It may surprise to learn that only seven British players have ever worn the famous white of Real Madrid, with Jude Bellingham becoming the eighth on joining Los Blancos this summer for a whopping 103 million euros.

In due course, the tremendous teen will surely make his mark at the Bernabeu, very possibly finding himself lauded one day as the greatest from our shores to light up the Spanish capital.

For now though, the all-time top five looks like this…

5) Caroline Weir

It was a toss-up between the former Manchester City star and Michael Owen for fifth spot, with each having excelled across a single season for Real.

Crucially though, while Owen got homesick and swiftly transferred to Newcastle, Weir is loving life in Spain, having won the club’s Player of the Year in her inaugural campaign.

One of only two players in Liga F to reach double figures for both goals and assists, the Scot ultimately accrued 31 goal involvements in 2022/23, a strike against City in the Champions League a particular stand-out.

No doubt Barcelona will remain strong favourites in the sports betting for next term, due to their long-standing dominance, but Real are getting closer all the time.

That’s partly down to making shrewd signings such as their free capture of Weir.

4) Laurie Cunningham 

The ridiculously gifted winger would be a stonewall legend at the Bernabeu were it not for a serious injury that curtailed an otherwise successful five-year stint.

Joining for close to a million pounds from West Brom in 1979 he scored twice on his debut and having won Spanish hearts and minds, proceeded to torment full-backs on 44 occasions, once receiving an unprecedented standing ovation at Camp Nou.

Alas, two seasons in, a thigh injury was exacerbated by a knee problem and a player who was nothing but a joy to watch became a peripheral figure as Real – and Barcelona – made a mockery of the La Liga betting by failing to win a title for four consecutive years.

3) David Beckham 

Beckham’s blockbuster move in 2003 was pitched as the ultimate Galactico signing but the midfielder surprised many in Madrid with his application and ability, proving himself anew as a superstar on the pitch first and foremost.

It no doubt helped to be surrounded by a glittering array of magnificent talent, from the original Ronaldo to Figo; from Zinedine Zidane to Raul, but despite all of these modern-day legends all the free-kick maestro had to show after four years in Madrid was a single league title.

Regularly falling short in Europe too, Beckham’s adventures overseas pale to his trophy-laden era at Manchester United, when the Reds ruled the Premier League odds on an annual basis. 

2) Steve McManaman 

Displaying versatility, perseverance and a good dose of flair, ‘Macca’ quickly ingratiated himself to the Madrid faithful, scoring a spectacular volley in a Champions League final to cap an impressive first season. 

Another Champions League triumph followed two years later and along with two league titles, a Supercopa de España, and an Intercontinental Cup it was unquestionably a bountiful period for both club and player.

The perseverance manifested itself early into his tenure, when the club bafflingly decided to move him on. McManaman refused, doubled down on his efforts, and emphatically won over his doubters.

1) Gareth Bale 

Madridistas may not like it, that a player who supposedly put his country and golf ahead of Los Blancos in his affections is the greatest British player to adorn their shirt. But it is incontestable. 

How can it not be, when Bale scored in three Champions League finals, his first against Liverpool in 2018 the kind of acrobatic volley usually seen in comics, not actual real life. 

All told, the Welsh phenomenon bagged 81 goals, and won so much silverware the club presumably had to double their order for polish across nine highly successful years.

 

James Maddison conjured up 19 goal involvements from 30 Premier League starts last term. He averaged 2.3 key passes per 90 and 1.5 successful dribbles per 90.

All told, in what wasn’t even a vintage campaign for the 26-year-old baller, he was lively and inventive, always looking to make something happen, but he was also highly productive, putting in the hard yards by tracking back. Putting in the kind of tackles some of his ilk shy from. 

He was unquestionably one of the stand-out performers in the top-flight.

Focusing just on his stats above however, these are numbers that greatly impress, a return made all the more noteworthy because they were accumulated in a team that was otherwise moribund and woeful, eventually defying the Premier League betting by succumbing to relegation against all expectation. 

Just imagine what he could do therefore in a high-flying, confident, and well-organised side.

We don’t have to, because a year earlier that was Leicester City, finishing comfortably inside the top ten and extending on a successful period under Brendon Rodgers that saw the Foxes lift the FA Cup and routinely challenge for the top four. 

In the season before last, Maddison scored 12 times and out-assisted Son Heung-min and Bruno Fernandes.

He is then, by any reasonable definition, an excellent purchase for Tottenham, the London club capitalising on Leicester’s demotion and signing the attacking midfielder for £40m last week. 

Yet, it goes even deeper than that when proclaiming the move as one of the shrewdest of the summer.

Last season, Spurs were almost entirely dependant on Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min for creativity and moments of magic and each player could only provide it in fits and starts. 

Elsewhere, they were a predictable and functional side that fittingly prioritised functionality in their central area, turning to Hojbjerg and Bentacur to craft a clever pass and occasionally thread a throughball but little more besides.

🔥 “Whether you sign, or whether you don’t, you will see a very different #THFC”

❤️ “[Maddison is] just the type of player Tottenham fans fall in love with!”

👀 Sam Matterface reveals why James Maddison joined Postecoglou’s Spurs project

📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/T5G5qaERsF pic.twitter.com/ZvMqxbrGmc

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 5, 2023

This meant Harry Kane was too often starved of service beyond crosses, which makes his 30-goal haul all the more remarkable.

