Premier League sides Manchester United and Arsenal have reportedly been told that Benfica's Joao Neves will cost €120m to buy this summer.
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Tottenham are said to be eyeing a 26-year-old defender, coming after reliable reports he'd be willing to make the move to north London.
Spurs set sights on another centre-back signing after Dragusin
While the Lilywhites sealed a much-needed deal for centre-back Radu Dragusin from Genoa in the January transfer window, it is believed Spurs are aiming to sign another central defender later this year.
Tottenham moving early to sign World Cup "playmaker" for Ange this summer
Plans for later in the year are already underway.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2024
Indeed, manager Ange Postecoglou is said to be plotting a further restructure of his backline, with the likes of Napoli defender Leo Ostigard, Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori and Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite all sporadically linked in the last month.
Eric Dier left north London for Bayern Munich on loan in the January window, and with his contract set to expire in June, the Englishman won't be returning to play a role under Postecoglou next campaign.
Radu Dragusin
Arrival (permanent)
Lucas Bergvall
Arrival (buy-to-loan-back)
Timo Werner
Arrival (loan)
Alejo Veliz
Exit (loan)
Djed Spence
Exit (loan)
Ashley Phillips
Exit (loan)
Sergio Reguilon
Exit (loan)
Japhet Tanganga
Exit (loan)
Eric Dier
Exit (loan)
Ivan Perisic
Exit (loan)
Tottenham may need to source a long-term replacement for Dier, as even with the addition of Dragusin, Postecoglou has gone from potentially having four natural senior centre-back options to just three.
As we've seen from van de Ven and Romero's injuries this term, just a couple of blows can leave Spurs desperately short in certain areas. Signing another defender could therefore be the right idea for technical director Johan Lange and the wider recruitment team.
Fulham star Tosin Adarabioyo is another option who's regularly mentioned in regards to a potential switch. Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with a move for Tosin since last summer's transfer window, and the colossal 6 foot 5 defender could now also join as a free agent given his contract expires in June.
Tottenham eyeing summer Tosin move
According to Calciomercato, Spurs remain in the hunt to sign Tosin but face stiff competition from both AC Milan and London rivals West Ham. The Englishman, who's been called "magnificent" by members of the media (Muhammad Butt), has made 11 appearances under Marco Silva this season but spent the vast majority of early 2023/2024 out with a groin injury.
Perhaps most interestingly, a very reliable transfer source in football.london journalist Alasdair Gold said late last year that Tosin would be up for joining Tottenham if Postecoglou's side came calling.
“We’ve spoken about Tosin Adarabioyo at Fulham, Spurs have certainly retained an interest there," he explained on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.
"He’s an interesting one, like Eric Dier, he’s available in the summer, I understand that if all parties were able to agree a deal he would be up for the move to Spurs, but financially it probably wouldn’t benefit him as much."
Formerly of Man City and Blackburn Rovers, signing a player of his proven Premier League ability for free would arguably be a prudent move by Lange and co.
Tottenham have been told there is a very promising youngster at the club with "similarities" to star first-teamer James Maddison.
Spurs academy prospering with Postecoglou set to give youth chance
The north Londoners are placing a growing importance on youth development, with Ange Postecoglou set to give many opportunities to aspiring prodigies during his tenure.
Tottenham "feel" they can make "game-changer" signing for around £45m
The north Londoners are already devising summer transfer plans.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 27, 2024
That is according to the club's academy director, Simon Davies, who also says that Postecoglou is changing the very culture of N17 internally.
"We have roughly a biweekly meeting but we speak in between ad hoc," explained Davies on Postecoglou's youth policy (Off the Shelf podcast via fl).
"Obviously he is busy with all the first-team stuff going on but he always gives you that time. That's what I mean by the class of the man and the impact he's had around the place. It has to be a close relationship but my job as well is I've got to make sure the players are good enough and they are around it right now. It is tough and the reality is our young players have got to be better than what's in the first team. It's the same around the country. There's no God-given right to get in our first team, it's a tough point to achieve in your career but the manager I know for sure will give opportunities as and when the time is right.
Crystal Palace (home)
March 2nd
Aston Villa (away)
March 10th
Luton Town (away)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
March 30th
"You talk about the lads getting around the bench, part of that is because they have merited it and part of that is because of the injuries. There's always that factor there, but they've got to do it consistently. It doesn't just come because you've done it for a month, you have to do it consistently just for the next 20 odd years. That's the level."
