MIKE ASHLEY’S REPORTED TAKEOVER TAKES NEW TURN

Mike Ashley, the former Newcastle United owner, according to reports, wants to complete a takeover of Coventry City. This is coming just a few days after he was touted as the most potential bidder for their ground, known as the Coventry Building Society Arena. Only last week, it was reported that he was in line to purchase the home stadium of the Sky Blues which has in it, a casino and a hotel on-site. The report also stated that he has already opened talks with the Coventry City Council about the prospect of adding even more accommodation on the gorinf as well as a car park.

According to the Daily Mail, if Ashley succeeds with his hid to purchase the property,  he will have some amount of control over the the commercial activities of Coventry City and thus would give him an upper hand and increase his chances of purchasing the Championship club at a knockdown price. Last Tuesday, the CBS Arena owners tendered an application to enter into administration. The Arena is also responsible for hosting Premiership Rugby club Wasps and according to the owners, in the statement they released, they stated that people should expect administration orders to be made in the coming few weeks.

According to a spokesperson for Arena Coventry Limited, not just the company, but also the proposed administrators from FRP Advisory have been working to fadt-track the entire sales process to sell out the business and assets of the companies. The spokesperson also added that they have identified a preferred bidder for the sales.

Mike Ashley sold Newcastle United to a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia in October last year after 14 years of mixed experiences. He was in the running to buy Derby County in the summer but David Clowes ended up doing that.

CECH EXPECTS EXCITING CARABAO CUP FINAL

Chelsea legend Petr Cech has been speaking ahead of the Liverpool game in the Carabao Cup final. Ex-Blues shot stopper Petr Cech is the performance and technical advisor at Stamford Bridge and the retired Czech Republic goalkeeper sat down with the official Chelsea website to discuss the Carabao Cup final clash between Liverpool and Chelsea. The two teams will meet at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Sunday to determine who will win the first major domestic silverware in the English top flight this season.

On the game, Petr Cech said he’s expecting an exciting clash as he pointed out how strong Liverpool have been this season. Speaking further, he said the reason why Chelsea have won League Cup trophies and also reached finals is because the West London giants treat the competition with respect before adding that the feeling of winning a trophy is special.

On Carabao Cup final opponents Liverpool, Petr Cech said that Chelsea played the Merseyside team recently and they know that it would always be a difficult game against them. He was referring to the last meeting between the two teams which ended in a 2-2 draw in the league. As a matter of fact, Liverpool and Chelsea have drawn their two games in the Premier League this season.

In the first league meeting this season, Kai Havertz gave Chelsea the lead before hosts Liverpool responded through a Mohamed Salah penalty towards the end of the first half after Reece James handled the ball to stop a goal and he was subsequently sent off. Egyptian star Salah tucked away the penalty before Chelsea produced a faultless rearguard action to ensure that the game finished 1-1. In the second game, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool as they raced to a 2-0 lead but hosts Chelsea responded with a world-class strike from Mateo Kovacic and the equaliser from American international Christian Pulisic in the first half. There were no goals in the second half as the two teams settled for a 2-2 draw.

Most Influential Football Players In History

Football Legends That Changed The Industry

The world of football is a strange one. There are truly legendary players that will be spoken about forever, and rightly so. The greats like Ronaldo that, for lack of a better term, are icons of the sport itself. Though, it isn’t always the most popular players that are truly the most influential. There are some names less spoken about, but that have had a long lasting impact on the sporting industry.

These are some of the most influential football players in the world. Not the most popular.

Johan Cruyff

It is difficult to overstate how important Cruyff was, and still is, in the world of football. He stood as the lynchpin that held the Total Football movement together, demonstrating incredible tactical ability. So impressed is the world by his skills that he is still used as a training demonstration to this day. In short; he stands as an example of how football is optimally played.

Barcelona are known to use Cruyff as a benchmark for their tactical teachings, which pretty much says it all. Many say that Barcelona even owe a great deal of their success to the player.

