First impressions of Martin
First impressions of Russell Martin?Very positive. He speaks well, has a clear vision of what he wants to do and how he wants his team to play, and is a big advocate of the one thing that could get him what he wants: hard work.He's clearly delighted to be the new Rangers head coach and says he wants to make up for his time here as a player when, to paraphrase his own words, he was a bit rubbish and wishes he could have offered more.He's driven, motivated and has a clear footballing philosophy.I asked him at the end of his first media conference if he expected to be given time. He isn't. He said he needs to win early. By that I thought he meant trophies. He clarified that as winning games.Clearly, however, he knows he has to deliver for an expectant club and support. One thing is also clear: he is not afraid of the challenges ahead.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
The UK summer festival kit list — luxury edition
Everyone knows that people who attend festivals in the UK aren't messing around. A feeble Californian unused to the elements, I turned up to my first UK weekender head to toe in all the wrong clothes. Where I should have brought warming but chic layers, I came with bare shoulders and no jacket. Where I should have researched fashionable but supportive shoes, I turned up in dainty sandals. Where it might have been wise to pack both a raincoat and a sunhat, I brought only trendy (and hardly UV safe) sunnies. As the rain whipped around me, the mud caked my ankles and my feet throbbed, I was cursing the Coachella influencers who had inspired my outfit. Instead I should have been paying attention to the clever way that the UK's fashionable festivalgoers weave together form and function to make sure they have the best time possible while still bringing personal style into the equation. It's a tricky line to navigate. Sure, you'll need sensible shoes. But the good news is there's never been a cooler array of sensible shoes on the market. Sure, you'll need a raincoat — but what if that raincoat was made by the queen of fashionable festival attire herself, Alexa Chung? Of course you'll want a hat to protect yourself from the sun, but what if that hat could take you from the soggy glades of Glastonbury to, say, the sizzling beach clubs of Monaco? Whether you're in the enviable position of sleeping in a luxury camper van at a glamping site or are kicking it old-school and camping next to your favourite stage, here are the festival staples that will have you looking and feeling your most luxurious. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Possibly the most important festival accessory is a great pair of sunnies. These from eyewear king Tom Ford are the perfect blend of trendy and practical, with their 1970s-inspired shape. Strap them on a chain like this one from Loewe for extra safety. This will keep them from flying off in the mosh pit. Tom Ford, £413 My favourite formula when it comes to festival dressing is wearing a fun top with comfortable bottoms. This top from the LA-based brand Staud has jaunty sequins, a little bit of a structure and a neutral enough colour that it will go with everything, even a pair of Adidas shorts. Staud, £330 Same goes for this glitter printed number from the French brand Courrèges. It's comfortable but still has personality — and is also a nod to the early 2000s styles that have been creeping back into the fashion landscape over the last few years. Courrèges, £180 There is no one who has more successfully nailed the chic festival aesthetic than Alexa Chung. This is why her line at Barbour is the perfect choice for your festival kit. It's made with the brand's waxed cotton, which will keep you dry in a downpour, but it's lightweight enough to make sure you don't overheat. It also comes in a jolly yellow bright enough that your friends will never lose you in the crowd. The Edit by Alexa at Barbour, £319 Miu Miu has entered into the activewear space and done it very well. Among the brand's new, more unexpected offerings is a fleece sweatshirt. The oversize fit and thick material mean it'll keep you cosy when temperatures inevitably drop in the evening. Miu Miu, £1,800 This top from Pucci is a great way to bring some colour into your look. Bring along your favourite bikini top to go under the shirt and you're in business. Pucci, £270 This flouncy dress from the LA-based brand Doen will balance perfectly with the chunkier pair of shoes you will inevitably have to wear. Think how nice it will feel not to have to squeeze into a pair of trousers on day three. Doen, £268 These need no introduction. They're the king of festivalwear and the best way to protect your trotters when the rain starts falling and the ground turns to slurry. This model has an update on the classic Hunter look with a mid-calf height and a tiny platform. Hunter, £168 This cropped reversible jacket has the unmistakable Burberry check on one side and a solid green on the other, meaning you get two outfits for the price of one. It's lightweight and will help keep you protected from the wind in the chicest way possible. Burberry, £1,250 Brunello Cucinelli clothes and a music festival may feel like unlikely companions, but this ribbed polo is a jaunty red and made of a resilient and warm cotton, making it a perfect companion for your festival excursion. Brunello Cucinelli, £990 A good pair of denim shorts will take you far, and these from Agolde come in five different washes. They are the perfect length, sitting just above mid-thigh, which is most flattering. Agolde, £180 Celine's classic frames are a surefire way