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Ashworth pays price for Man United recruitment as Ratcliffe shows ruthlessness

Every top head coach is only as good as the sporting director charged with building the squad from which they select their team. So Manchester United’s decision to part ways with Dan Ashworth, just five months after hiring him from Newcastle United, highlights how much of a hurry the club are in to become competitive under new boss Ruben Amorim. One source told ESPN that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s minority…

‘Mediocre’ Man Utd need bold decisions – Ratcliffe

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said Manchester United will need to take “difficult and unpopular decisions” if the club is to restore its place at the top of English and European football. Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% stake of United earlier this year and later said he wished to break Manchester City and Liverpool’s recent dominance. However, it has proved a difficult year at Old Trafford, with manager Erik ten Hag sacked…

Can Everton upset Liverpool in last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park?

LIVERPOOL, England — The distance between Everton’s iconic stadium, Goodison Park, and Liverpool’s Anfield home measures at little more than half a mile. Separated only by Stanley Park — where Everton played during the club’s most formative years — Merseyside’s footballing giants have spent more than a century as neighbours, bonded by a sense of territorial kinship, even as the fortunes of the two clubs have veered in drastically different…

Arteta: Arsenal want to be ‘kings of everything’

Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal “want to be the kings of everything,” urging his side to build on their set-piece prowess. Arsenal are leading the Premier League in set-piece goals since the start of last season with 22 after adding two more to their collection in Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Manchester United. Jurriën Timber and William Saliba got the goals from corners, with United — seemingly like many…

1,300 miles to an away game? On the road with Las Palmas

César Robledo has work to do, but wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a bit before seven o’clock on Saturday evening and the big yellow bus he drives has just rolled into the Vall d’en Bas hotel in the Catalan countryside. His passengers, footballers for Union Deportiva Las Palmas, have got off, leaving him to clear up. The picnics, individually prepared in paper bags with squad numbers penciled on,…

Why isn’t there a chance to crown the best club in women’s soccer?

Just over a week ago, Marta — perhaps the most famous name in the women’s game, and a forward for the newly crowned NWSL champion Orlando Pride — said hers is the “best league in the world.” Given Orlando won the Supporters’ Shield for having the best regular-season record as well as all three playoff games in 90 minutes, yeah, they can probably safely say they’re the best team in…

How the USWNT beat the Dutch in the fight for Lily Yohannes

In the span of six months, Lily Yohannes experienced the full gamut of reaction from fans of women’s international soccer. In June, Yohannes was celebrated as she scored on her international debut for the U.S. women’s national team against South Korea, making her — at the age of 16 — the third-youngest player to score for the USWNT. Because the appearance came in a friendly, though, it didn’t commit her…

Wrexham’s amazing 8k watch party: ‘Always Sunny’ gang, LA Chargers celebrate late win

Wrexham saw off Barnsley in League One on Tuesday to claim their third consecutive victory and, more importantly, strengthen their position in the automatic promotion spots at the top of the standings. For a long time it looked, for all the Red Dragons’ effort and endeavour, like the game would end goalless. That was until Oliver Rathbone’s goal in the second minute of injury time delivered a 1-0 win in…

Argyle director backs Rooney despite poor form

Plymouth Argyle’s director of football Neil Dewsnip has backed Wayne Rooney and said everyone at the club is behind the manager to stay despite a poor run of form. Rooney’s side have conceded 10 goals in their past two matches, including a 6-1 defeat against Norwich City and a 4-0 loss to Bristol City in what the former England captain described as the “hardest week” of his managerial career. “He’s…