Postecoglou has already praised the likes of Alfie Dorrington and Jamie Donley this season, with both featuring in the first-team squad. The latter has bagged nine assists and four goals over 10 Premier League 2 appearances this season, with Donley seen as a player of real promise at Spurs.
Donley has "similarities" to Maddison
As per journalist Charlie Eccleshare, speaking on The View From The Lane podcast, as transcribed by TBR, Donley actually has "similarities" to Maddison in terms of personality – which certainly bodes well for his potential star power in future seasons.
“Everyone speaks about his versatility, I’ve been told he can play as a 10, an eight, a right winger, he played one game for the academy last season as a centre-back, he is technically outstanding," said Eccleshare.
"From what I’m told he has that aura and confidence, not arrogance, but that thing the best players have, a bit like James Maddison, and maybe there are some similarities between those two as well."
England opener blasts maiden KSL hundred before Southern Vipers bowlers wrap up 89-run victory
ECB Reporters Network18-Aug-2019
Danielle Wyatt cuts the ball to the boundary•Getty Images
Danni Wyatt became the first English player to score a Kia Super League century as Southern Vipers thrashed Surrey Stars by 89 runs for a bonus-point win. England T20 opener Wyatt clouted a stunning 110 from 60 balls, the second-highest KSL score and her first ton since March last year against India.The Sussex star helped the Vipers to 178, the fourth-highest total in KSL history, at Arundel, before an all-round bowling display had the Stars bowled out for 89.A rare positive for Surrey in the drubbing was a hat-trick from spinner Dane van Niekerk in the last over of the Vipers’ innings as the holders suffered their second defeat of the competition. The victory extended Vipers’ lead over the Stars in second and broke a two-game winless run – after defeat to leaders Western Storm and a tie with Lancashire Thunder.After being stuck in by Surrey, Wyatt was the star of the show from the moment she swept and cut back-to-back boundaries off van Niekerk in the fourth over. The Vipers were only on 29 out of the Powerplay and 68 at the halfway point, but Wyatt went through the gears and Suzie Bates found some timing.Wyatt reached her fifty in 32 balls, the second time past the milestone this season, brought up with slog-swept maximum. It was one of a tournament-high seven sixes in Wyatt’s swashbuckling innings, with nine fours played all around the park, but mostly coming down the ground in the V.She put on 109 with Bates, Vipers’ first-ever century opening partnership, before the New Zealander was caught at long-off by Nat Sciver for 39.That seemed to set Wyatt loose, as she thrashed 17 and 23 off consecutive Sciver and Laura Marsh overs – with an impeccable straight-six bringing up her century in 56 balls. It was the second-fastest in KSL history and only behind Bates’ 119 in 2017 in terms of runs.Wyatt did depart bowled by Sciver, with every Surrey player running over to shake her hand, before van Niekerk’s treble, which consisted of Stafanie Taylor and debutant Marie Kelly being bowled and Maia Bouchier caught behind.In their chase of 179, Surrey lost Bryony Smith in the second over, bowled by Tash Farrant, before fellow opener Lizelle Lee was caught at square leg in the fourth over. Skipper Sciver was castled by Farrant and van Niekerk was lbw to Fi Morris as the Stars couldn’t get going.Stafanie Taylor had Sarah Taylor stumped, after a fumble by Tammy Beaumont, and Aylish Cranstone bowled next ball to leave the visitors floundering on 70 for 6. Marsh holed out to deep square-leg, Mady Villiers was run out, Gwenan Davies was yorked and Marizanne Kapp was caught on the boundary to confirm the victory for the Vipers.
استأنف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك تدريباته، صباح اليوم الثلاثاء، على ملعب عبد اللطيف أبو رجيلة، بمقر القلعة البيضاء بميت عقبة.
ويستعد الزمالك للمشاركة في بطولة كأس السوبر المصري، والذي سيلعب في الإمارات خلال الفترة من 20 وحتى 24 من أكتوبر الجاري، بمشاركة أندية سيراميكا كليوباترا وبيراميدز والأهلي. تصعيد ثنائي فريق 2005
شهدت تدريبات الزمالك تصعيد يوسف وائل “فرنسي” ويوسف أحمد حسن، ثنائي وسط فريق الشباب مواليد 2005.