to stay looking glam throughout the festival, plus the brand's shades are made of a thicker, sturdier acetate, so they're a more reliable bet for a day involving lots of jumping around. Celine, £340 For something with an open toe but a bit more support, try Bottega's new sandals. These have sturdy leather straps and chunky soles to help keep your feet secure as you stomp between shows. Bottega Veneta, £770 Jacquemus has been making fashionable summer headwear for years. The French brand uses chic but sturdy materials like denim and canvas, and many of its hats include an attached strap — a practical element not to be sniffed at! Jacquemus, £220 For something more lo-fi but still just as comfortable, try a pair of trainers from the new brand Hatty. These British-made, vegan and vintage-inspired trainers are designed by the siblings Harriet and Lewis Houlgrave, who just happen to be third-generation shoemakers. If it's looking to be a dry weekend, opt for their cheetah print model. The gum soles and supple materials mean that these babies will keep you dancing all night, no problemo. The shoes arrive in a beautiful silver box, which also includes a card explaining how to tie a perfect bow with your laces. Handy. Hatty, £165 If you get organised enough to change into a pair of pyjamas (rather than flopping face down in your party gear), make sure they're extra luxurious. Eberjey is known for its uber-cosy pyjamas, and its (machine-washable) silk PJs are particularly fabulous. Opt for the new Casa del Sol collection, which was co-created with the actress Eva Longoria for a particularly summery-feeling combo. Eberjey, £270 If you're someone who tends to get cold at night, why not bring along one of Burberry's hot-water bottles to keep your toes warm. Burberry, £320 Comfort is king, especially towards the end of the festival, but that doesn't mean you can't look polished too. Prada's jogging bottoms have both a drawstring waistband and cuffs, meaning they will be not only a roomy solution, but also a stylish one. Prada, £1,010 Whether you're shuffling around your tent or braving a communal shower, The Row's flip-flops will keep your feet comfortable while also semaphoring your style pioneer status. The Row, £670 Augustinus Bader is the skincare brand used by those in the know. Its products are chock full of the powerful TFC8® technology, which was invented by Dr Bader to aid in skin renewal — something you will be in desperate need of. The starter kit offers the brand's skincare heroes in a collection of minis. Augustinus Bader, £210 This suncream combines skin care and protection, formulated as a hydrating serum with broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It also has a dewiness to it that will give you a nice sheen and it's tinted — great for those looking for a more minimal make-up look. Emma Lewisham, £50 There's nothing more annoying than the sense that a monster spot is percolating under the surface of your skin, especially when the last thing you have time to think about is a proper skincare regime. The ZIIP dot is your best friend in moments like this. The circular device, designed by the celebrity facialist Melanie Simon, is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but it emits micro currents that when glided over your spots help to reduce inflammation, swelling and tackle bacteria. ZIIP, £169 This primer will do everything you need for the festival. It will give you a glowy sheen, it will moisturise, and it will help blur imperfections without making your skin feel heavy. It's an all-rounder that also layers well if you need to do a mid-day top up. Vieve, £39 There's nothing more annoying than not having your phone handy to capture all the action. This case from Bottega is made of rubber, which will keep your phone safe from spills, and has a strap attached, so you can hang the phone off your person or even whirl it around your head with joy. Bottega Veneta, £200 You will spend half the time looking for the friends you've lost. Even worse is when you get lost with a phone battery that's rapidly decreasing, because then you may never see any of your friends again. Come prepared with a portable phone charger, and a chic one at that. Hermès' version is covered in supple calfskin leather and has wireless charging capabilities so you don't have to carry around any pesky cables. It also has a useful analogue gauge on the front to tell you exactly how much power is left in the bank. Hermès, £680 The Eyes water bottle is the perfect festival companion. Fun and functional, it keeps drinks cool for 24 hours and warm for 12, so it can carry your morning hot drink and then later help keep you cool and hydrated. Anya Hindmarch, £45 Sometimes you just can't bring yourself to stand in an endless line for a refresh on your drink. Solve for this by packing yourself a handful of tinned cocktails like these from Ghost Lab. Not only do they taste delicious, but they also feature light combinations like gin with grapefruit, lychee and cucumber, or vodka with espresso, cascara cherry and guarana. Plus the sleek silver packaging will act as an extra accessory. Ghost Labs, £18 It's almost a 100 per cent guarantee that you won't be eating as mindfully as you might like to during a multiday festival experience. Increase your protein intake (the key to managing a hangover) by supplementing with Louco's protein powder before you head out for the day. It's been specifically designed for women's health and will help you keep dancing for longer. Louco Health, from £24
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Are you in need of a parasol upgrade?
