“Hi Tonda, did you cheat?” That brief question went straight to the centre of an issue that troubled the Football Association throughout the summer. Northern Echo journalist Dominic Shaw asked it after Southampton defeated Middlesbrough over two legs in May’s Championship playoff semi-final, prompting Tonda Eckert to leave his press conference at St Mary’s. Southampton’s […]
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Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has rejoined Napoli training after undergoing heart surgery. The 29-year-old had an ablation procedure in Manchester last month. The minimally invasive treatment, used to correct an irregular heartbeat, was declared completely successful. Napoli said: “Scott McTominay underwent additional medical examinations on Wednesday, and the results confirmed that he is ready to […]
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Declan Rice is nearing an agreement on a fresh long-term deal with Arsenal, according to sources. The England international has established himself as a vital member of the Gunners’ squad since completing a £105m move from West Ham in July 2023. His existing contract runs until the end of next season, but negotiations over an […]
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Thomas Tuchel initially intended to maintain stability. The England head coach hoped to build on the encouraging aspects of the World Cup campaign and retain most of the players involved in the run to the semi-finals in North America. His selection for the four Nations League fixtures and the start of a new international chapter […]
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Sitting at the foot of the table so early in a campaign was not always a sign of impending relegation. From 2013-14 to 2018-19, just one of the six teams occupying last place after five matches was eventually relegated: Newcastle in 2015-16. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, recovered to finish 11th in 2017-18. Tottenham supporters can also […]
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Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has received a six-week suspended touchline ban from the Football Association over his involvement in the spying controversy that resulted in the club being docked four points and removed from last season’s Championship playoffs. The decision allows Eckert to remain in the dugout, including for Sunday’s home derby against Portsmouth. After […]
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SIMPLY APPRECIATE THEM Few things highlight the dramatic contrasts of sport better than the departures of two players who have defined modern football. While one continues to approach his international exit amid resentment, theatrics and public frustration, the other offered—at least for the most part—a far more graceful farewell. Aside from the slightly awkward moment […]
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German side Bochum have prohibited fans from jumping together in one section of their stadium after movement in the stand caused some spectators to feel unwell. Engineers assessed the structure during preparations for improvements to the Ruhrstadion and confirmed that it could safely support the required weight. However, their findings showed that coordinated jumping during […]
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Robbie Savage has urged his Peterborough players to adopt a new “mindset” and end their spell of disappointing performances. In Savage’s first game at the helm, Posh struck four times within nine first-half minutes to claim a 4-1 EFL Trophy victory over Ipswich Town U21s. The 51-year-old is set to oversee his first League One […]
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Mikel Arteta has declared that “this is just the start” of what he hopes to accomplish with Arsenal after agreeing to a new long-term contract that could extend his time in charge beyond 10 years. The Spanish coach is thought to have accepted a four-year agreement worth more than £20m per season, which would make […]
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