It’s no coincidence incidentally that Tottenham scored more headers than any other side last term, a strategy that is beneficial but ultimately limited. 

Maddison will change all that, offering his new side far greater scope when breaking down stubborn defences while giving Kane a wider selection of meats on which to feast on.

It is very likely too that Son and Kulusevski will thrive by having a fellow creative to bounce off, instead of making do with five-yard parallel passes played to feet.

And all this will place amidst a revamped 4-3-3 attacking set-up overseen by incoming gaffer Ange Postecoglou, a manager who favours fluidity and actively encourages adventure. 

Not for nothing has Tottenham’s Premier League top four odds improved of late, pertinently after securing the Australian in the dug-out and England international to bewitch top-flight back-lines.  

Spurs haven’t possessed a player of Maddison’s type since Christian Eriksen, or more accurately they have but have been guilty of under-utilising them or seen them fail. Neither will apply to one of the best buys of this window and beyond.

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Whether you’re apathetic about pre-season friendlies or welcome them with open arms because you’ve missed club football so much over the summer, the cliches that accompany them make July kickabouts distinct from the rest of the footballing calendar. 

Long may four of them persist. (Although the other one can get in the bin).

A Trialist 

Is his name Adam? Perhaps it’s Alex or Adrian?

Whoever he is, A. Trialist has been a prolific goal-scorer in friendlies for several decades now, a model of consistency that would surely see him smash the Premier League odds for the Golden Boot were he ever to secure a well-earned move to the top-flight.

Instead, alas, he remains under-appreciated, notching regularly for Cowdenbeath and Barnet, Wealdstone and Dumbarton, across the summer before fading into obscurity for the remainder of the year.  

All jokes aside, it is sad to see fewer clubs using this generic moniker these days, in their programme notes or online, better informed as they are regarding the away team’s striker, thrown into action at the last minute to see how he fares. 

Youth Player Destined To Disappoint 

We all like to secretly believe we’d be great scouts, that a lifetime of watching the game has made us experts on body shape and decision-making.

Should the next-big-thing pass our gaze as our team hones their fitness against Oldham, we’d identify their budding greatness in a heartbeat.

Only then our team does indeed play Oldham, and a promising youth player is duly rewarded with some minutes, and we hopelessly get it wrong. 

The way he moves without the ball impresses. His composure on the ball brings to mind Franz Beckenbauer. The kid’s got it, you think. You’re sure of it.

He is never heard of again. 

Deluded Optimism 

Each and every summer we fall for it, a three-cup scam that wouldn’t fool a five year old. 

First there is a six-goal pasting of inferior opposition who admittedly reside three leagues below your side but they did have arch-poacher Adam Trialist up front. Better yet, your woeful forward, who couldn’t hit a barn door last season, bagged a brace.

Then there is a comfortable beating of a side higher up the food chain, let’s say a Reading, or even a Stoke.

Lastly, as the endorphins kick in and feel-good vibes abound, your team successfully navigate foreign adversaries. Seville are ruthlessly put to the sword. 

That’s it, you confidently attest, your team is going to win every trophy going in the coming campaign.

Indeed, you’re so certain of this that you’re genuinely confused to see them priced so generously to pip Manchester City to the title. Did the betting firms not see how the Royals were ran so ragged? 

For the rest of the year we suffer mercilessly. We deserve this brief oasis of utter delusion.  

From Southport To San Jose 

If delusions of grandeur is a cliché that will play on repeat every July, regrettably there is another that has fallen out of favour, that of travelling to a smaller, local side in order to boost their coffers.

It used to be lovely, heading to Accrington or Bromley, enjoying their industrial-strength cups of tea, and watching your Premier League superstars – with naturally a good sprinkling of youth players – take on a more robust brand of football.

Now those same superstars are whisked across to the US or Asia, all to break new markets and extend the club’s marketing reach. 

Football, literally and figuratively, is all the poorer for it. 

Over-Sized Trophies

If pretend summer tournaments played overseas annoy, at least there is comedy value in the ludicrously pretentious trophies that are handed out for beating Bayern reserves, then eking past Ajax on pens.

Seeing Harry Kane so overjoyed at finally winning some silverware with Spurs in 2019 was a particular highlight, the success-starved goal-ace holding aloft an enormous trinket in Germany. 

We assume a replica of the prestigious Audi Cup still has pride of place in the Tottenham trophy cabinet.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

In September 2020, it was revealed that two ‘extremely well-known individuals of high net worth’ were seriously interested in purchasing Wrexham football club.

When it was soon after announced who those individuals were, it sent social media into the mother of all meltdowns. 

People were highly sceptical, believing the news to be some sort of elaborate hoax. Others took it at face value but hopelessly struggled to make sense of it.

After all, why on earth would Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds, and the creator and star of the cult comedy show It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Rob McElhenney be interested in a fifth-tier Welsh outfit that was steeped in history but that aside had very little going for it?

These same doubts were shared by the Wrexham Supporters’ Trust, a group that had taken on governance of the club after previous owners had taken it to the brink of extinction, and they took some persuading that Reynolds and McElhenney’s intentions were sincere. 

Once they were convinced however, the wheels turned quickly, which meant that in November 2020, RR McReynolds LLC bought Wrexham lock, stock and barrel for £2m. And one of the strangest stories in world football for many a year had officially begun. 

