Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has chosen seven uncapped players in his 22-man squad for a training camp ahead of June’s Euro 2024 qualifiers with Greece and Gibraltar. Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary, Hull defender Sean McLoughlin, Millwall full-back Danny McNamara and Everton striker Tom Cannon, Preston's on-loan striker through the season, are included. Goalkeepers James Talbot and Brian Maher and Shamrock Rovers winger Neil Farrugia also made the selection list.
The motives behind the purchase of football clubs by wealthy individuals are often misunderstood, according to Simon Kuper in the Financial Times. Many rich owners believe they will “run the club like a business”, using their savvy to generate profits and success. However, this oftentimes fails to materialise as clubs balance the demands of chasing trophies with the financial realities they face. Kuper said owners often end up with neither, citing the example of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, whose football investments have yet to bear fruit. However, clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, which tend to disappoint fans but have large followings, have tended to thrive financially. Kuper suggested that most billionaire owners are motivated by either fun or status and wrongly believe they can make an impact on their football clubs. However, clubs often significantly appreciate in value, therefore pleasing owners once they decide to sell.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak wore socks of the Japanese Prime Minister's favourite baseball team during a diplomatic dinner, held in celebration of the 'Hiroshima Accord'. The agreement seeks to build closer defence, cyber, and security ties. Sunak, who removed his shoes to comply with Japanese etiquette, joked about his poor football team while wearing the red and white colours of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has signed an agreement with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, aimed at boosting defence, security, and cyber ties between the two countries. Key provisions include deploying a naval fleet to the Indo-Pacific, increasing UK troops in joint exercises, and partnering on semiconductors to reduce reliance on Beijing. The agreement reportedly signals understanding of the “systemic challenge China poses to our collective economic security and regional stability”. At a dinner at Mr Kishida’s favourite restaurant, Mr Sunak became the first British Prime Minister to visit Hiroshima, where he laid a wreath for those killed in the nuclear attack of 1945.
Manchester City's dominance under Pep Guardiola makes it difficult for other Premier League teams to compete and the increased high standards set by City are a cause for concern for the competitiveness of the league. With City on course for their third successive title, other teams are playing for second place, with City's financial backing supplemented by Coach Guardiola's tactics resulting in formidable performances since the international break. Recent performances have been described as the most complete seen from any football team and only Guardiola's presence on top of their financial backing can account for it. While other teams can hope for Guardiola's departure to open up competition, the era of City's domination shows no signs of abating.
Nottingham Forest is closing in on Premier League survival and could potentially secure their fate this weekend if they earn a positive result against Arsenal on Saturday. Forest boss Steve Cooper wants his team to capitalize on having their fate in their own hands, which they managed to create for themselves by getting seven points from their last four games. Forest have a mini-league going on in their part of the table and are focused on staying where they are, with so much that can happen in the next two games. Arsenal lost to Brighton last weekend, but Cooper does not think that negative result will factor into the game on Saturday.
Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has emerged as the leading candidate for the Tottenham Hotspur job. Daniel Levy has been leading interviews in recent weeks, and the Tottenham board has identified Slot as meeting the requirements for the job. The board is looking for a progressive and up-and-coming coach with a record of bringing on a new team with a modern style of play. Some football figures in the Netherlands suggest that Slot's work with Feyenoord in that regard is even superior to Erik ten Hag's at Ajax. Feyenoord wants to keep Slot and is willing to offer him a huge pay increase while seeking to persuade him to give the club a season in the Champions League. Spurs are also seeking to speak to Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Amorim, having ruled out any possibility of attracting Julian Nagelsmann. They have also narrowed their pursuit for director of football to three main candidates, including Roma's Tiago Pinto and Tim Steidten, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen.
Manchester City has launched legal challenges to fight the 115 charges it faces for breach of rule allegations in the Premier League. City intend to challenge the Premier League’s decision to involve Murray Rosen KC as the person who appoints the chair of the disciplinary commission as he is both a member of the MCC and an Arsenal FC supporter, and is therefore not independent. City is disputing the charges, claiming that they should not apply to investigations into the alleged rule breaches before relevant changes in Premier League rules in 2019.
West Ham United will field their strongest available line-up for Thursday night’s Europa Conference League clash with AZ Alkmaar, with David Moyes making nine changes from the defeat by Brentford as the Hammers aim to reach their first European final in 47 years. West Ham lead 2-1 from the first leg, and Moyes returns to the Dutch club where he masterminded a European victory 14 years ago when his Everton side became the only team to inflict a home loss on AZ Alkhmaar during its 32-game unbeaten run.
