Daniel Levy pledges to bring success to Tottenham
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has issued a promise to supporters that the summer months will be spent trying to bring “on-pitch success” to the club. Spurs have endured a difficult campaign with boss Antonio Conte departing in March, before Fabio Paratici resigned from his managing director of football position last month following a worldwide ban for allegations of false accounting during his time at Juventus. The club’s trophy drought has also extended into a 15th consecutive season and any hope of another top-four finish has long gone with unrest amongst the fanbase growing amid a perceived lack of direction or transparency from the board. Ryan Mason is the third head coach this season, after Cristian Stellini was sacked following a disastrous four-game spell, and with the managerial search set to extend into a third month next week, Spurs fans’ have repeatedly chanted for Levy to leave the club in recent fixtures. But in his programme notes for the final home match of the season against Brentford, Levy said: “This has been an immensely difficult season. “We made footballing decisions over recent seasons based on ambition and a desire to bring success to our club and they have not delivered what we had hoped. “Your frustration has been understandable and all of us at the club have shared it. “We have undertaken a thorough and rigorous review of our footballing operations. Scott Munn joins us in the summer as our new chief football officer and we look forward to sharing further news with you post-season. “We shall spend the period ahead of next season working relentlessly to position our club for on-pitch success and football you will love to come and watch. “Every element of the club’s operations is geared toward delivering that.” Levy did make similar promises in 2021 with talk of Spurs returning to their “DNA” amid the hunt for Jose Mourinho’s successor. A lengthy managerial search ended with Nuno Espirito Santo being appointed in June, but he was sacked four months later. Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has been installed as the new bookies’ favourite to replace Conte in the current head coach hunt. Earlier this month Julian Nagelsmann was ruled to no longer be a contender while recent weeks have seen Xabi Alonso and Vincent Kompany commit to staying at Bayer Leverkusen and Burnley respectively. Chairman Levy did pay tribute to Mason for stepping up for a second time in interim charge and women’s caretaker Vicky Jepson, who replaced Rehanne Skinner in March. He added: “I should like to thank everyone at the club – all our staff, across all our locations, and our players – for their dedication and hard work during what has been a busy and often challenging season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sir Mo Farah preparing to push himself to the limit in Great Manchester Run 10K Eddie Howe says Elliot Anderson is ready to fly with Magpies Sam Allardyce says West Ham game is ‘do or die’ in Leeds’ survival fight
2023-05-20 18:48
Best 2023 Preakness Stakes Sportsbook Promos
The Preakness Stakes officially gets underway today and five different sportsbooks have sublime promos totaling over $3,500 in available bonuses for new users! These are the best offers around and luckily for you, they each take just a few minutes to claim.See below how each promo works and how ...
2023-05-20 18:24
FanDuel NBA Promo: $1,000 Bonus to Pick Finals Champion!
The path to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is becoming clearer by the day, but you still have time to find some value picking the winner!FanDuel Sportsbook is making it easy for you to get excited about the conclusion of this NBA season with a WILD new-user promotion: a no-sweat bet...
2023-05-20 18:20
Best NBA prop bets today for Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 (Fade D’Angelo Russell)
The Los Angeles Lakers need to win Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, and they are looking to keep a perfect home playoff record going in the process.Los Angeles has hung tough in the first two games of this series, and there’s one glaring change that needs to be made: Le...
2023-05-20 18:18
Tom Grennan pays to fly Argentine fan to Coventry play-off final
The musician spotted the far-flung fan's appeal to raise money for the trip and stepped in to help.
2023-05-20 18:17
Frank Lampard questions commitment of Chelsea squad
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard has questioned whether all members of the first-team squad have the hunger and desire to succeed at the club.
2023-05-20 17:29
Erik ten Hag provides update on prolonged Marcus Rashford contract talks
Erik ten Hag has been asked about why Marcus Rashford's contract talks are taking so long to finalise. His deal expires in 2024.