Ever since, the Dragons have roared on the pitch, fired up by heavy investment, or at least heavy investment by non-league standards.

Last May, Wrexham gained promotion for the National League and propelled by momentum, ambition and money what’s the betting they will be featuring in our Premier League odds in the not-too-distant future? 

Off the pitch meanwhile, Reynolds and McElhenney have been praised for the extensive community work they have cultivated, additionally donating to local charitable causes from their own pockets.

And it does not diminish their generosity one iota to point out that their pockets are deep indeed, with McElhenney reputedly worth in the region of $50m. 

Having grown It’s Always Sunny into an immensely popular, bankable success from very humble beginnings, he is also the co-founder of a flourishing entertainment/tech company named Adim. 

His considerable fortune though is a drop in the ocean compared to his business partner and friend Reynolds.

“I had TV money,” McElhenney has said, on approaching the Deadpool star and suggesting they buy a football club together. “But I needed movie money.”

Having appeared in a wealth of hit films – and been well renumerated for doing so – Reynolds also sold his ownership stake in Aviation Gin three years ago for a whopping $650m. 

All of which means the pair can comfortably afford to bankroll Wrexham all the way to the highest echelons of the game but of course, given the nature of the sport, this isn’t even necessary.

In their first season as owners, every move and utterance they made was filmed for a Disney+ documentary entitled Welcome To Wrexham. It’s said to have earnt the club upwards of £4m. 

Reynolds and McElhenney’s star power meanwhile has ensured that a lower-league side are sponsored by TikTok while other lucrative commercial partnerships abound, including a link-up with Expedia. 

Back in 2020, with the world in lockdown, a television star replied to a flattering DM sent by a film star with an unusual offer. Where the story takes us next is anyone’s guess.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

There is no questioning Mauricio Pochettino and his managerial credentials at the highest level. That is not what is up for debate here.  

At Espanyol and Southampton his high-pressing mandate, using a preferred 4-2-3-1 system, took both sides from lowly positions to the higher echelons of their respective leagues. 

At Tottenham he created a high-achieving team with a clear identity that went all the way to a Champions League final.

Nearly four years after departing North London, Spurs supporters still yearn for the tactical shrewdness he implemented and the sense of togetherness he fostered. They still miss Poch-ball.

The Argentine’s subsequent stint at PSG may have been hit and miss but greater men have struggled in Paris and lesser men have succeeded. It’s that kind of club. 

The likeable 51-year-old therefore can hold his head high when he is officially announced as the new Chelsea boss on July 1st after taking a year-long sabbatical. He is a catch, for any club, unquestionably so. 

Where doubts emerge however is when we move past that initial line of enquiry and wonder if Pochettino and the Blues are compatible with one another. That’s where things get potentially complicated. That’s where the uncertainties lie.

Which, to be clear, is not a poor reflection on the coach, nor perhaps on the club either, because, as we’ve seen from Pochettino’s predecessor Graham Potter, sometimes a manager proves to be an ill-fit - especially when you have some of the loudest fans in the Premier League on your case.

And even if blame can attributed to various quarters when this occurs, ultimately that is what it comes down to.

One detail that leads us to believe this may possibly happen again at Stamford Bridge lies in Pochettino’s approach in instilling his methods, then from that point forward trusting his players to find solutions when problems arise.

That’s a definite warning flag given the player power that notoriously holds sway in West London despite the fact that Chelsea's boss, no matter who it is, is usually one of the highest paid football managers in the sport. 

On the occasions this has previously come to the fore at Chelsea – most recently when the players quickly lost faith in Potter – it has typically led to terrible returns on the pitch. In short, this is not a side that can successfully self-govern. 

This leads us in a roundabout fashion to work-rate, or rather the lack of it that has been in evidence at the Bridge in recent times.

Last season only Crystal Palace put in fewer miles and this sharply contrasts with Pochettino’s methods, that demand high-intensity in all moments.

Lastly, by his own admission, the Argentine tends to struggle with superstar egos, something that was most prevalent at PSG. As has already been alluded to, the Chelsea dressing room is not exactly short of self-regard.

Yet, if these three aspects are a concern, there are potential positives too.

A huge overhaul of personnel across the summer represents a genuine fresh start for the club, with big names leaving, and exciting new signings on their way. 

One such player in the latter camp is Christopher Nkunku, a striker who has fired 36 in his last two campaigns in the Bundesliga, and it bodes extremely well that Pochettino has a proven track record in getting the very best out of hungry centre-forwards.

Kane and Son at Tottenham are two highly pertinent cases, as too is Jay Rodriguez enjoying a stellar campaign under Poch, arguably one of the best Premier League managers, at Southampton. 

There is also the more abstract consideration of Chelsea starting from such a low base of expectation.

Having endured such a horrendous season last time out, that had their Premier League odds pricing them more likely to drop than secure a top four spot, it is highly conceivable that mere improvement will be deemed sufficient in the short-term.

Subsequently, Pochettino will be given time to build his new project in necessary increments. 

Whether Chelsea’s new gaffer is featuring prominently in the next Premier League manager to leave market come September or proves himself a success at the Bridge only time will tell.

At this juncture, all we know for sure is that Mauricio Pochettino is an excellent coach and he is inheriting a squad packed with talent. 

