The Left Wing: Brilliant Bordeaux, Tadhg Furlong worry and Club World Cup issues
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Premier League's richest are getting richer but that's a concern.. and it could ruin English football from top to bottom
There is a huge disparity in kit deal revenue within the Prem KARREN BRADY Premier League's richest are getting richer but that's a concern.. and it could ruin English football from top to bottom A FRESH start, a new Premier League season and there's a nice, warm feeling in the pit of every football fan's stomach, which has nothing to do with the fact it's hotter than the hinges of hell. That feeling is called hope. Hope of what fortunes a new campaign can bring for your club. 3 The Premier League returns this weekend Credit: PA I'm not alone in saying that there are issues which the Prem needs to address and not surprisingly it revolves around money. Or more correctly, where it is going? The gap between the so-called 'big clubs' and the rest is growing. Qualification for the Champions League for our six teams — Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham — means a whopping extra £150million on top of PL income. Then add the $100m (£75m) Chelsea earned from winning the Club World Cup this summer. Then take this into account — Liverpool and City have kit deals for this season which bring in another £100m. United's is just behind at £90m. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Field generals Five midfield engines Man Utd could swoop for if Baleba transfer fails At the other end of the scale, Sunderland will make just £500,000 from their kit deal and Burnley £1m. That is a huge disparity of a monstrous £99.5m between top and bottom . In the week the latest A-level results were released, it does not take anything like that qualification in mathematics to work out that the wealthy clubs are getting wealthier — and that must have an impact on competitiveness. This is a worry because the Premier League is the best in the world. It is the most watched, most loved competition which the rest of the globe follows every week. From Singapore to Santiago, Sydney to San Francisco, it is the one that tops the lot. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Its popularity has been born out of its unpredictability, with every side capable of beating everyone else on any given day. How much longer that is the case remains to be seen? Leicester won the title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri. No one saw that coming, but it proved that it could be done. Yet last season, only Nottingham Forest gave the top six a real run for their money. Man City want Rodrygo as Savinho replacement | Transfers Exposed Football fans should be concerned by this because the beauty of the Premier League is in its unforeseeable nature. In May's FA Cup final, Crystal Palace showed the way by beating Manchester City then followed up with a win over Liverpool in the Community Shield. The Prem must get this right because a league where the same teams win every year is not competitive — it is France's Ligue 1 whose broadcast revenues have recently taken a dive. This should be a real concern for football fans everywhere as the PL is the sole funder of the ENTIRE football system, from the EFL to the National League to the WSL. We need to ensure the Premier League continues to thrive to generate the revenues required to fund the whole football ecosystem. 3 Chelsea netted a huge amount for winning the Club World Cup Credit: Getty 3 Crystal Palace won the FA Cup back in May Credit: PA At the other end of the table there has been a lot said about the clubs — Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley — coming up. In the last two seasons the three promoted to the top flight went straight back down again. What we have to be careful about is that this does not become a regular scenario. It would not be a good for the Premier League to have the same teams going up and down every season. The average PL attendance is over 40,000 and virtually all games are a complete sell-out. It suggests we must be doing something right but it is precious and needs constant care and attention. And that brings me to West Ham. In an era when too many clubs have bought players without a clear plan, this year we are targeting signings who genuinely improve the team. We know it's not about how much you spend, it's how you spend it. It's about adding quality that makes an immediate impact, strengthening where it counts and making sure every new arrival moves us closer to challenging the very best. That's why, as this season kicks off, there's real hope around the London Stadium — hope built not on blind optimism but on a squad being shaped to deliver for our supporters.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Liverpool honour Diogo Jota with heartfelt tributes at Anfield opener