A prerequisite of scorching summers, a garden parasol provides practicality (a shelter from sun and rain alike) and decorative oomph, injecting some fun to alfresco areas small or large. There's a design out there for every taste and budget, from the chintzy florals of East London Parasol's offering to Business and Pleasure's burnt orange, green and pink one, while striped ones (such as Habitat's £25 green and white iteration) pluck inspiration from the old world glamour of the Riviera, adding a dose of members' club chic to your garden. John Lewis's customers are prepping for sunnier days, with the retailer reporting that its customers' searches for 'parasol' are up by 223 per cent week on week on its website, with some models already sold out. So be quick, the best ones might not hang around for long. Don't forget the SPF — not every parasol is created equal. Check the UV protection factor from the manufacturer. £999, £25, £79, £455, (Top image: £785, £125,
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Manchester City hit Al Ain for six in one-sided Club World Cup romp
Manchester City will jet into the inland heat of Orlando's Camping World Stadium for a 3pm showdown with Juventus on Thursday that will decide who claims Group G and so (probably) avoids Real Madrid and faces off against either Salzburg or Al Hilal in the last-16. At a Mercedes-Benz Stadium akin in scale, football-venue-wise, to the Death Star, Pep Guardiola went one better than his pre-match declaration and fielded a completely fresh XI that cuffed aside Al Ain, the behemoths of the Emirati game. City entered the break 3-0 to the good, making the second stanza a hunt for the four more unanswered goals that would pull them ahead of the Italian giants in the standings. Inside a venue with the roof on and air-conditioned to a pleasing coolness, conditions were apt for what could be characterised a duck-shoot: the record 14-times Pro League victors in the sights of a Guardiola unit that wrestled throughout to find a relentless rhythm. When Oscar Bobb gave City a 5-0 lead - the substitute weaved over from the right and slid in – five minutes of regulation game-time remained. Next, Rayan Cherki, another replacement, fired past Khalid Eisa and when, moments later, an Erling Haaland toe poke set Phil Foden up at point-blank range City's seventh should have come. But, to Guardiola's visible disgust, Foden hit the goalkeeper's feet, and by the final whistle City remained in second place. Even those of an Al Ain persuasion rated their hopes of even a heartening performance in the low percentages yet City were, largely, disjointed before, then after İlkay Gündoğan's ninth-minute breakthrough. Here, Bernardo Silva swung in a corner from the right, the Emiratis could not clear, the ball bobbbled to the German, and a half-swivel took him on to his left foot with which he dinked in a ball aimed for the lurking Haaland. Except this beat Eisa and bounced sweetly – for City – in: Gündoğan's cheeky grin suggested fluke but neither he or any teammate cared. All evening, City never threatened to be the mesmeric pass-and-move proposition of the vintage Guardiola years. Matheus Nunes, patrolling the right, booted one cross straight out. Rayan Aït-Nouri, in a first start at left-back, burst into the area, slalomed past two, three defenders, and flopped over. But class usually tells. So when Facundo Zabala hauled down Nunes and was booked, Claudio Echeverri applied a dash. From a diagonal to the right of goal the Argentinian arrowed the ball straight home, leaving Eisa a statue. Why the keeper failed to move a foot or so to his left to beat out the free-kick is a mystery Sherlock Holmes might struggle to solve. Despite their odd bits-and-pieces mode, City could have wandered off for their interval refreshments 6-0, not 3-0, up. Joško Gvardiol's header pinged off Eisa's right post and Haaland spurned two chances you would expect him to pot. One with his left foot from the left flirted with the goal and missed. One with his right from the right was a carbon copy – again rolling wide. But the stanza did end with the No 9 on the scoresheet, via the spot, after the VAR ordered the referee, Mustapha Ghorbal, to the pitchside monitor. This came after Ramy Rabia flung Manuel Akanji to the turf in the area. Ghorbal, awarding the penalty, might have sent off the No 25 but he saw yellow only. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Unlike the FA Cup final when Haaland refused the responsibility – Omar Marmoush took and missed against Crystal Palace – he did step up and registered, stroking the ball low into the right corner. As City began their second half search for more goals, Echeverri's work was done: Foden, the star act of the opening 2-0 win over Wydad, his replacement. Ait-Nouri, again, bobbed and weaved in from the left and claimed a corner. It led to another – on the right – that Foden floated over and Vladimir Ivić's unit survived. City's shape was the 4-1-4-1 that has often been Guardiola's preferred configuration across his nine years piloting the team. With Foden now on, those in white had a man who knows how to orchestrate the attack and, when Rodri entered for the last half an hour, they had their chief conductor – the player who runs the whole show. Off went a near-anonymous Nico González for the Ballon d'Or holder. The Spaniard was joined by Bobb as Guardiola reached for Al Ain's jugular, the forward replacing a defender, Abdukodir Khusanov. The now three-man rearguard soon watched as Foden, darting over from his No 10 berth to the left, slid over a ball Haaland galloped onto, twice letting go piledrivers that were repelled by Eisa, admirably. Early on in the opening 45 minutes Nassim Chadli roved along the right, but from a tight angle failed to beat Stefan Ortega. Now, the same. This time a dance across City's area created a straighter route to goal yet, again, his radar was wild. Part of Gundogan's stellar career is built on his eye for a finish and he soon show Chadli how to do the business where it counts, as nifty Silva footwork preceded a pass that put City's No 19 in. From here, regulation Gundogan stuff: two strides were followed by a dink over Eisa that this time he certainly meant.