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has been given a two-match touchline ban and fined £75,000 ($93,000) by the FA for questioning the integrity of the referee, Paul Tierney, and showing his dissent on the pitch following Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last month. Klopp accepted the charge of improper conduct made against him. The ban will commence on May 8th, meaning he will not be in the technical area for Liverpool’s game against Aston Villa that day, but the second match of his ban has been suspended until the end of the next domestic season. Klopp’s disciplinary record was taken into account during his punishment, after appearing for disciplinary hearings three times in the past five years. He previously criticised referee, Kevin Friend, in January for his performance in a game against playing Burnley.
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp will be suspended and fined for remarks made about the officials following Liverpool's match with Tottenham in April. The Football Association's regulatory commission handed Klopp a two-match touchline ban and a £75,000 ($105,500) fine. Klopp had made post-match comments about the match officials, which the FA deemed "beyond the immediate match". The fine and ban only relate to the Aston Villa home game on 8 May, with the additional fixture suspended until the end of next season. Klopp has apologised for his outburst, however Liverpool raised the point that their player Mohammed Salah has been subject to controversial decisions by officials in previous matches. Klopp will return to Liverpool's dugout for the end of the season match against Southampton on 22 May.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is “optimistic” his side’s charge for European football next season will prove successful. Two games remain for Emery’s side – they are at home to Brighton on the final day – and their transformation under the Spaniard has brought a possible top-seven finish into sharp focus. Emery said he really wants Villa to play Europe after 15 years without amazing performances and matches. This comes after Villa’s 2-1 win against Tottenham last week lifted them level with the Londoners, who sit seventh in the Europa Conference League playoffs, and to within a point of Brighton, who occupy the last Europa League spot.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe warned the team’s resounding Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion will count for nothing if they fail to beat Leicester City and clinch a place in the Champions League. Newcastle moved four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with a 4-1 win against Brighton, they will play in the Champions League next season if either the Reds lose at home to Aston Villa or they beat the Foxes on Tyneside. Howe has however urged his players against complacency and expects Leicester to pose a challenge.
Newcastle United secured a 4-1 win over Brighton, pushing them four points ahead of Liverpool in the race for the Champions League places with two games played. Captain Kieran Trippier has reportedly used the phrase "pressure and privilege" in every team huddle before each game, a mantra the team put into action during the high-stakes match. Newcastle's victory followed concerns that they would "wobble and fall" under pressure from rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, but the team defied critics to secure a win and move closer to a top-four finish decision.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was handed a two-game ban for comments about referee Paul Tierney, with one game suspended. He was also fined £75,000. Klopp had criticised Tierney’s performance after the team’s 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur last month. The Football Association (FA) stated: “Klopp admitted that his comments regarding the match referee during post-match media interviews constitute improper conduct… and are personal, offensive and bring the game into disrepute”. Liverpool have said that they will fully support Klopp and will not appeal against the ruling.
Manchester City has launched legal challenges to fight the 115 charges it faces for breach of rule allegations in the Premier League. City intend to challenge the Premier League’s decision to involve Murray Rosen KC as the person who appoints the chair of the disciplinary commission as he is both a member of the MCC and an Arsenal FC supporter, and is therefore not independent. City is disputing the charges, claiming that they should not apply to investigations into the alleged rule breaches before relevant changes in Premier League rules in 2019.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has expressed his sadness at the relegation of his football team, Southampton, from the Premier League but hopes the team will "bounce back" soon. Sunak made the comments while in Hiroshima for the G7 summit. He also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for dinner and donned the socks of Kishida's beloved baseball team, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, saying: "I hope your baseball team has had a better season than my football team who have had a very bad season."
Manchester United supporters feel both sympathy and frustration as Phil Jones leaves the club after 12 years due to injury. Jones has struggled with increasingly serious injuries that have limited him to just four Premier League starts over the past four seasons. In an emotional interview just released, Jones says he literally worked tirelessly hard and missed playing football. United, which still stands as one of the most potent symbols of United’s mismanagement in the post-Ferguson era, will now hope for a successful summer with Erik ten Hag to be the one when ruthlessness finally returns at Old Trafford.
An Arsenal-mad travel guest managed to extend his holiday after Arsenal failed to make it to the League finals this year. At the beginning of his travels, he had planned to spend time in Indonesia before returning for Arsenal's final victory lap, however, when reality dawned and he realised Arsenal would not make it that far, he extended his stay. The guest cites the lure of travel being once in a lifetime as opposed to what could be annual football victories. The team missed out on any silverware this year, however, they did manage to extend one travel fan's trip.
Brighton and Hove Albion’s boss Roberto De Zerbi has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt to European football should they make it to the top six in the Premier League. Brighton suffered a 4-1 defeat at Newcastle on Thursday, but can still qualify for Europe if they win two of their remaining three fixtures. Despite injuries and a gruelling schedule of four matches in 12 days, De Zerbi is hopeful his team will learn and will be better equipped to handle future challenges.