يأتي قرار الجهاز الفني بتصعيد الثنائي في ظل السياسة المتبعة بتصعيد العناصر المميزة من فرق قطاع الناشئين بالقلعة البيضاء، للوقوف على مستواهم وتجهيزهم للفترة المُقبلة.
طالع أيضًا | أحمد سالم: زيزو أسطورة زملكاوية مثل شيكابالا.. ولاعبو الفريق أغلقوا صفحة السوبر الإفريقي بنتايك يواصل التأهيل
واصل المغربي محمود بنتايك ظهير أيسر الزمالك أداء برنامجه التأهيلي، تحت إشراف عمرو المطراوي أخصائي التأهيل بالنادي قبل أن يخوض تدريبات خاصة في صالة الجيمانيزيوم.
ويخضع بنتايك لبرنامج تأهيلي خاص، بسبب معاناته من إجهاد عضلي في الفترة الحالية. مشاركة عبد الشافي والونش
شارك محمد عبد الشافي ظهير أيسر الفريق، في جانب من تدريبات الكرة خلال مران اليوم، وأدى اللاعب رفقة زميله محمود حمدي الونش بعض الفقرات الفنية مع اللاعبين، في إطار تجهيزهما للمشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية بشكل تدريجي.
وبعد ذلك خاض الثنائي تدريبات تأهيلية خاصة تحت إشراف علاء رجب مخطط الأحمال، وماريو تومليانوفيتش مدرب الأحمال. انتظام إيشو
انتظم أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو” لاعب الزمالك في التدريبات الجماعية كاملة، والتقسيمة الفنية في ختام المران بعدما أنهى اللاعب البرنامج التأهيلي الذي كان يخضع له في الفترة الماضية. فقرة للتسديد على المرمى
خاض لاعبو الزمالك فقرة خاصة للتدريب على التسديدات، وأدى عبد الله السعيد وحمزة المثلوثي وزياد كمال وكونراد ميشالاك وحسام أشرف وناصر منسي وجيفرسون كوستا تدريبات بالتسديد على مرمى الحارس محمود الشناوي. تدريبات خاصة لـ شيكابالا
خاض محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، صانع ألعاب الزمالك، تدريبات خاصة على هامش مران اليوم، وأدى اللاعب تدريبات بالركض حول الملعب بجانب أداء الفقرات البدنية، ولم يشارك في التقسيمة الفنية التي أقيمت في ختام مران الفريق. تدريبات خاصة لـ الشناوي
حرص لويس فيسنتي مدرب حراس مرمى الزمالك، على أداء تدريبات خاصة لمحمود الشناوي حارس الفريق الشاب بعد نهاية مران اليوم.
وقام فيسنتي بعقد جلسة خاصة مع الشناوي بعد نهاية التدريبات لمنحه العديد من التعليمات الفنية، ثم خضع لتدريبات منفردة لزيادة معدلات لياقته الفنية والبدنية.
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed what would need to happen in order for him to sever ties with Manchester City in 2024 and head for Saudi Arabia.
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Entered final year of his contractInterest from MLS & Middle EastHas no need for lucrative dealWHAT HAPPENED?
The 33-year-old midfielder has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. No fresh terms have been tabled as yet for the six-time Premier League title winner, who has been with City since 2015, but discussions are expected to take place at some point.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT DE BRUYNE SAID
De Bruyne has told of what the immediate future holds for him, amid talk of interest being shown from the Middle East: “I’ve read a lot of headlines, but I haven’t spoken to anyone. I hope I can last a few more years. Everyone knows I’m under contract at City for another year. And that I haven’t talked to anyone yet. I assume there will be talks with City in the next few months. If not, I will have to look for something else. But it’s hard to say what will happen. My summer will be very quiet. I will enjoy my holidays. And then I will return to City.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
De Bruyne would land a lucrative contract if he were to follow the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League, but the Belgian said of further lining his pockets: “Look, I have more than enough money. I know that well enough. If a silly amount is offered later, then that’s not for me. That’s for all my family, my friends, my children, my great-grandchildren, my children’s neighbours.”
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Euro 2024 is currently the main focus for De Bruyne, with Belgium preparing for a last-16 showdown with France at that competition. A break will be taken in after continental tournament action, before potentially forming part of City’s pre-season tour of the United States.