Jean-Marc Bosman

Yes, most will talk about contributions on the field, but just as many contributions have occurred off the field. It is monumental how much is owed to Jean-Marc Bosman, who changed the way football works on a fundamental level. Prior to the mid-1990s players were at the mercy of the club they played for. A player was not permitted to negotiate other deals, regardless of where they were in their current contract. This made it difficult, and often very stressful for players, 

Jean-Marc Bosman changed all that in the court of law. After a lengthily process it was ruled that he may negotiate a new deal, even if his current contract has not officially expired. This shifted the power from the clubs to the players, as it is to this very day. The best players can now relax, sign up at Big Dollar Casino, and wait for the deals to come to them.

Diego Maradona

No list of best footballers is complete without Diego Maradona. The Argentine is a legend in both his home country and the world, often being referred to as the greatest footballer to have ever been on a field. Some say that his reputation is overblown, and that his image is bigger than his actual true skill. But that he more or less singlehandedly took his team to the World Cup, then singlehandedly won the tournament, it’s difficult to deny his global influence.

Whatever is or isn’t said about Maradona, he changed the game.

David Beckham

Sure, some would not put David Beckham on the same list as Maradona. But what Beckham demonstrated is that it is possible to be as successful at football as marketing, simultaneously. His image went well beyond the field, and although some may frown on him for it, Beckham changed the way many footballers approach their career.

CAVALIERI: BRAZIL TROPHY HAUL REVEALED

Veteran Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri was part of the squad that won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was selected to be part of the Brazil squad to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup on the back of his good form at club level. Diego Cavalieri was playing for Fluminense in the Brazilian league at the time. The experienced goalkeeper featured 348 times for Fluminense in the league over a period of seven years between 2011 and 2018. Diego Cavalieri enjoyed the best spell of his career during his time in his native Brazil with Fluminense.

For the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil scored three times in their final clash with Spain to win the tournament. Striker Fred scored twice to take his tally for the tournament to five goals, while Neymar was also on target for the Brazilians during the game. Fred was able to finish as the joint leading goalscorer with his two goals against the Spanish team in the final. Alongside Fred, Spanish striker Fernando Torres also scored five goals. Spain finished the final with ten men after Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off midway into the final.

Diego Cavalieri was unable to step on the pitch throughout the tournament due to the form of Julio Cesar who was the first choice goalkeeper for the Brazilian team until the final match of the tournament.

Spain made an appearance in the FIFA Confederations Cup for the first time at the 2013 edition, but they were second best to the Brazilians. On their part, Brazil contested their fifth FIFA Confederations Cup final in total and they were able to secure their third title with the win over Spain. Neymar was one of the two players who scored in the final and he was named the best player at the end of the game.

MAHREZ RATED HIGHEST AGAINST PSG

Algeria international Riyad Mahrez had the highest rating as Premier League holders Manchester City came from behind to beat French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) 2-1 at home in their latest Champions League clash to seal top spot in Group A. PSG needed to win to take control of the group, but they could not hold on to the lead established at the start of the second half as the Citizens scored twice to win the game and also win their group.

According to the rating from The 4thOfficial, Algeria national team winger Mahrez was given an eight (8) as he was a thorn in the flesh of the PSG defenders. Young PSG left-back Nuno Mendes struggled to cope with the Algeria international who was involved in the two Manchester City goals from the right side of their attack.

Mahrez had the highest score amongst Manchester City players. Portugal international Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Joao Cancelo all had the score of 7.5 each, while Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus was the only change for manager Pep Guardiola during the game. Jesus came off the bench for Ukrainian utility player Oleksandr Zinchenko and he was given a score of 7 alongside German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

Rodri Hernandez and Kyle Walker were given 6.5 apiece, while the quartet of John Stones, Ruben Dias, Ukrainian national team star Zinchenko and EdersonMoraes got a score of 6.

Manchester City dominated the game with PSG and they were good value for the win. As a matter of fact, the Citizens could have won by more goals if they took their chances in front of goal. They did well to bounce back after PSG had scored the opening goal of the game five minutes into the second half through KylianMbappe. Sterling equalised for Manchester City thirteen (13) minutes later off the assist from substitute Gabriel Jesus who then scored the winning goal fourteen (14) minutes from the end.

PARTEY DOUBTFUL FOR LIVERPOOL CLASH

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is an early doubt for the Premier League trip to Merseyside to face Liverpool next week after he sustained a groin injury in training last week.

Partey was missing in the Arsenal midfield when the squad for the Premier League duel with Watford was revealed on Sunday. Arsenal thereafter confirmed that the Ghanaian midfielder missed the league clash with the Hornets due to a tight groin.