Should these two truths synch up, the future is bright for the Blues. If not, don’t rule out recent history repeating.

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Arsenal’s title odds in the Premier League betting last season told us in fractions what we all knew in our hearts.

That despite maintaining a healthy lead at the summit for most of 2022/23 it was always going to require a Herculean effort to hold off one of the richest clubs in the world in Manchester City. That it was the Blues who had the wherewithal and the know-how to ultimately prevail.

This was reflected in the odds that only had the Gunners priced as out-and-out favourites when they extended their advantage to a significant margin, elsewhere sharing top billing in the betting with a City side who had to persistently play catch-up from the end of August to the end of April.

This seemingly counter-intuitive trend reached its apex when Mikel Arteta’s men drew away at West Ham on April 16th, 24 hours after City had defeated Leicester at the Etihad.

Though Arsenal still boasted a four point lead at the top, it was their northern adversaries who were given the shorter odds in the football betting. That’s where the smart money was going.

Was this because the Gunners had begun to drop points while City continued to relentlessly rack up wins on a weekly basis?

Momentum is a huge factor when determining the eventual destination of the Premier League trophy so of course this informed a narrative that had City strongly backed to succeed and Arsenal tipped to fail, long before that transpired. 

Yet, results solely on their own merits do not wholly explain why the Gunners fell short, and as pertinently, why almost everyone expected them to.

Beyond the draws late into their season, and a defining loss at the Etihad with six games remaining, there was an additional two reasons why Arsenal were constantly cast as the underdogs.

And you can’t help but feel that Arteta will be pondering these two aspects a lot this summer. The first of which is that Arsenal played with far too much emotional baggage in 2022/23.

Gooners may bristle at such a suggestion but it’s true nonetheless, and this played itself out on multiple occasions last term, exemplified by group huddles and players rousing up the home crowd.

Arsenal were on a cause, it was an adventure, and we’ve seen this high-spirited approach propel a club to great heights and great performances, only to eventually be their undoing before in the Premier League, namely with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool in 2014. 

Back then, cooler heads would have had the Reds make sure of the points at Crystal Palace in that famous and crucial 3-3 draw, but emotional drove them forward, looking to improve their goal difference. It was this valiant quest that proved so costly. 

In Arsenal’s case, their fervent investment in every match saw them streak ahead of the rest, accumulating an impressive 73 points from a possible 90 by mid-April, averaging 2.5 goals per 90 in the process. 

But when the games became must-win and the pressure mounted, that emotion became a negative, making each contest a draining cup final. Everything became heightened and worse yet, at a juncture of the season when the players were naturally jaded

Compare and contrast, that high emotion with City’s approach at the tail-end of the title race.

A switch was clicked, the fabulous football ceased and they became a clinical, uber-professional machine. All that mattered was securing the three points, the rest becoming background noise.

Can Arsenal, well fancied in Premier League betting tips, adopt this more detached process going into next season? It doesn’t bode well that their most highly-strung individual happens to inhabit their technical area. 

The second reason for their runner-up status is also of a psychological nature, extraneous to the actual football and it concerns a winning mentality. 

Again, Gooners will bristle at the notion that their team ‘choked’ last term but again it is undeniably true. How can 2.4 PPG in the first three-quarters of their campaign dwindling to 1.3 in their last quarter be viewed as anything else?

Here, some sympathy is deserving of a young side not used to navigating the extremities of a title fight whereas City are old hands at doing so, successfully fending off two ferocious challenges from Liverpool in recent years.

The Blues are hardened by their previous battles. Streetwise. They knew they could and would prevail while Arsenal merely believed it was possible. That’s a huge and seismic difference.

In this particular regard, there are positives to take from last season into the next. Because Saka, Martinelli and company will have learned so much from coming close but far. Perhaps it might amount to an immensely painful, but immeasurably constructive, education.

This summer, the Gunners and City – along with the rest of the chasing pack, naturally – will be seeking to strengthen their squads in order to go again, and inevitably a great deal of emphasise will be placed on these signings in order to ascertain who are in the best possible shape.

From Arsenal’s perspective, however, don’t downplay the importance of changing their outlook and sharpening their belief. It may bring them glory yet. If not, we'll be seeing the Gallagher brothers and other famous Man City fans celebrating yet again.

Charlie Adam details what Scotland need to do to be Berlin bound and thinks he knows how Jurgen Klopp can solve the Trent Alexander-Arnold position puzzle.

Former Scotland international Charlie Adam talks all things Tartan Army, Liverpool, Stoke and Blackpool as he outlines why it’s all changed for the table-topping Scots - and he enters the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield debate.

Scotland Flying High Right Now

What did you make of Scotland’s game against Georgia and their qualifying campaign so far?

"It was such difficult circumstance just to get the game played but the team stayed focused and resilient. There’s a feel good factor now, especially after Norway. Scotland just wanted to get this game on.

"In the grand scheme of things, we would have taken four points from these six but to win both? It’s been another brilliant camp for Steve and the team. Now it puts us in a fantastic position.

"It would take an almighty fall for things to collapse from here but they need to stay focused. If we win five in a row you’re nearly there. It would be brilliant to get to Germany."

Can you believe they’re sitting top of the group with a 100% record? And ahead of Spain?

"Scotland fans can believe it, because of what’s been going on there. It’s three defeats in 19 games now.

