At the Emirates, Cech hurt in first half and gives armband to Ramsey, restoring the tradition of Arsenal's captain being either injured or in the process of trying to leave.
Jimmy Greaves is the greatest goal scorer English footballer has ever seen. He will be 80 this month, there is a fabulous film out about his incredible life & it really is time recognise him with honours.
Clear mistake by Hooper to deny Grealish that chance. Clear mistake by Haaland to miss that open goal. Clear mistake by Ederson to let that goal in. All the ref’s fault
Thought Harry Winks was terrific in Sampdoria’s midfield against Inter last night. He’s a talented and intelligent footballer and hopefully his injury problems are in the past.
EXC: Raheem Sterling wants clarity on his position at Chelsea after being left out of Enzo Maresca’s first match day squad. A statement read: ‘We look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.’ Full story:
I’m always prepared for England to lose but they deserved to win this... against a team not interested in playing football. Go home Colombia. Your amazing fans deserved a different approach.
Bramall Lane one of my fave grounds. Great history & atmosphere. Don’t mind the chip butty song. Always a quality programme. Premier League will be worse off without it as a venue next season. Looks good on a beautiful Sheffield day ⬇️
Overreaction of players to tackles (screaming, wailing, rolling around) to get pens & red cards is perhaps the most depressing aspect of the Premier League post VAR. See it in virtually every game. Seems to be more of it about without crowds.
Italian legend Arrigo Sacchi on his ideological bonds with Pep and Sarri, the Jorginho-Kante dilemma, Hazard's flaw & why England's steamroller can win the next World Cup with
@fabrizioFERRARI
Mick Harford back on touch line with Luton Town & fighting cancer with the same strength & courage that defined him as a footballer
@LutonTown
@Mickharford
Just the six FA Cup fourth round ties on Jurgen Klopp Saturday… only four at 3 o’clock
Diluting the format = pressure on every tie to deliver
VAR here but not there. Replays here but not there
This beautiful competition has become a bit of a mess
FIFA have today opened disciplinary proceedings against Croatia over the abuse of Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan by their fans during Sunday’s World Cup game…
Still such a thrill to see Messi doing his thing and a joyous atmosphere created by Argentina at Wembley. His last tilt at the World Cup will be unmissable viewing later this year.
🚨MARCH IN MARCH🚨
We have finalised plans for our march to The Hawthorns. We are asking fans to meet outside Storage King, opposite the cricket club at 2:15pm
We will begin the march at 2:30pm. There is likely to be a media presence along the route. If you care, BE THERE.
#WBA
Marcus Edwards on Pochettino’s mini Messi comments, his revival in and brilliant form in Portugal, a reunion with Spurs in the Champions League… and his Sporting boss is tipping him for England
⚽️ Inside the Charlton talent factory as Lookman storms the Europa League and Gomez & Konsa make England’s Euros squad
⚽️ Where two teenage strikers from the next generation have 87 goals between them this season and the U18s final to come
#CAFC
⬇️
More than 2,700 have signed this petition on its first day to support of Sportsmail's campaign to get Jimmy Greaves on the honours list. Thanks to all those and please keep signing up
#GongForGreavsie
·
Ricky Hill, star of Luton’s decade in the top flight, on the racism entrenched in football & his scarred relationship with his old club
#LTFC
@rickyahill
🦉 Sheffield Wednesday, Daddy Cool, a night of protest and a tired stadium in need of love and investment
Cold showers, broken heating, a deflated dome and a haphazard transfer policy
How the Owls became a dysfunctional mess ⚽️
Monday column
Great to see Mick Harford in positive spirits today as he discussed his cancer diagnosis with typical courage & honesty… and vowed to raise awareness and help others. Top man. Please wish him well.
Wish Kane well. Of course we will miss him but he’s been quite magnificent for nine years. He will join one of the world’s great clubs and could not deserve this move more
Andreas Christensen had trials with Villa, Liverpool & Arsenal but feels Chelsea was the right choice. Here on his Dad Sten, leaving Denmark & David Luiz
Very proud to have been asked by Franny to help tell his story, from his humble upbringing to cult status at Saints and his heroic endurance challenges… It’s out next month…
Easy to tune out of the Derby crisis because it has dragged on so long but it is one of our great clubs, & must be saved. This is an excellent detailed summary of the state of play by
@TomCollomosse
First tribute in the land to legendary striker Hughie Gallacher - the last man to captain Newcastle to the title - will be at Derby’s Pride Park not SJP and it’s all down to the inexhaustible
@KhalSir
⚽️Dissent among Bradford faithful as another season of underachievement comes to an end…
⚽️Absent owner, a parcel returned, an exchange of open letters and a Good Friday protest
➕goal scoring defenders, Falkirk & the new RLC
Monday column ⬇️
Declan Rice opens up on 2021, a year when he came to understand his talent… on the Euros, Jorginho, a duet with Ed Sheeran… Vanilla Ice, Twitter, David Moyes & West Ham’s transformation.
30 coaches will set off from
@ChesterfieldFC
for Chelsea this morning to see National Lge leaders v European champs at the Bridge - 25 years after the goal that never was & the FA Cup final that never was…
Never has a football club's place in its community been more evident & nowhere has the connection been more keenly appreciated than at Wigan. Greens shoots after a grim nine months in administration.
The Non League Paper has a 32 page edition today despite no football & carries this key message on its front page. Non League Football is hit hard in these difficult times. This is a terrific effort by a paper shining a light on the lower slopes of our pyramid
Back in England after more than 13 years away, back in English football for first time in 16 & back to his non league roots…
@CarltonPalmer
on disenchantment, player power & a fresh start at
@granthamtownfc
After promotion, survival, FA Cup glory & World Cup bronze with Roberto Martinez, the time is right for Graeme Jones to take the wheel at Luton... first up in the Championship v Boro
Of course £26m paid by Chelsea to Conte & Co is a lot for a change of coaching staff but it still works out cheaper than transforming a squad at that level.
New Chelsea will create an executive tier from almost scratch if Marina G follows Bruce B... and that will be tough and there will be pitfalls but maybe its for the best
From the Ajax hat trick to Guardiola’s latest interpretation of Cruyff’s total football at Manchester City… and it’s Inter again
Following the golden thread with the help of
@All_Blue_Daze
Kepa Arrizabalaga from his Wembley meltdown under Sarri and a crisis of confidence under Lampard to his quiet renaissance under Tuchel and another League Cup final… but with little prospect of ousting Edouard Mendy as Chelsea’s number one…
⚽️ Forty years ago today… and still it rankles
⚽️ When Nottingham Forest were robbed at Anderlecht by a ref on the take
With insight from Paul Hart, Kenny Swain & Ian Bowyer
⬇️ link here
Today marks 86-year-old Brian Pullman’s final day at Chelsea after over half-a-century as a press steward. 💙
Joining the Blues in 1968 as a steward, Brian soon took on the press-liaison role and has been key to the operation of our media facilities, welcoming journalists to our
Can't fathom this one out... truly great TV commentator of modern times shuffled aside by ITV. More change for the sake of change. And a typically gracious explanation from the man himself.
Ernie Moss was a lower-league great, a Chesterfield hero and a giant of a man who devoted his life to football and was abandoned by the game when his family needed help to cope with early onset dementia.
Thrilled to see the
@FrannyBenali
story make the Sunday Times long list for sports autobiography of the year. Well played Franny, and all other wonderful books listed. So much to read.