Arsenal fans would be hoping to have Partey back for the potentially tough game against Liverpool. The Reds are favourites for the three points via the various soccer betting odds on soccer betting sites.

For the Watford game, the Gunners were massive favourites according to soccer betting sites and they were able to live up to their status as favourites with the slim victory thanks to the second half strike from the in-form Arsenal midfielder, Emile Smith-Rowe.

Arsenal could have recorded a big win at home to Watford if their strikers were more ruthless to completely live up to their favourites tag. Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the major culprit after his bad touch led to Bukayo Saka being flagged for offside after the England international scored inside seven minutes.

Aubameyang then went on to miss a first half penalty as he was denied by the impressive Watford shot stopper Ben Foster. The Gabonese international had the chance to give the Gunners the lead from the spot after fellow attacker Alexander Lacazette was brought down by Danny Rose. The half-time gave Watford the opportunity to catch their breadth as they were under scrutiny for the majority of the first half. The game could have been different at the interval if the Gunners converted the first half chances that came their way.

In the second half, Aubameyang scored from an offside position when he could have left the shot taken by teammate Martin Odegaard. The shot from Odegaardwas on its way to the back of the net before the intervention from the Arsenal skipper. In the end, The goal from Smith-Rowe eleven minutes into the second half was enough to hand the Gunners an impotent win and also increase their unbeaten run to eight games. Arsenal are up to fifth ahead of the Liverpool game next week Saturday.

RONALDO: WENGER RUES MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that Cristiano Ronaldo came close to joining the Gunners until Premier League rivals Manchester United swooped in on him. Wenger told TalkSPORT that he regrets not signing Ronaldo because the five-time Ballon D’or winner was close to joining him in North London. According to the Frenchman, he wished Ronaldo was added to the Invincibles.

Wenger was the architect of one of the biggest teams ever seen in English football during the 2003/04 season. He masterminded affairs from the dugout as Arsenal went through the season with an unbeaten record on the way to winning the Premier League title. Frenchman Wenger won his third and final Premier League title during the unbeaten season.

Arsenal appointed Wenger as their manager in September 1996 and he was a relatively unknown quantity to both the players and the fans at the time. Wenger didn’t start the 1996/97 season, but still manage to lead the team to third place at the end of the season as Manchester United won the Premier League title.

In his first full season, Wenger led Arsenal to the Premier League title. It was the first league title for the Gunners in the Premier League era. As a matter of fact, Arsenal finished the season with a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Wenger sealed a second Premier League title during the 2001/02 season without losing any game away from home. The Frenchman won the second Premier League and FA Cup double of his Arsenal tenure during that season.

At the end of his tenure at Arsenal, Wenger had won three Premier League titles and six FA Cup titles. It must be pointed out that Wenger and Arsenal were presented with a golden trophy when the team went through the season without a single defeat.

THE BALE-MADRID UNION SHOULD END ALREADY

Reports on Friday claim Gareth Bale’s agent wants his rep out of Real Madrid as relations have not improved. The fans keep booing the player since his return from international duty with Wales. The fan flag incident did not go down well with the fans. Bale has also not recently had the opportunity to shut the comments down with excellent performances on the pitch.

Jonathan Barnett says while his rep has not officially asked to leave the club, Bale is not “ecstatic.” Barnett claimed Bale was only fulfilling his contractual obligations as long as he remains in Madrid’s employ. He confirmed that Bale is working with the team to ensure the La Liga comes to Madrid at the end of the season, aside European success.

Despite the fan incident, Barnett says the Welshman remains professional; with stats confirming when he plays Madrid have a higher chance of winning. However, if a good opportunity comes and Bale agrees, then the next thing would be a chat with Florentino Perez, he added.

The 30-year old might have to end the union with Madrid this summer after plans for last summer failed. So far he has netted twice in all competitions this season. If the move to Asia is allowed, Bale gets an impressive retirement package and all of the issues end. Zinedine Zidane, who has tried and failed with his diplomatic moves, could face his project and his aim of landing KylianMbappe.

With the ways things stand, Madrid are still in contention for the league title but their arch rivals are favourites to retain it. In Europe, it is ever an open race for who has the biggest heart.