"There’s an expectation at the moment - normally a draw is a good point in Norway, but that mentality has gone now and you think you can win there. We were overlooking what we had. Steve has got a good group and it’s great to see."

What would it mean for the country for Scotland to reach a second consecutive Euros tournament? Especially after missing out on the World Cup?

"They would be delighted. There would be huge numbers going. The last one was during the pandemic remember, so the numbers weren’t what you would expect.

"If we get to Germany there would be a lot of Scots heading over! Once you get to a tournament once, you need to keep getting there."

Is this the strongest Scotland squad since the 1990s?

"I believe so. All over there is quality. This is the best group for a long time. There is a strong core.

"The more English Premier League players we have, the better - we’ve got lads in the Championship, but the Premier League quality you can see - and it will only help."

Are you backing Scotland to qualify for the Euros? And automatically?

"You have to. We maybe need five points but you expect Spain to win every game. But we’re in a great position.

"Now it’s about momentum and building towards September. You just hope they’ll be in the same form when they get back as when they left."

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Lyndon Dykes Would Be Perfect Signing For Rangers Title Challenge

How did you assess Michael Beale’s first season in charge of Rangers?

"His record by the end of the season was brilliant. He didn’t lose many. I like what he has done so far, he has got his business done early.

"He is trying to build something else, you have to be ready and active in the market. That Celtic team have been relentless for two years, but he has to build his own squad.

"It will be fascinating - but Celtic have made a big statement getting Brendan Rodgers back. He’s a top class manager, but it will be a brilliant season and both will go at it."

Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos have left but who should the club look to bring in to replace them?

"They need a number 9 and they need pace in the right areas, the wide areas. On Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, I see people asking why the club let them run their contracts down but it works both ways.

"If they’re not really in for it, then what can you do? Players sometimes want to leave and you’ve got to move on - Rangers will go in a different direction and they’ll get some hungry players who will be fresh and will want to step up. Next year will be very difficult. 

"Michael will be linked with so many players. Lyndon Dykes is one of them, I think they would like to look at him, he knows Scottish football and is a good age. The scouting department will look at all avenues."

Where do Rangers need to improve to try and make up the difference between themselves and Celtic next season? What do you make of the return of Brendan Rodgers to the club? 

"It sets the standard of what they’re bringing in. Ange has left, he did an incredible job and couldn’t miss the chance in the Premier League.

"Brendan is a statement, it’s a big appointment but it’s now about what he can do in the market to get them to progress. What can they do in Europe? Can they get to the knock-out stages, something they haven’t really done."

Does he strengthen their title bid for next season? Or are you backing Rangers to win the title?

"I’m obviously in the Rangers camp! I’ll always stick with them. But I hope it is going to be a tight race and one or two more signings for Rangers. The signing of Jack Butland is a big one, and I think what Allan McGregor has done for this club, he can carry that on.

"I think if they can get one or two more in, and seeing who Celtic lose, who knows? It could come down to the matches between them, the Old Firm games."

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Reds To Challenge For Premier League Title?

As a former Liverpool midfielder, what do you make of the signing of Alexis Mac Allister?

"This is a brilliant signing for Liverpool. He’s done really well in the Premier League for a number of years now.

"He’s come to the attention more because of the World Cup but he scored ten goals last year - he’s a good footballer who sees a pass and plays in tight areas.

"It’s great value, great business. There will be more coming in, no doubt."

Does he remind you of a past Liverpool player in terms of style?

"He’s a little bit different in his own right. They can throw him straight in and he will be ready to play - he can handle the pressure, we’ve seen that. They’ve done it early which is so important. He’s going to do well."

Who else would you like to see Liverpool sign? What about the midfield situation? 

"They’re linked with so many! It’s where Jurgen thinks he needs to get better. He has Thiago to come back and there’s players like Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott who are young and could push on, too.

Trent in midfield too, he’s done well for England. Is that an option? They may want one more midfielder.

"Will they look for another number 9? He may go with someone else as well. If it’s not too expensive, he may want to add more. Maybe another centre-back as well."

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in brilliant form for England in a new midfield role – do you see Jurgen Klopp trying him there for Liverpool?

"I think he will look at it. He did at the end of last season and his numbers showed he made a real difference in every match. He made a genuine impact.

"He’s the best passer at the club with his range and if you can get that from a central position then it opens up things for everyone else in a forward area.

"But that means they would have to bring a new right back in. What about Kyle Walker from Manchester City? They could have a look at that and see if it’s possible."

Does the club still need to strengthen their midfield? Who else should they look to sign? Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern?

"And the lad from Juventus as well I’ve heard linked. But these are players who have not been playing.

"You would need to get them up to speed early. Jurgen knows the German market. I still think they’ll look to add more, one or two."

What should be Liverpool’s target for next season? Is it too much of an ask to expect them to challenge for the title again?

"I think they have to say they want to win the title. They have to have the belief. They’ll know by Christmas time if it’s realistic. Manchester City were amazing last season, and so were Arsenal.

"But you have to focus on yourself. They need to start well, keep players fit and get them performing with real momentum. Then they’ll have a great chance of winning the title again."

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A Focus On Adam's Former Clubs

Stoke’s Championship campaign rather petered out towards the end of the season. How did you rate Alex Neil’s first year in charge?