Anfield delivered a deeply moving tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before Liverpool's opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth. The bereaved star's wife and children were warmly received on Merseyside as the Reds contested their inaugural league match following the heartbreaking passing of the striker. Jota, alongside his sibling, perished in a motor vehicle accident mere days after the player wed longtime partner Rute Cardoso. Supporters unveiled a tifo honouring both gentlemen, whilst others on the Kop displayed a banner declaring: "Rute, Dinis, Duate, Matalda - Anfield will always be your home. You'll never walk alone." Premier League champions Liverpool have already paid a number of tributes in pre-season. Fans paid tribute themselves 20 minutes into the Community Shield at Wembley, in honour of Jota's squad number. "Ahead of tonight's first game of the new Premier League season there will be fan-led tribute to Diogo and his brother Andre, with a special mosaic shown in the Kop and the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand," the club said in the lead-up to the game. "This will be unveiled by fans during a period of silence prior to kick-off against AFC Bournemouth. "Players will display their own tribute with a specially made 'Forever 20' emblem printed into their shirts and stadium jackets, which will remain in place for the season," the statement added. Liverpool announced in July that Jota's number 20 shirt would be retired by the club. "It is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always," Reds boss Arne Slot said in his programme notes. The football world has been in mourning ever since Jota and Silva died, and tributes have come from far and wide. In the lead-up to the start of the season, Liverpool's Premier League rivals Chelsea confirmed they would make a donation to the footballers' family from their Club World Cup winnings, while Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola also acknowledged the situation. "It's a big test for us and in the beginning it's going to be emotional with the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva," he said in his pre-match press conference. "But we will focus on our job, try and create some chances, keep believing and give them a hard game. Let's try to go there and give them a surprise." There will be a moment's silence held at all Premier League grounds this weekend. Players around the country will also wear black armbands in memory of Jota and Silva. Liverpool go into the new season with a strengthened squad, having spent more than £200million to bring the likes of Florian Wirtz,, Hugo Ekitike and former Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez to Anfield. They confirmed another new signing on Friday, with Giovanni Leoni's arrival from Parma announced just hours before kick-off at Anfield Opponents Bournemouth have a new look back-line, with Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi leaving along with Kerkez. They confirmed the arrival of centre-back Bafode Diakite two days before the Liverpool game, with the former Lille star becoming the second most expensive signing in their history.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ederson considering Manchester City future but Guardiola insists he is ‘our player'
Ederson is considering his Manchester City future, with Pep Guardiola reluctant to allow the goalkeeper's exit unless the Brazilian informs him he wishes to leave and a suitable offer is received. If the 31-year-old decides he wishes to play elsewhere, City may move for Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma. The 26-year-old is available after Luis Enrique, the PSG coach, signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille to replace the Italy No 1. At the Club World Cup in June Ederson described speculation regarding leaving City as '99% fake news' but he is now weighing up a transfer, with Galatasaray a potential suitor. City want him to stay and have not received any approaches or bids. On Friday Guardiola was asked whether Ederson would travel to Wolves for Saturday's late afternoon Premier League opener. 'Apparently, yeah,' the manager said. 'Ederson didn't come to me and said he wanted to leave or he has an offer. All the players here are our players and I want them. What's going to happen in three weeks [before the window closes], nobody knows.' Last month City signed James Trafford from Burnley in a £27m deal, leaving them with three goalkeepers who would consider themselves capable first choices, Stefan Ortega completing that group. Ederson's compatriot Savinho is being monitored by Tottenham. He is not in Saturday's squad due to injury but it is not thought this would prevent any potential transfer. Guardiola said: 'Whether it's Tottenham in that case or any other club, a player should call the club [if they wish to move]. I am only concerned right now that Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully many years because, at 21 with the potential he has, he has to improve in final positions but he is an extraordinary player. 'At the end, as always, the desire of the players is above everything but then they have to find an agreement with the club. If they don't reach an agreement, the player will be here because the club spends money on those players.' Guardiola was asked whether he had spoken to Savinho and Ederson regarding their futures. 'No. If they want to leave, they will come to me,' he said. 'If they want to leave, they will knock on my door.' Rodri had a setback in City's 4-3 Club World Cup defeat by Al-Hilal in his fifth appearance after a anterior cruciate injury but Guardiola said the midfielder would travel to Wolves. 'His knee is perfect but he came back against Juventus [at Club World Cup] and after [against Al-Hilal] had an injury of six weeks with his leg,' he said. 'We have to try to avoid that [again]. He needs minutes in training sessions, a few minutes if possible with the games. We want a comeback, not steps back. Then you have the dynamic where you cannot get rhythm. He made good sessions already and tomorrow he is travelling, and we will decide if he can play some minutes.' The Guardian
