Tottenham shut out Arsenal in first real glimpse of more robust Thomas Frank tactics
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
6 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Wrexham boss Phil 'loved a tackle' says Saints' great Matt!
Back in the mid-Eighties, Le Tissier and Parkinson were team-mates in Southampton's youth team. 'I was a first year pro and Phil had already been there a year,' said Southampton legend Le Tissier, who will be working for the club he made 443 appearances for when The Saints kick off at home to Wrexham. 'I remember he was quite loud, he loved a tackle and he was a real leader on the pitch. 'Phil wasn't (one) to make defence splitting passes but he worked his socks off and went on to have a very good career as a player.' While Le Tissier, who Parkinson describes as a 'football genius', scored 161 goals - most of them stunners - in his one-club stop on the south coast, his old teenage team-mate didn't feature once in the Saints first team. Parkinson moved back to near his Chorley birthplace to make 145 appearances for Bury before migrating south to Reading where he became a Royals' legend in more than 350 games for the Berkshire club. Parkinson then cut his teeth in football management at Colchester before taking on jobs at Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland. Making the massive decision to sink into non-league football with Wrexham, Parkinson has led the Reds to back-to-back-to-back promotions. 'To do that is a phenomenal achievement,' added Le Tissier, who says that he knows all about the Wrexham story and that even a couple of his friends have become Reds fans after the razzmatazz of movie stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds' takeover. 'I haven't watched the documentary but everyone knows about Wrexham now and you have to admire what Phil has done as manager there. 'You can have all the money in the world but you still have to do it on the pitch and Parkinson has got his sides to do that.' And Le Tissier believes Wrexham's momentum will stand them in good stead as they set off on a Championship adventure for the first time since 1982. 'For Wrexham to challenge for promotion, it's a big ask to do four in a row,' added Le Tissier. 'But they've got enough momentum behind them not to struggle at this level. 'If they can have a good, solid season, finish mid-table then that will set them up for future seasons. 'But it's a strange league and there'll be strange results. 'The important thing is getting some points on the board early on - that's always a good pointer. 'And after three promotions, confidence should be sky high. If they do start well it's all about managing the expectations of the fans.' Le Tissier talked passionately about The Saints, who have new boss Will Still in charge. 'There's plenty of potential and I think we'll do pretty well,' added Le Tissier, who hopes the club can hang on to rising star Tyler Dibling. The 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed a great start to the season but is being chased by a host of Premier League clubs. 'He had a great start to the season but his form fell off when the new manager, Juric, came in. He seemed to lose his confidence.' As for the teams who could challenge for honours, Le Tissier added: 'The teams coming down always do well although Leicester City have still got some issues and there may be a points deduction. 'Sheffield United are a team that are always up there while you might get teams like Norwich challenging. 'It should be an exciting season and it's a case of get to January and see where you are and then it becomes interesting in the transfer window.'
Scottish Sun
7 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Wrexham's pitch to Christian Eriksen that convinced top stars to join Reynolds and McElhenney's ‘chaotic' project
Wrexham could be on the brink of making a new club-record signing too WREX APPEAL Inside Wrexham's pitch to Christian Eriksen that convinced top stars to join Reynolds and McElhenney's 'chaotic' project WREXHAM'S Hollywood story is looking for its next batch of A-list stars ahead of the club's return to the Championship. High-profile owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have sanctioned a summer of spending that they hope will make Wrexham competitive in the Championship following three consecutive promotions. Advertisement 8 Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been trying to find some new stars for their Championship season Credit: PA 8 The Welsh club failed in an attempt to sign Christian Eriksen earlier this summer Credit: Getty Reynolds and McElhenney have transformed the Welsh club since taking over in 2021, and their impressive ambition has taken Wrexham from the National League to the Championship in record time. A huge part of that rise has been splashing the cash on signings who are considered better than the current level, attracting players who are already a step up from the division they're playing in. This summer saw their most ambitious effort so far when the club tried to convince former Manchester United and Tottenham star Christian Eriksen, 33, to head to the Racecourse. Eriksen, a 144-time Denmark international, only left Man Utd at the end of the season, bringing an end to a £150,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL OUT ON YOUR SHIELD ITV lose rights to Community Shield as Prem curtain raiser moved Wrexham's ambition to sign the Champions League veteran was clear, sending CEO Michael Williamson to present a two-year plan to Eriksen that detailed how they intend to reach the Premier League. According to the Mail Online, Eriksen was impressed by the "attractive" pitch, but made the decision to respectfully turn it down in the hopes of continuing to play top flight football next term. Speaking to the Mail, Eriksen's representative Martin Schoots said: "Wrexham are really upgrading everything both on and off the field and it is a hugely impressive project, as you can see from the presence of people like Michael there." Although Wrexham had missed out on their blockbuster name, their ambition and pitch had begun to make waves in the transfer market. Advertisement 8 Conor Coady has signed a two-year deal with Wrexham Credit: Getty 8 Wrexham are investing heavily on and off the pitch Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS It's claimed that word of their approach for Eriksen got around, changing the perspective of which