"With Stoke it’s been the constraints of FFP. They have had to juggle, but this is the first time they’ve been able to have a clear run at it.

"Alex has been given the opportunity. There were good signs towards the end of last season, but the way it drifted off is a worry. He’ll look to bring some more players in and they’ll be one of the favourites to be promoted.

"They’re well run and they are in a good position financially. I would expect them to be in and around the play-offs for most of the season, and looking to challenge for the title."

Where do they need to strengthen in order to push themselves on from mid-table? And can they target the play-offs?

"All over the pitch, to be honest. They need defenders, wingers, midfielders, strikers - he may want to bring seven or eight players in, but how do you knit them into a squad with the same goal and same vision?

"If they start well and begin with some positive momentum, then hopefully they can be there at the end."

Another of your old clubs Blackpool will contest in League One again after two seasons in the Championship. Where did it go wrong for them this year?

"Neil leaving was difficult and Michael (Appleton) coming in, recruitment wise, it could have been better. There were also a lot of injuries at bad times.

"They just couldn’t seem to find any kind of momentum. It will hurt but they will want to get back and if they start winning that crowd at Bloomfield Road will get behind them."

What do you make of the re-appointment of Neil Critchley? Can he get them back into the Championship for the second time?

"It’s a safe pair of hands. He has been successful in getting promoted to the Championship before. I think it is a very good decision from the football club to go with him and let him rebuild.

"Hopefully he can stamp his authority on League One and they can go and get promoted again."

Can you see that? What do the club need to do over the summer to ensure they have the strongest season possible next year?

"I think so. They still have a lot of work to do, they need to strengthen - they have only bought one player in at the moment.

"So they need a lot more and a better quality of player will come in under Neil. He will want them to play out from the back and build, so there’s a lot going on. I think they lost 14 players, that’s a huge turn over. The market is open for a while, so take your time. 

"They will expect to be in and around the play-offs and look for promotion but make no mistake, League One is a difficult division to get out of.

"There’s some big clubs still in it. Come the end of the season I would expect them to be in and around it."

A Final Word On Scotland And Scottish Stars

What else has changed within the Scotland camp in the past year?

"There’s a different mindset with this group of players now. It would have been the case of ‘same old Scotland’ if they have lost in Norway but they stuck at it. Now we go for 93 or 94 minutes.

"This run they have been on is brilliant and long may that continue. This is the best group we have had for a long time, with some very good players.

"Are they going to Germany? For me I think it’s done. Steve will be calm, relaxed and not give anything away but we can shout from the rooftops that we’re nearly there.

"This is different from what I have seen in my lifetime. People are buzzing to watch Scotland play now, not dreading it."

Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay are both on fire for the country right now, aren’t they? 

"Scott is a top, top midfielder - he’s got great legs and he has got great energy. Callum is someone who just doesn’t surprise you, year in year out. He gives you 50 good games a season. He is a leader and his record for Celtic is unbelievable. 

"The big thing for Scott is next season. I have seen him linked with Newcastle and others, of course there will be speculation. It’s now about his career and how he moves forward. That means he might have to leave Manchester United in the summer."

What about Kieran Tierney, has he got to move on from Arsenal?

"I actually think this is a different situation. He’s been linked with a number of clubs but unless we know what the real situation is we just don’t know. If he is ready to stay at Arsenal and fight for his place, why would you want to leave?"

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

The Women’s World Cup is the headline event in the summer of 2023.

After the Lionesses enjoyed a glorious Euros campaign last year, the number of fans live betting on the action in Australia and New Zealand is set to be higher than ever before.

Sarina Wiegman leads England into the competition as second favourites behind the USA. Spain, Germany and France are also among the favourites to lift the trophy. 

Before we start looking at match predictions for the World Cup, let’s run through 10 WSL stars set to shine down under… 

Guro Reiten – Norway

Chelsea winger Guro Reiten is part of the Norway squad for the World Cup this summer.

Reiten has 80 caps to her name and is coming into this tournament off the back of an excellent season for the Blues, including another WSL title.

Featuring in an attack-oriented Norway side, Reiten swaps her winger duties from club level to play as one of two playmaking eights for the Norwegians.

Look out for Reiten to create chances aplenty after leading the WSL in assists this season. 

Sam Kerr – Australia 

The only player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues, Sam Kerr is simply one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time.

A four-time WSL winner with Chelsea and winner of numerous individual accolades in the 2022-23 season, Kerr has 63 international goals to her name and scored 29 for the Blues this season.

Australia are bound to be a popular dark horse pick in their home tournament. If they are to go on a deep run, Kerr - one of the highest paid female footballers - is bound to play a major role. 

Yui Hasegawa – Japan 

Excellent in her first season with Manchester City after transferring from West Ham, Yui Hasegawa will be running the show in Japan’s midfield.

With a degree of uncertainty over Japan’s formation, it remains to be seen if Hasegawa will be deployed as a number six or an eight.

An admirer of Andres Iniesta, Hasegawa might only stand at 5’2, but her technical prowess and clever use of her body enables to her to retain the ball even when overmatched physically. 

Frida Maanum – Norway

Like Reiten, Arsenal’s Frida Maanum plays in Norway’s three-man midfield.

Maanum was the WSL Young Player of the Year in 2021-22, and the 23-year-old had an exceptional 2022-23 campaign for the Gunners, finding the net 16 times.