2023-05-20 16:53
Is Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Premier League fixture
With their title hopes now all but gone, Arsenal will still be looking to finish the Premier League season with a flourish as they face Nottingham Forest in their penultimate fixture. The defeat to Brighton means Mikel Arteta’s side know that one more Manchester City win will be enough to end their chase for the title. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are still in need of points to make sure of their safety. Steve Cooper’s squad start the weekend three points and two places clear of Leeds in 18th - they play Crystal Palace on the final day. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal? Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal is due to kick off at 5.30pm BST on Saturday 20 May at the City Ground in Nottingham. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage from 5pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the Sky Go app. Team news Steve Cooper will be fretting over Danilo’s fitness, with the midfielder a doubt after coming off with an issue against Chelsea. Having utilised a three-at-the-back formation to combat Frank Lampard’s side, it may be that Cooper opts for a four defensively, which would accommodate a return for Brennan Johnson. Arsenal have suffered another late-season injury blow with Gabriel Martinelli ruled out with an ankle injury. The forward limped off against Brighton and joins William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko - who are both expected to miss the club’s last two fixtures - on the sidelines. Predicted line-ups Nottingham Forest XI: Navas; Aurier, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Yates, Mangala, Danilo; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi. Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Jesus. Odds Nottingham Forest win 23/5 Draw 18/5 Arsenal win 3/5 Prediction Arsenal keep at least some pressure on Manchester City with an away win. Nottingham Forest 1-3 Arsenal Read More Forest fined over pitch invasion after 2022 play-off semi against Sheff Utd What do Manchester City need to win the Premier League title? A closer look at the battle to beat the drop in the Premier League Sam Allardyce says West Ham game is ‘do or die’ in Leeds’ survival fight Steve Cooper says Forest must take care of their own business Lyon maintain push for Europe as Freiburg keep flying high in Bundesliga
2023-05-20 16:46
Eddie Howe says Elliot Anderson is ready to fly with Magpies
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would have no qualms over handing “big-game player” Elliot Anderson the chance to make a name for himself with late-season heroics for a second time. Twelve months ago, the 20-year-old midfielder ended a hugely successful loan spell at Bristol Rovers in style when he scored the crucial last goal in a 7-0 final-day drubbing of relegated Scunthorpe to edge them to automatic promotion from Sky Bet League Two at Northampton’s expense. On Monday evening, he could find himself playing a key role as the Magpies attempt to seal Champions League qualification against struggling Leicester, with fellow midfielder Joe Willock nursing a hamstring injury and Sean Longstaff working his way back from a foot problem. Asked about Anderson’s readiness, head coach Howe said: “No qualms at all. He would have played more this season if it hadn’t been for the form of the players around him, there’s no doubt about that for me. “The midfield has been performing as a unit very, very well this year. You look at each of the players in that midfield and you’d say they’re up there as our best-performing players, so Elliot, we believe in him, it’s just been the strength of the group. “I think he showed last year in his loan spell – it was a brilliant experience for him – he showed that he’s a big-game player. When they needed him, Bristol Rovers, he stood up and made the difference and yes, it could be a chance for him to do that again.” Anderson returned to Tyneside after his spell in Bristol and forced his way into the first-team picture, although he has had to remain patient. Twenty-one of his 25 appearances to date have come from the bench, and his only Premier League start against Liverpool in February ended after just 24 minutes when he was replaced by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka following Nick Pope’s dismissal. Howe said: “I’d say he would consider himself a first-team player now, as in a fully-integrated member of the first-team squad. He’s trained consistently throughout the season. I'd say he's ready Eddie Howe on Elliot Anderson “It’s very difficult for those lads that haven’t played regularly when the team wins consistently and has performed as well as it has to wait for their chance. “Now, he’s a young player that has been desperate to play, he’s controlled his emotions really well. I do believe he’s added elements to his game and improved certain parts of his game that needed to improve. “I’d say he’s ready. He’s versatile – he proved that against Brighton. He came on on the right side of midfield. He’s predominantly been used by me as a left-side player and he’s very much capable, so we believe in him.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Man City boss Pep Guardiola plays down his role in treble-chasing campaign Sir Mo Farah preparing to push himself to the limit in Great Manchester Run 10K Sam Allardyce says West Ham game is ‘do or die’ in Leeds’ survival fight
2023-05-20 16:27
Sam Allardyce says West Ham game is ‘do or die’ in Leeds’ survival fight
