Middlesbrough have spent heavily in the chase for an immediate return to the Premier League while Aston Villa lead the Midlands challenge with John TerryOver a long summer it has been difficult to get away from the usual faces at the same select few clubs – none more so than that of the Middlesbrough chief executive, Neil Bausor, who has been pictured with a beaming smile time and again alongside new arrivals at the Riverside. Related: Gary Rowett: ‘We’re trying to take away feeling we’ve a right to be up there because we’re Derby’ Related: League One 2017-18 season preview | Lawrence Ostlere Continue reading...
The Premier League’s newest additions will have a big job on their hands next season but their togetherness and high-energy style may give them a chanceBefore Huddersfield’s penalty shootout victory in a grim play-off final their manager, David Wagner, was fond of comparing his side’s promotion charge with Leicester winning the Premier League last season. That might be a touch strong but Wagner’s achievement in bringing Huddersfield into the top flight for the first time in 45 years remains utterly extraordinary.Wagner was appointed in November 2015 with the immediate brief of making sure Huddersfield avoided relegation to League One. They were 18th at the time, glancing over their shoulders with profound concern. A little over 18 months later those worried...
Royals’ manager and players pay heavy penalty against Huddersfield after latest play-off final defeat sends them back to the Championship drawing boardJaap Stam had a difficult job on his hands when he took over at Reading last summer, charged with lifting a squad after two poor seasons going in the wrong direction. But that task might have felt easy in comparison with the one he faced on Monday as he attempted to pull his deflated players up from the Wembley turf, one by one, after the Championship play-off final defeat by Huddersfield Town in a penalty shoot-out.There was not a lot he could say. Tiago Ilori, the Reading defender, said few words were exchanged between team-mates in the dressing room...
Plymouth’s defence was classy and defiant, Ndidi excelled on Leicester debut, Batshuayi proved little and Stourbridge showed romance is alive, even in defeatThe triumphant celebrations after Plymouth Argyle’s 0-0 draw at Anfield were further confirmation that giant-equalling is the new giantkilling. In the modern world of the FA Cup, it is enough for David to draw with Goliath – especially as it means a second payday for clubs often in need of such a financial boost. For Plymouth’s players, it was about more than that. It’s easy to be sniffy about their ultra-defensive approach against the youngest team in Liverpool’s history, but most League Two teams would not have been good enough to pull it off. Plymouth defended with such...
The beautiful game is littered with beautifully strange, funny and famous tales. Journalist Nick Szczepanik has compiled many for his new book, Pulp Football. Here are five of Guardian Sport’s favouritesPerhaps the most notorious football mascot, and certainly one of the breed’s serial offenders, is Cyril the Swan. The 9ft Swansea City mascot’s antics have resulted in more than one four-figure fine from the Football League and even a touchline ban – usually a sanction reserved for errant managers and coaches. Related: Mascot fears soccer beaks Continue reading...