The turnaround for Maanum has been remarkable. Breaking through in midfield and defence, she has even been used as the furthest player forward at times by Arsenal.

At first it was experimental, then injuries to key teammates made Maanum into a goal scorer out of necessity.

Look for a slightly more defensive role with Norway, but don’t be surprised if she chips in with a goal or two this summer. 

Stina Blackstenius – Sweden 

It wasn’t the best season for Stina Blackstenius at Arsenal. Goal droughts punctuated a campaign of ups and downs.

While yet to score for Sweden in 2023, Blackstenius should enjoy freedom at this World Cup, and will be able to drift around the pitch to create space for her teammates.

With two goals in France four years ago and a strike in the 5-0 drubbing of Portugal last summer, Blackstenius has plenty of tournament pedigree. 

Katie McCabe – Republic of Ireland

Named her country’s youngest ever captain in 2015, Katie McCabe leads the Republic of Ireland to their first World Cup this summer.

McCabe has been with Arsenal for over half a decade, winning several trophies, and being named the club’s Player of the Year in 2020-21 and 2022-23.

Effective on either flank in an advanced or wing-back role, keep an eye out for McCabe during the World Cup as Ireland look to defy the odds and make their way out of a group with Australia, Nigeria and Canada. 

Nathalie Björn – Sweden 

Ranked third in the world, Sweden are one of the betting favourites heading into this summer’s World Cup.

Their back line looks relatively settled with Everton defender Nathalie Björn set to play on the right-side of defence alongside Linda Sembrant, Jonna Andersson and former Chelsea centre-back Magdalena Eriksson.

Calm in defence and talented enough to impact the game on the ball, Björn will influence the game at both ends of the pitch this summer. 

Jessie Fleming – Canada 

Since debuting at 15 years old, Jessie Fleming has amassed over a century of caps for Canada. Still only 25, Fleming has appeared in two World Cups and claimed two Olympic medals. 

The Chelsea midfielder will operate alongside Julia Grosso at the base of the Canadian midfield, with the two developing chemistry over the last few years.

Fleming will be shielding the back line at times, but will occasionally have the license to break forward and support the attack.

Twice named Canadian Player of the Year and playing for one of the best women's teams in the world at club level, Fleming will be integral to any success her country have down under. 

Millie Bright – England

With Leah Williamson out, all eyes are on Millie Bright this summer as she returns from an injury lay-off.

Bright continues to rehab individually while the team are practicing, but signs are positive that she will be fit for the opening match, with Sarina Wiegman naming the Chelsea defender as her captain for the World Cup. 

Armed with tournament experience like so many of the England squad, Bright has also enjoyed immense success at club level, winning seven WSL titles with Chelsea. 

Victoria Pelova – Netherlands 

Victoria Pelova looks to be in pole position to start on the right flank for the Netherlands.

Having been involved in multiple major tournaments, including all of the Netherlands’ games at Euro 2022, Pelova could be a difference-maker in Australia and New Zealand.

Already showing glimpses of what she can do since joining Arsenal earlier this year, Pelova is definitely a player to watch for WSL fans.

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To predict what lies in store for Newcastle United and their success-starved, passionate fans in seasons to come it is well worth revisiting Manchester City’s takeover in 2008 and recalling what soon followed.

If not a faithful precursor, there are certainly enough clues for the St James’ Park faithful to be extremely excited. 

Though granted, it should be stated right from the off that the two projects have notable differences, not least the fact that Financial Fair Play exists today and didn’t back then.

This allowed City to embark on a flurry of transfer activity and accelerated spending back in the day, all designed to propel them into the elite at the earliest juncture. 

Such heavy investment in personnel has been denied the newly-minted Magpies, even if £250m spent across three windows is hardly living on the breadline. 

That aside, there is another small but perhaps pertinent deviation in that it took City just shy of three seasons to attain Champions League football following their transformative takeover.

Newcastle got there 12 months quicker, at odds with the football betting that had them pegged for top six at best. 

If that suggests however that the North-East giants are on a sharper trajectory to becoming a major player in English football and beyond it’s worth remembering that investment in projects of this scale takes many forms, and in some Newcastle appear to be lagging. 

Two years into City’s evolution, the Abu Dhabi United Group had already committed to constructing a vast youth development and training complex that on completion became known as the Etihad Campus.

State of the art in every conceivable way and costing £200m, the campus has been a cornerstone of the club’s growth, not only by bringing through the likes of Phil Foden into the first team but also producing a plethora of talented teens who have been sold on for pure profit. 

Newcastle too have prioritised their academy but to date that has manifested in ‘only’ upgrading facilities, along with coaches and recruitment staff.

To defend the club in this regard – or more accurately, in defence of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle’s owners – their predecessor Mike Ashley willingly stripped the academy to its absolute basics.

This strongly hints that returning the club to having a functioning academy was always going to be a necessary, initial step.  

Still, for the club to eventually become a behemoth; and for the club to be self-sustainable in the near-future, it is paramount they build from within. Rumours, therefore, that the owners are looking for suitable land in order to replicate City’s campus, bodes well. 

On the pitch meanwhile, Newcastle’s securement of Champions League football ahead of schedule – courtesy of some excellent orchestration from Eddie Howe, a man previously considered a managerial placeholder – arguably places them at the same point in City’s journey as they were in 2011. 