The PCB made official on Saturday its tweaked domestic structure that, the board believes, will improve the quality of the game in Pakistan and internationally.Domestic cricket in the country has often been a major target of criticism for Pakistan’s often-poor performances in the international arena, with suggestions that the system was not robust enough to produce world-beating players. For the last two decades, therefore, the structure has undergone various changes: the first-class competition, for example, has had regional and departmental teams playing separately one season and against each other the next. Stability, however, has remained elusive.
Sindh Cricket Association: Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana
Balochistan Cricket Association: Dera Murad Jamali and Quetta
Southern Punjab Cricket Association: Multan and Bahawalpur
Central Punjab Cricket Association: Faisalabad, Sialkot and Lahore
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cricket Association: Peshawar, FATA and Abbottabad
Northern Cricket Association: Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Azad Jammu Kashmir
This year, under the directions of Imran Khan, the country’s prime minister as well as patron-in-chief of the PCB, the board has opted for an overhaul. The old departmental cricket model has been scrapped altogether from the PCB constitution, and the new structure will involve only six provincial teams, who will play all the formats in the domestic circuit.Previously, there were as many as 16 teams playing, adding up to a total of 69 first-class games per season. With the new structure, six teams will play only 31 first-class games – and 16 T20s and 31 one-dayers – and they will be required to regulate the game across levels – the main team, the second XI, the Under-19s, the Under-16s, the Under-13s, and intra-city cricket.”Until we have quality and competitive cricket, we can’t have consistency,” Wasim Khan, the PCB managing director, said while explaining the new model to the media. “We understand players crumbled under pressure, and this means the system isn’t right and things have been haphazard. We are presently standing at No. 7 in Tests, sixth in ODIs, and No. 1 in T20Is – this is our present landscape. We don’t need to forget this. We don’t want this.”We want consistency and if we get to the top, we should stay at the top. Consistency will come on its own when the system is right. With this new system, we had to take tough decisions, but had to be balanced.ALSO READ: What the new domestic structure means for Pakistan cricket“This new system is a clear pathway laid out for club cricketers to graduate to provincial-level cricket at the top level. We firmly believe this structure will not only help the PCB raise a team that can play in the 2021 World Test Championship final but also give an opportunity to talented and skilled cricketers to represent Pakistan in the purest format of the game. So this new structure is full of context and narrative in every aspect.”To put the model on the road, the PCB will form an eight-member committee for each of the six teams, which will run their association and later hand things over to the respective provinces. The panel will be made up of PCB’s own nominees, representatives of the associations and principal sponsors, with the CEO, the CFO, and the selection committee helping them.The structure will have three tiers.
“The PCB will provide assistance to the provincial associations in setting up the structure, which will include helping them in assembling a council – which will look after the affairs – and aiding them in attaining sponsorship deals,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani explained. “The idea is to make them self-sustainable and gradually decentralise them. Ultimately, these are the ones who should be running the model and we will only oversee them.”The first-class season starts on September 14, with every team playing ten matches, home and away, on a double round-robin basis. The first-class and non-first-class (second XI) tournaments will run concurrently, providing the six associations depth to choose the best XI for their first-class matches. The same will be the case for List A and T20 cricket.The scheduleQuaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class, four-day matches, final will be a five-day fixture): September 14 to October 8; October 28 to December 13National U-19 tournament (three-day and one-day tournament): October 1 to November 12Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (2nd XI, three-day matches, final will be a four-day fixture): September 14 to October 10; October 28 to November 29National T20 Cup (both first and second XIs will play at the same time): October 13 to 24; first XIs will play in Faisalabad, second XIs will play in KarachiPakistan Cup One-Day Tournament (both first and second XIs will play simultaneously): March 29 to April 24, 2020
Chelsea are facing a "truly disastrous week" as the pressure piles on manager Mauricio Pochettino, following a dramatic EFL Cup final defeat to Liverpool in extra time on Sunday.
Gary Neville labels Chelsea "billion pound bottlejobs" after defeat
Virgil van Dijk's late winner over Chelsea at Wembley prompted Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville to brand them the "billion pound bottlejobs".
Naples based journalist drops major Victor Osimhen claim for Chelsea fans
The Blues are now favourites to make the signing.