players could actually be on the table for the Championship rookies. Advertisement Among those who had their head turned by the stories was former England international and Premier League regular Conor Coady. Wrexham stars celebrate in iconic Las Vegas casino and hijack luggage cart after Hollywood owners splash £500k on party Coady, 32, was soon tapped up by Wrexham's transfer team and penned a two-year deal at the Racecourse after Wrexham agreed a fee of around £2m to get him out of Leicester City. Like Eriksen, Coady was sold on a project that is seeing Wrexham improve their facilities as well as their squad. Work is underway on a new 7,750-capacity Kop stand that will take the stadium's total capacity to 18,000, more than Prem sides like Bournemouth and Brentford. Advertisement While a new £1.7m hybrid pitch with undersoil heating has been installed this summer to meet Fifa and Uefa requirements. There will be plenty of new stars gracing that pitch too, with Wrexham already signing EIGHT new faces this summer. It's claimed that they had set a summer budget of a whopping £20MILLION for boss Phil Parkinson, a number that was quickly passed around the transfer market and meant agents and clubs were offering up their players to the Welsh side. An insider told the Mail: "It feels a bit chaotic, with agents running the show to an extent." Advertisement But Wrexham appear happy with their spending, already splashing £11.1m of that hefty budget. That cash has gone on the likes of Kieffer Moore from Sheffield United, Lewis O'Brien from Nottingham Forest and even new full-back Liberato Cacace from Italian side Empoli. Wrexham's summer signings A look at who Wrexham have brought in ahead of their Championship campaign... Ryan Hardie - £750,000, Plymouth Argyle - £750,000, Plymouth Argyle Danny Ward - free, Leicester City - free, Leicester City Liberato Cacace - £2.16million, Empoli - £2.16million, Empoli George Thomason - £1.2m, Bolton Wanderers - £1.2m, Bolton Wanderers Josh Windass - free, Sheffield Wednesday - free, Sheffield Wednesday Lewis O'Brien - £3m, Nottingham Forest - £3m, Nottingham Forest Conor Coady - £2m, Leicester City - £2m, Leicester City Kieffer Moore - £2m, Sheffield United - £2m, Sheffield United TOTAL SPEND: £11.11million Reynolds and McEllhenney have been shrewd where possible too, signing experienced Championship striker Josh Windass from Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer. Windass, who left Wednesday after the mutual termination of his contract amid their financial woes, had been the subject of interest from a slew of other Championship clubs but still chose Wrexham. Advertisement While Welsh international goalkeeper Danny Ward was also snapped up from Leicester on a free. Perhaps the big-ticket star is yet to arrive too, with reports suggesting Wrexham are edging towards completing a club record £7.5MILLION deal to sign Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich Town. That deal is thought to have been agreed in principle last week, but Broadhead's exit is yet to be sanctioned by Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna. Wrexham will need all their new faces firing and ready to go from the off as they face a baptism of fire for their first game back in the Championship. Advertisement The Red Dragons take on relegated Prem side Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday, a test that will show them just how difficult life in the second tier can be. 8 Josh Windass joined Wrexham from Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer Credit: 8 Kieffer Moore has arrived from Sheffield United Credit: Instagram @wrexham_afc 8 Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien has also made the switch Credit: Alamy Advertisement
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Raheem Sterling eyed by three Premier League clubs after Chelsea's brutal nine-man axe
Raheem Sterling has very limited choices when it comes to his next club with the Chelsea man having struggled with Arsenal on loan last season but there could be some light at the end of the tunnel Raheem Sterling could finally end his Chelsea nightmare with three Premier League sides vying for his services. The England winger has endured a rotten few years having been told he had no future at Stamford Bridge by Enzo Maresca. He joined Arsenal on a season-long loan last term but scored just once in 28 appearances in all competitions. Sterling, 30, is now back in West London but will be keenly looking for new opportunities. A Premier League stay could actually be on the cards for the former Manchester City man as he aims to find a new club. According to talkSPORT, London rivals Fulham have emerged as potential suitors, while Crystal Palace are also keen. Ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also reportedly interested in taking him to West Ham ahead of the new season. Sterling is apparently keen to stay in London after relocating his family to the capital. But one stumbling block could be Sterling's eye-watering wage packet of around £325k-per-week at Stamford Bridge. Serie A champions Napoli had previously been linked with him but dropped their interest for financial reasons. Speaking to the Financial Times earlier this year, Sterling hinted that he wouldn't be against a move abroad. He said: "If there was an opportunity to go somewhere else, (for more game time), I would be open to it at this moment in time. "As I said, football is the most important thing to me - challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well, to play abroad.' Fresh interest in Sterling comes amid a brutal move by his current club Chelsea. The Blues have axed the winger entirely from the club's website, with the winger left without a photo or profile among the senior squad section. He is one of nine stars to be left out. Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu are also absent, albeit the pair are closing in on permanent moves to newly-promoted Burnley. Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka and David Datro Fofana are all notably missing, with the final absentee being Alfie Gilchrist. All of those players are expected to leave Stamford Bridge permanently over the coming months. Sterling has two years left on his Chelsea deal having signed from Manchester City for £47.5m in 2022. In the time since, he has made 81 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 19 goals. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