That season, not only did the Blues gain continental football but they additionally won the FA Cup, their first trophy for 35 years and though Newcastle couldn’t match that feat last term, they came awfully close to doing so. 

In reaching their first domestic final for two decades – losing a touch meekly to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup – there is persuasive evidence that Newcastle might soon be well-acquainted with Wembley, and that silverware is imminent. 

Of course, we all know what came next for Manchester City, winning the Premier League title in unforgettable fashion in 2012, via a last-gasp goal from a world-class finisher they signed for mega-bucks the previous summer.

This takes us back to FFP and how it hinders Newcastle’s spending. They are, on paper, the wealthiest football club on the planet, but have to budget just like everyone else. 

Which unquestionably is a shame and unquestionably too means their progress will be more incremental.

They would simply love to sign the modern incarnation of Sergio Aguero, but they can’t. They would love to furnish Howe with the GDP of a small African nation to strengthen in the forthcoming window, but they cannot.

Instead it will be step by step, but always up, right to the top.

Being linked with Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella is a sign of where Newcastle are now at. They are a serious club, who are a serious proposition to the world’s elite by virtue of their immense potential and the Champions League football they can offer. 

Players know when a club is going in the right direction. And they tend to gravitate towards that club. 

As for trophies, they will surely come. Just like they did at City.

In the next decade, a league title feels as probable as regularly challenging feels inevitable. They will feature prominently in the Premier League betting for years to come.

Likely, Europe will prove to be a tough learning curve, with singular nights of glory leading to evenings of frustration, but who knows, Newcastle may ultimately get there. Their Istanbul could feasibly be shimmering in the far distance, a decade away from realisation. 

As for their increased investment in youth development, who’s the say that the next global superstar doesn’t emerge from the North-East. Only today, reports have come out that the Magpies have signed two highly promising kids from the lower leagues. 

This is an incredibly exciting time to be a Newcastle supporter, with incredibly exciting possibilities within reach. But the best is still the come. At this point, that feels assured.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

This Saturday, fifth-ranked Josh “The Fighting Falmer” Emmett and fast-rising Ilia “El Matador” Topuria meet in the UFC octagon.

The featherweight contenders will square off in Jacksonville, Florida, topping the night’s Ultimate Fighting Championship card.

While days tick down for their match, the moneyline betting odds, at the time of writing, is 5/2 for Emmett and 3/10 for Topuria. According to the handicappers, it gives Tuporia a chance of winning that exceeds 75 percent.

Emmett’s march to this big fight has been a steep one. It began with collegiate wrestling in high school and college.

The Arizona native who grew up in Sacramento, California, postponed his career as a professional MMA fighter in order to finish college, though he never stopped grappling in his bid to become one of the highest paid UFC fighters around.

After putting in time as a member of the elite Team Alpha Male, he became an MMA pro and won nine fights while losing none.

In 2016, Emmett joined UFC. Cutting a striking figure with his shaved head, intense stare and fierce tattoos, he’ll be entering the octagon with a UFC record of 9-3-0.

Emmett is famous for what Fox Sports in Australia characterizes as his “one-punch knockout power that could turn his opponents lights out at any given moment.”

And after a controversial and debilitating defeat at the hands of Jeremy Stephens in 2018, which would have sidelined a lesser man forever, there is no question as to Emmett’s toughness and resiliency.

After enduring potentially illegal elbows to the head, Emmett suffered a concussion and injuries that left him with no feeling in his face. They combined to take him out of action for 13 months.

Once recovering, however, he has not slowed down at all. Earlier this year, he told Fox, “I’m only focused on winning and things that are going to get me to winning the title. I’m not focused on anything else because it is just noise to me.”

He'll get his chance to step toward that title on Saturday and UFC commentators are eagerly anticipating one of the fights of the year.

But Ilia Topuria will do everything imaginable to stop him. Topuria, with his perfect UFC record of 5-0 has had his eye on the prize for a long time.

Born in Germany, he and his family moved to Spain when he was 15. Topuria had already cut his teeth on wrestling. But, right after arriving in Spain, he took up MMA.

Three years later, following his 18th birthday, Topuria turned pro and his journey into the world of UFC betting tips was only just beginning.

He signed with UFC five years after that and fought his first match, without much in the way of advance notice, against Youssef Zalal. Topuria aced the fight by unanimous decision. With that, his elite career was launched.

Over his next four fights, Topuria established himself as a dangerous man. In confronting El Matador, Emmett will need to take special care to protect his mid-section. Topuria, with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt, is notorious for being a punishing body hitter.

Outside of the ring, he is a world-class trash talker. Referring to Emmett, Topuria told ESPN Deportes, “He’ll be proud to share the cage with me for the rest of the night … He’s perfect to be finished in the first round … My only concern is that he shows up on fight night.”

Emmett failing to show up is not among the prop bets on offer, though the match-up may be closer than the handicapping numbers indicate.

According to Betting Insider Journal, Topuria is only a “slight favorite to win,” which might lead the smart money to bet the dog on fight-night this weekend.

Apparently, Stephens agrees, as he gushed enthusiastically about the inner strength of the man he nearly put out of MMA. Likening Emmett to “the Terminator,” he described him as “the toughest guy … I’m most impressed by Josh Emmett. Dude, I’m a fan.”

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