Latest news with #Baggies
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
A waiting game but a worthwhile one?
It's been a month since Albion sacked Tony Mowbray after a dismal defeat to Derby on Easter Monday put paid to their play-off hopes. The thinking behind the swift decision just hours after the game was to give the Baggies a head start in the recruitment process. The only problem is that since then, several clubs have also begun searching for new bosses, including Championship rivals Norwich, Hull and Watford; the latter of whom have already filled their vacancy.A small section of Baggies fans are getting impatient as time ticks by but the Baggies ownership group, Bilkul, know they must get this appointment right. Sporting director Andrew Nestor favours an analytical and statistical approach to finding the right person and that takes time to pour over and there's plenty of due diligence to be done on the character of candidates no surprise to me that the search is approaching the final days of May. Playing the waiting game has allowed the club to watch the managerial merry-go-round unfold and explore their options. If they'd have rushed the appointment, a more suitable candidate may have become available after the event. It could be argued that the appointment of Mowbray was rushed after the plan to appoint Swiss head coach Raphael Wicky collapsed but that's an old Baggies' aim is to mould a model where they can recruit players to fit a certain system, and the head coach does their work on the training ground, so arguments that the club need a manager quickly for recruitment reasons are largely unfounded in this day and age. However, the next head coach will want to get their feet under the table soon to begin planning for pre-season and figure out how they can craft a team that can compete for promotion again. The hierarchy have done a good job of keeping genuine rumours to a minimum this time, which has perhaps caused some of the impatience, but we could now be approaching the final days of the search and hopefully fans will have reason to be excited for the next campaign.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
West Brom release FOURTEEN players including ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars after collapsing at end of Championship season
BYE BYE BAGGIES West Brom release FOURTEEN players including ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars after collapsing at end of Championship season Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WEST BROM have released fourteen players following their catastrophic collapse in the Championship. The Baggies saw their promotion dreams fall off a cliff after the arrival of manager Tony Mowbray in January. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Tony Mowbray led West Brom to a second-half of the season collapse Credit: Reuters 4 Grady Diangana is one of fourteen West Brom players to be released Credit: West Bromwich Albion FC via Gett West Brom had been flying high in sixth place when boss Carlos Coberan was replaced by Tony Mowbray following the Spaniard's move to La Liga giants Valencia. But after Mowbray managed just five wins in 18 games, West Brom fell out of contention and the 61-year-old was sacked. Baggies captain Jed Wallace slammed the second-half meltdown as "unacceptable" and claimed the players hadn't been good enough. He told the BBC: "At times like this you have to look at yourself - as a group of players you have to look at yourself and say how many of us have had a good season? I know I certainly haven't." READ MORE IN FOOTBALL MOVED ON Six-cap England ace made unemployed at 33 after playing 11 minutes in 4 months Now the club seems to have taken a similar stance after releasing FOURTEEN first team stars on their retained list. Those names include former Chelsea youngster John Swift and ex-Arsenal hopeful Semi Ajayi. Swift, 29, leaves West Brom after making over 125 appearances for the club since his switch from Reading in 2022. While 38-time Nigeria international Ajayi, who spent two years with Arsenal between 2013 and 2015, leaves after lining up for West Brom 177 times. 4 John Swift has been released by West Brom Credit: Getty 4 Semi Ajayi has also been let go Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Joining them on the list of released players is former West Ham ace Grady Diangana, whose 2020 switch to West Brom cost the club a reported £18MILLION. A host of youngsters such as Fenton Heard, Josh Shaw and Reece Hall have all been let go too. West Brom's Kyle Bartley sparks mass brawl at final whistle v Sheff Weds for shoving his arm into rival's face West Brom will also lose three top loan stars in Mason Holgate, Adam Armstrong and Will Lankshear. The trio are all set to return to their parent clubs of Everton, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur for next season.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
West Brom release FOURTEEN players including ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars after collapsing at end of Championship season
WEST BROM have released fourteen players following their catastrophic collapse in the Championship. The Baggies saw their promotion dreams fall off a cliff after the arrival of manager Tony Mowbray in January. Advertisement 4 Tony Mowbray led West Brom to a second-half of the season collapse Credit: Reuters 4 Grady Diangana is one of fourteen West Brom players to be released Credit: West Bromwich Albion FC via Gett But after Mowbray managed just five wins in 18 games, West Brom fell out of contention and Baggies captain He told the BBC: "At times like this you have to look at yourself - as a group of players you have to look at yourself and say how many of us have had a good season? I know I certainly haven't." Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Now the club seems to have taken a similar stance after releasing FOURTEEN first team stars on their retained list. Those names include former Swift, 29, leaves West Brom after making over 125 appearances for the club since his switch from Reading in 2022. While 38-time Nigeria international Ajayi, who spent two years with Advertisement Most read in Football 4 John Swift has been released by West Brom Credit: Getty 4 Semi Ajayi has also been let go Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Joining them on the list of released players is former £18MILLION . Advertisement A host of youngsters such as Fenton Heard, Josh Shaw and Reece Hall have all been let go too. West Brom's Kyle Bartley sparks mass brawl at final whistle v Sheff Weds for shoving his arm into rival's face West Brom will also lose three top loan stars in Mason Holgate, Adam Armstrong and Will Lankshear. The trio are all set to return to their parent clubs of West Brom retained list 2024/2025 Here's a look at the full retained list for West Brom following the 2024/25 Championship season... Released Semi Ajayi Grady Diangana John Swift Fenton Heard Reece Hall Josh Shaw Ted Cann Ronnie Hollingshead Archie Kirton Matt Richards Sam Beedie Fran Cherchi Rhys Morrish Corey Sears Loan spell ending Mason Holgate Adam Armstrong Will Lankshear Contract offered Reyes Cleary Akeel Higgins Layton Love Michael Parker Eseosa Sule Alex Williams Louis Brady Dan Chimeziri Souleyman Mandey Divine Onyemachi Returning from loan Caleb Taylor
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
I Don't Golf. But I Love These Surprisingly Stylish Golf Shorts.