Leeds boss Sam Allardyce said it is “do or die” for his relegation battlers in Sunday’s Premier League game at West Ham. The Yorkshire club, third from bottom and one point from safety, have just two fixtures left in their bid to retain their top-flight status. Allardyce, halfway through his salvage mission after replacing former boss Javi Gracia with four games remaining, agreed Sunday’s trip to the capital was effectively a ‘cup final’. The former England manager said: “That’s it. Do or die lads. Fight. Fight to the end. “But fight with the right temperament and have the right amount of control and don’t lose control. And certainly don’t lose the game-plan.” Victories for relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Everton on Saturday, against Arsenal and at Wolves respectively, would leave Leeds under severe pressure to collect all three points at the London Stadium. Allardyce said only time will tell if his players will cope with the pressure. “I think that it is a difficult situation if you find that the teams down there on the Saturday have picked up three points and it’s almost a near certainty that you have to get three points to stay in the race,” he said. “So when it comes around and whatever the situation is when we get to Sunday afternoon, we have to deal with it, we have to accept it and we have to make it spur us on to the best performance we can give. “No matter what happens on Saturday we have to deliver a three-point scenario at West Ham to try and save our Premier League status and handling the pressure that comes with that is a big question of ‘can you?'” Leeds sacked Gracia, who had only replaced Jesse Marsch in February, after a series of damaging, heavy defeats. Performances have improved sufficiently in the two games under Allardyce – a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City and last week’s 2-2 home draw against Newcastle – to leave fans with some sense of hope. Allardyce, who refused to be drawn on whether he will stay at Elland Road beyond the end of the season, said he could not fault his players for effort and has challenged them now to show more quality on the ball. “I think confidence has grown, I think application has been applied. I think that possession could get better,” he added. “I think we’ve been so up for it and so frantic to try and do well, and close the opposition down and make life difficult, that when we’ve actually won the ball back we’ve still been so hyper that we haven’t been able to calm down and control ourselves to play the right ball and the right pass more often. “So the difference between those two is something we’ve talked about, about being calmer when we’re on the ball.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Roberto De Zerbi says Brighton deserve to be playing in Europe next season On this day in 2019: Vincent Kompany says goodbye to Manchester City Former Australia Test captain Brian Booth dies aged 89
2023-05-20 16:25
Roberto De Zerbi says Brighton deserve to be playing in Europe next season
Roberto De Zerbi insists Brighton deserve to qualify for European football next season as a result of their efforts over the current campaign. The Seagulls will head into Sunday’s Premier League clash with relegated Southampton at the Amex Stadium knowing two wins from their final three games – they host champions elect Manchester City next Wednesday before bringing the curtain down with a testing final-day trip to Aston Villa – would secure a Europa League berth. It would be a first qualification for continental football for the south coast outfit and De Zerbi wants his players to write themselves into the club’s history. Asked if he would regard this season as a success whatever happens over the next week or so, the Italian said: “Good question, but I prefer to answer you at the end of the season. “ I am really proud for this season, but we want to write our own history of our club for our fans, for ourselves. “I think we deserve to qualify for the Europa League. We won against Chelsea two times, we won against Manchester United two times, we won at Arsenal’s stadium, beat Liverpool and I think we are deserving to qualify for Europe. I think we deserve to qualify for the Europa League Roberto De Zerbi “It is very difficult. The games are not one per week, they are very close, but we have to adapt, to react with motivation, with energy, with the head.” Brighton head into the weekend sixth in the table, a point clear of Tottenham and Aston Villa with a game in hand on both. Their outside hopes of threatening the top four were dealt a blow on Thursday evening when they were beaten 4-1 at Newcastle, who cemented themselves in third place as a result. It was a second defeat in three games – they were surprisingly trounced 5-1 at home by Everton in between victories over Manchester United and Arsenal – but with Levi Colwill expected to return to the squad after being rested on Tyneside and Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson having been used only as substitutes, De Zerbi is expecting a response. He said: “I think it will another tough game, but the characteristics, the quality of Newcastle are different. We will play in our stadium with our fans and we are able to win.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-20 16:24
Frenkie de Jong admits having 'situation' with Joan Laporta amid Man Utd transfer saga
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has discussed his relationship with club president Joan Laporta following last summer's transfer talks with Manchester United.
2023-05-20 16:22