was quashed and he is now awaiting a retrial.
      Trump said: “I was very shocked when I saw what happened. It is a bit scary to see what can happen on holiday.
      “The police can be strict and less  tolerant than in the UK in some places.
      “It’s very hard for me to believe what is reported to have happened.

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      “He was lovely to speak to and we chatted about snooker and football.
      “Sometimes people want a headline or to try and bring you down.
      “He said he doesn’t want personal security and stuff, but maybe these days that’s what you need to do. Sometimes you can be too famous.”

      Southgate says he would have sent Foden and Greenwood home from England duty in disgrace regardless of Covid-19 breaches More