ByTom Coates Feb 26, 2024
A large portion of Liverpool's XI were on the very young side, to add insult to injury, with Pochettino claiming his star-studded team needed to feel the pain after what was a sore loss to take in London.
"We are very competitive and now we need to move forward," said Pochettino on Chelsea's defeat to Liverpool.
"They need to realise that we need to work more, do better things. We need to improve and compete in this level against a side that in the last five, six, seven years has competed for big things.
Chelsea's next league fixtures
Date
Brentford
March 2nd
Newcastle United
March 11th
Arsenal
March 16th
Burnley
March 30th
"It's about arriving here first and then feel what it means to play for a big trophy. I remember after three, four years they lost the Champions League [final], they lost the Europa League [final]. They keep believing in the project and in the next season [got] stronger until they got what they wanted.
"That is a good example, Liverpool. We want to challenge a team like Liverpool. [We should not be] frustrated today because we didn't get the trophy. We need to keep believing, as that is the most important thing."
Following the cup defeat, rumours are starting to re-emerge over Pochettino's position as head coach, coming after Chelsea were linked with a new manager like Xabi Alonso earlier this month.
Pochettino "facing the sack" if Chelsea lose to Leeds
Now, journalist Dean Jones has claimed Pochettino is "facing the sack" if Chelsea lose their FA Cup bout to Leeds tomorrow.
"This is a massive loss," said Jones to GiveMeSport.
"You don't get a better chance to beat Liverpool than to come up against a side missing as many players as they were at Wembley. They got away with Moises Caicedo's tackle and the Virgil van Dijk VAR goal, and when their chances came along they just couldn't take them. That's hard to accept – and made harder by the fact they didn't go for the kill in extra-time when Liverpool were fielding youngsters that many people literally would never have heard of.
"The late defeat has been described as pathetic and they are being labelled bottle jobs and now they have to take on Leeds United, one of their oldest rivals in the game. Leeds will come to London believing they can cause an upset and if they do then Pochettino is probably going to be facing the sack. It could become a truly disastrous week."
New head coach along with the team director Mike Hesson outline their vision for IPL 2020 and beyond
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2019Excerpts:
Royal Challengers Bangalore haven’t made the playoffs for three seasons now. How can you turn it around?
Mike Hesson: We have spent a lot of time in the last two weeks looking at how we want to structure things as a support staff. With the structure we have got and people we’ve got around us, we’re well aware that we have to make a few tweaks in the squad to get the balance that we think we need moving forward. We are not going to talk about player names. Obviously, we are not going to give too much away, but there has certainly been a lot of behind-the-scenes thinking about how we want to structure things.ALSO READ – RCB overhaul: Kirsten, Nehra out, Hesson, Katich inHas there been any thought at all of looking at a different captain?
Simon Katich: Not at all.How will the team management set-up work in the new structure?
Hesson: I will be having input pre-game, but Simon and Virat will be in charge on game days in terms of the XI they put on the park. The dealings I had with both are inclusive as well. I am sure coaches have experience at certain venues against opposition, but it’s a collective agreement. But Simon and Virat will be in charge on game days.
“You need to have guys who are prepared to put the team first over their individual needs of trying keep getting a game, or just potentially do well for the next auction.”RCB’s head coach on what he expects
Kohli has led for the past seven seasons. The outside perception is that he calls the shots. Is that a strength or do you have any apprehensions about working with him?
Katich: From our point of view, we have been aligned about how we are going to go about things. We haven’t got that perception about Virat at all. Potentially there is a learning from that and the fact that what he has done in the past, maybe he has learnt from that and wants to go about things differently moving forward. But from what we’ve discussed with him so far, he has very much been aligned about how we want to move forward, and happy to take advice from our experience and how we see things.There are always going to be different opinions, but it is about what is best for the team and I think we have both (him and Hesson) spoken about it over the last couple of weeks. There’s no question, for us Virat is captain.PA PhotosHow easy or difficult is it to talk to with superstar players like Kohli or Brendon McCullum (at New Zealand when he was head coach) to have an open discussion on decision-making?
Hesson: Simon, Virat and myself, everybody has been working together to this point and so far those relationships have been very good. There is a time and place for everything, but the three of us have to be brutally honest with each other behind closed doors around every decision.There will be decisions we all make where we might say: “hang on, what were we thinking there?” And it might not necessarily be saying you have done something wrong. It’s just asking for clarity on what you were thinking. I think this is a responsibility for all of us, to challenge the three of us as a leadership group to make sure we are getting the best out of each other. We are not going to be passive and not be afraid of having honest discussions. There is no value in that for anybody.Royal Challengers have never been short of talent. As a coach, how do you get that talent to work together?