For most of my adult life, I've resisted the urge to wear shorts in the summer months. The thought of traipsing around New York in shorts — my bare skin rubbing against the sweat of a stranger on the subway, the accumulation of city dirt kicked up by the heat of mid-July clinging to my legs — seemed unbearable. And then there are the social implications of wearing shorts — as a man, you're told that bare legs are somehow unacceptable in almost any scenario except when you're working out or playing sports, or that shorts are not for men at all, but for children. That, along with the annual salvo of think pieces about the office-appropriateness of shorts, was enough to make me and many others shy away entirely. 'A don doesn't wear shorts,' you tell yourself as you put on black jeans in the middle of summer. But after I endured several consecutive summers of heat waves with the temperature piercing the 100-degree mark, something inside me broke. Something needed to change. It was, finally, time for shorts. What I wanted seemed impossible to find: a pair of shorts that I would feel as natural in as I did in denim. After an exhaustive search and a lot of disappointment, the only shorts I now reach for all summer are Puli Men's Golf Shorts. I am not a golfer, but these affordable 7-inch shorts allow me to feel the summer breeze on my legs while also looking good in just about any situation. When I've looked for shorts in the past, many of them have, well, fallen short. Cotton-twill chino shorts look good, but they can retain sweat and wear really hot, defeating the purpose of shorts. Linen shorts are great for days of high heat and humidity, but quality linen can be expensive, affordable linen can wear out quickly, and linen wrinkles in ways that can make it look sloppy on day two or three. Patagonia Baggies have been particularly popular as of late, but they swish loudly, have little stretch, and look more like swim trunks than shorts with the thoughtful, deliberate styling of something like jeans. Puli's golf shorts are made from a blend of polyester and elastane and combine the best qualities of each of those other options without any of their pitfalls: The Puli shorts have the appearance of cotton twill, the fast dry time of Baggies, and the airiness of linen shorts. Puli's golf shorts have a cotton-like appearance that makes them suitable for wear in a variety of settings. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The great thing about golf shorts is that by design they are made to abide by golf-course dress codes while also providing mobility and moisture management. Unlike most other golf shorts, however, which are often made from knitted elastic fabric, Puli's golf shorts look deceptively like woven cotton. That's what drew me to these shorts to begin with; I was looking for lightweight, twill shorts that still retained some features of athletic shorts to get me through the hottest days of August. And Puli's shorts were some of the very few I found in this category that did not have any water-repellent finish (which usually contains PFAS). They're also some of the most affordable golf shorts available. At roughly $25 on Amazon, these shorts are from half to a quarter of the price of comparable shorts from Bonobos and Lululemon, few of which hide their athletic nature nearly as well. In the right light, Puli's shorts have a subtle sheen that can betray their polyester composition, but in most settings they look indistinguishable from cotton. Their fabric creases like cotton, rather than forming fine wrinkles as athletic shorts often do. However, unlike cotton, which provides suboptimal sun protection, Puli's shorts are rated UPF 50+. Puli's blend of polyester and elastane gives the shorts a subtle flex. They are pliant enough that you can sit in them comfortably for long periods of time without feeling like you're wearing spandex. This fabric, in addition to the elastic-lined waistband, makes them suitable for more strenuous physical activity — I've worn them while kayaking and playing tennis. The shorts have a hidden zip pocket that keeps things like keys from falling out if you're moving around. The quick-drying material also makes them decent swim trunks in a pinch (though they lack a liner, so proceed with caution). The discreet zip pocket is large enough to store my iPhone 13. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter This smaller zipped pocket in the back is great for keys or small items. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The elastic waistband adds a subtle stretch that keeps everything comfortable even over long days. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The discreet zip pocket is large enough to store my iPhone 13. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter By far my favorite thing about these shorts is the pockets. Rather than going with the typical, fabric-lined pockets, Puli uses only mesh for its pockets. That creates a ton of airflow, keeping these shorts breezy even on the hottest of days. The mesh pockets keep these shorts airy. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Puli's shorts have a higher, 10.5-inch rise and a relatively short, 7-inch inseam, which together make them look a little more stylish than standard-issue cotton chinos and athletic shorts. All of those features make Puli's shorts an excellent one-short for summer trips. Save for formal occasions, I have been able to use these shorts to put together a week's worth of outfits, and they look crisp even at the tail end of that week. If they ever get dirty, I can wash them in the sink, and they'll be dry by the next morning. Perhaps not all of my discomfort with wearing shorts has vanished, but thanks to these, I am hardly ever reminded of it. These shorts work just as well with loafers as they do with sandals by the pool. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The poly fabric is breathable but still suitable for wearing on cool nights with layers. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter These shorts go well with outfits that are half a step above athletic. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter These shorts work just as well with loafers as they do with sandals by the pool. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter There are a few things I'd change about these shorts. First, the stitching is a bit wonky in places, and the thread seems to have little flex. That, in combination with the somewhat stretchy fabric, means the fabric can stretch beyond the elastic limits of the threads holding the garment together, causing those threads to pop. That hasn't happened to me yet, but I would not be surprised if it did. Second, although these shorts come in about a dozen colors, they don't come in a true, dark olive or any fun, gaudy colors you might want for a tennis court, like teal. Those two colors, along with the black pair I already own, would probably be the end of all the shorts I need. These shorts are also a little less beefy than some of their counterparts. You won't find silky-smooth and robust YKK zippers or hefty buttons here. That isn't enough to put me off them, but those small things accumulate and detract from the overall feel, and I would happily pay slightly more for something just a touch more substantial. That said, something about their cheapness makes me feel like I can freely wear them without any care for what happens. The shorts have a cheap, small-toothed zipper and a lightweight plastic button, neither of which feels durable. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter Loose stitches that weren't trimmed are visible here and there. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter The shorts have a cheap, small-toothed zipper and a lightweight plastic button, neither of which feels durable. Alexander Aciman/NYT Wirecutter I am no longer fussy about wearing shorts when the weather begins to peak. It is an easy decision for me now, one that I can make in full confidence that I will be comfortable and look good and not feel less myself. After next season, my original black pair will likely be due for a replacement — something will rip or tear or fade, and I will hardly be bothered at the thought of parting with another $25 for the only shorts that have ever felt as effortless as jeans. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. The right running gear can help you make the most of your training. After extensive research and testing with passionate runners, here's what we recommend. How a magical, kind of ugly pair of undershorts forever cured my chub-rub woes. Here are all the apparel and accessories you need to get through spring, from rain boots to sneakers and from rain pants to hip denim.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It's a good feeling' - Dike back for WBA with a bang
It there was a moment that made West Bromwich Albion forget about their disappointment and frustration at missing out on the Championship play-offs, it came after half an hour against Luton Callum Styles' superb cross came in from the left, a leaping Daryl Dike got there ahead of his marker to nod in from eight put the Baggies back in front at 2-1, on their way to a 5-3 win, and triggered some of the loudest celebrates - and widest smiles - The Hawthorns has witnessed for a while. Not for 17 months, in fact, because that was when Dike last scored. You have to go back even further for the last time it happened in the league - March 2023, over two the USA striker is now fit after the sort of injury nightmare that seemed like it would never end."It's a good feeling," Dike told BBC Radio WM reflecting on his comeback goal."You've been sitting here working hard every single day for two years to have a moment like that."When I headed it I was on the floor and just thinking 'please go in, please go in' so to see it go in - it's what you dream about." 'You get knocked down but you get back up' Since joining the Baggies from Barnsley in January 2022, Dike has had a scarcely believable run of serious injuries.A hamstring injury on his full debut kept him out for six months, before a thigh problem on his return ruled him out for a further in April 2023, a ruptured Achilles tendon saw him miss another 10 games into his comeback, it went again against Ipswich and Dike was carried off in the club have taken no chances over rushing him back this time and have introduced him from the bench 10 times since his return to fitness in boss James Morrison revealed he thought about whether to hand Dike a start against the Hatters "for a good three days" before "going with his gut" and giving him the green credited his team-mates had played a vital role in keeping him going and getting him ready for his return."They've been able to see my mood when it [the injury] first happened and how hard I've worked to get back," he said."I'm so thankful to have team-mates that support me like they do and push me to get better every single day and keep my mindset right that I can still achieve all my dreams."Any footballer wants to play as much as possible but I've got good physios and medical team so the main thing is I was protected and in the best position to help the team." Now, with his first league start - and goal - for two years under his belt, Dike is excited about the future."You get knocked down but you get back up," he said."I'm only 24 and still have tonnes of goals I want to achieve and I'm grateful to have the opportunities to still do that."I knew that if I put in the work and give myself the best opportunity to get more feelings like that then they would come."I can feel good about myself over the summer, knowing that I can still do it and I'm going to work really really hard into pre-season and carry that momentum into next season."