Katich: A big part of it is identifying what sort of style of players will bat well with each other or potentially bowl well in partnerships together in different phases of the innings. So that’s something we are working through at the moment. But then, when it comes to a team’s style of play, you need to have guys with that character that they are prepared to put the team first over their individual needs of trying keep getting a game, or just potentially do well for the next auction.So that’s the balancing act of trying to put a squad together and that’s where the character side of it comes into it because yes, there are a lot of players out there with lots of talent but are they playing in winning teams and how are they contributing in being part of winning teams? So that’s all the things we have to weigh up when we are making these judgments over the next few months.How do you make sure the Chinnaswamy pitch will favour RCB so that they utilise home advantage, a crucial determining factor in making the playoffs?
Katich: It was probably the first thing I mentioned when I first came on about the job, asking the question about the wicket because I have seen it evolve over the last four years. Obviously in 2017, it was a different type of wicket given what happened with the drainage. And obviously, it affected the balance of the team because it was playing differently to what the team had been used to in the past.So that was one of the first questions asked because you want to really utilise your home ground advantage for seven games, and if you make it a fortress which others teams have done at their venues, whether it’s at Chennai (Chennai Super Kings) or whoever it is, that becomes a big determining factor whether you can make it to the playoffs. So that’s one thing we certainly will be taking into account and making sure that it suits the balance of our team. We have to understand how it is going to play.
With very little to complain about on the pitch for Leeds United fans, their attention has once again turned to the broadcaster who they feel is intent on spoiling their weekends.
Leeds United continue march towards promotion
Saturday afternoon saw Leeds put away Plymouth Argyle with ease and extend their winning run to eight games. Now sitting second in the Championship table, the Whites have put a poor start in the rearview and now look set to return to the topflight at the first time of asking.
Leeds' recent success has come thanks in part to ruthless attacking displays, with Wilfred Gnonto seemingly back in favor at Elland Road and making a mockery of second tier defenses. Five goals in his last five games has put the Italian back in Daniel Farke's good books and helped Leeds surge towards promotion.
Striking up a partnership with Crysencio Summerville, the two wingers have been the catalysts for their sides' success and will be due all the plaudits if Leeds are to get promoted.
The Leeds star who has been Farke's real hero instead of Summerville
The impressive Whites enforcer has won 125 duels in the Championship this season.
ByDan Emery Feb 18, 2024
Whilst the free-flowing attacking football Leeds play is a joy to watch, fans of the team have taken opposition to the logistical nightmare of following their team thanks to their games being broadcast on Sky Sports.
Sky Sports speak to Leeds over chants
As one of the largest fan bases currently occupying the second tier, it is inevitable that Leeds would be chosen for a large slate of televised games. A celebratory moment for fans who can watch their side from the comfort of their living room, but a headache for those wishing to attend.
Leeds fans have seen their usual Saturday 3pm ties swapped out for a weeknight or midday slot to accommodate the Sky cameras practically every week. This month's visit to Bristol City was moved to a Friday night for example, meaning fans would not return home until well past midnight after making the near four-hour journey back to West Yorkshire.
Writing for The Athletic, journalist Phil Hay revealed that Sky actually tried to speak to the club about the backlash to the fixture changes: “Not so long ago, an employee of Sky Sports asked a member of staff at Leeds United how the broadcaster should go about making peace with the club’s support."
“Like clockwork, every televised game involving Leeds was generating chants about Sky, chants no television company would choose to air before the watershed."
This weekend's visit to Plymouth Argyle was another chance for Leeds fans to vent their frustrations at the broadcaster. The trip to Home Park had been moved to the 12:30 slot on a Saturday, forcing fans into an early start to make the long journey to the south west.
Hay states that the solution to this problem is a simple one, declaring that Sky could "perhaps stop sending them to Plymouth Argyle at lunchtime on a Saturday".
Until fans are put first, it is likely that the expletive-ridden chants about the broadcaster will continue. Fortunately, for Leeds fans, performances on the pitch can help ease the pain of these inconveniences.