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Sweden have Uniqlo who apparently have made very poor clothes that are very hot and don't breathe properly. But Puma who sponsors Armand Duplantis (pole jump) have bought the rights to the Swedish athletics team as they want to see their athlete win in the Puma kit. Apparently they've paid quite a lot of money for the privilege. Edit: Apparently it's the Puma kits that are too hot and the long distance athletes are complaining about.

Going round that course with your tyres covered with mud must be terrifying. Shame Jenny Rissveds is having a poor day and wont defend her gold from Rio but still great that shes back after everything she's been through Edit: Apparently she's had a flat tyre and have had to stop and change it which probably made her day even worse.

Appears the storm is closing in on Tokyo. Weather looks awful and the start women triathlon has been delayed due to poor visibility, winds and rain making the swimming unsafe.

This is a player who was ranked 13th out of all players in the Bundesliga on average score last season on both Sofascore and Whoscored. Sites like that and scores like that are arbitrary and not to be taken too seriously but it's still an indication that he had a very good season indeed last year.

Nah not really. Sure he could do a job when we are defending a lead late and want to hit teams on the counter due to his pace but he is a wide player.

I can see it but we disagree on the main cause of why it's happening. We see football in a fundamentally different way in every aspect of the game. Of course a specialized DCM would improve us in some aspects, but unless we get someone very, very good it is likely we would lose something in other aspects. And those players are likely not interested to come here yet or even financially possible yet. Mentioned tons of times that I'd liked us to get Soumaré, Kamara or Tchouameni for example, but these guys are still young and would need time.

Well both Grealish and Buendia can play through the middle and if we continue with the same formation we did last season and either of them is central that means that the 3rd spot in the team is currently held by either Traore or El Ghazi and I would certainly want an upgrade on that. And since we have been comparing to the top clubs and the players they have Man C currently has Sterling, Foden, de Bruine, Silva, Torres and Mahrez who can play in the wide roles. And they are linked to Grealish and have signed 2 young South American wingers in Sarimento and Kayky. Obviously they and the other top teams play much more games a season than we do. Obviously we also have other holes in the squad to fill. That the media and twitter are mostly focusing of attacking targets doesn't mean the club isn't also working on other areas.

Southgate who played with Rice and Phillips but still could not control the midfield?

I know, and that's why I was so happy when we got Shakespeare in as I think he made a huge positive impact. I want all out coaches to make as much positive influence for the players as possible and have key strengths and areas to be able to do so. And perhaps Jedi has this. But he would be replacing a at least somewhat experienced coach in Terry so there would be a loss of experience and knowledge and I don't want that. Maybe we can add Jedi and another more experienced or specialized coach.

I would certainly hope so. If not then there is another £100k/w

We paid £11m in loan fees for Barkley

Maybe Lange likes Az?

England has 7 spots in Europe that can become 8 (possibly 9?) depending on cup wins in Europe and domestic. We can absolutely finish 8th or 9th if we get it right so Europe is not impossible with a few additions. I would love for this to happen even if it's just this new Conference League. But I have a feeling some are expecting even more than this.

I think we are a couple more seasons of investing and development away from pushing for 5th-6th, even if we bring in a DCM & ACM/wide player. "Only" 10 points away from 6th last season but I expect Arsenal and Spurs to have less terrible seasons this year. Could change depending on Kane leaving of course.

Well here's hoping Smith and our staff of sport scientists and coaches identify this crippling flaw and puts an end to this deep laying "playmaker malarkey"

Not yet, but there is one coming tomorrow so maybe then.

It's more about where on the pitch are you aiming to win back the ball. Most of the best teams in the world aim to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible. Often with the help of their attackers and attacking midfielders rather than with a DCM or their CB's. Obviously they also have very good players in central midfield of course. Now we are no where close to being one of the best teams in the world so it doesn't 100% apply to us but I think that is the aim with how Smith want's to play too. Have the ball more under control and higher up the pitch, and when you lose the ball try and win it back as soon as possible rather than to drop back and soak up pressure. And as for pushing for Europe this season I think it would need us to bring in both a very good CM, a very good ACM or winger along with a CB and a back up striker. Too much to be done in one window. And this would still require some of the teams above us to screw up even more than they did last season. We can absolutely compete with Leeds, and both Wet Spam and Everton are catchable. But I don't think we should expect to just waltz past Spurs or Arsenal.

Inter should always have Pirelli as sponsors, it just looks right.

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Was M'bappé's second game back after having been out 2 weeks with Covid and having been injured before that. But still a impressive performance by Tuanzebe.

https://punditarena.com/football/robredmond/phil-jones-testimonial-manchester-united/ Social media is grim.

Gotta feel sorry for Phil Jones, had his confidence shattered to the point he even declined a testimonial game at Man U as he felt no one would be interested anyway. With that said this is why I would not want him here. He's a shadow of the player he could have been.

Lots of clubs and brands going for the black&gold / gold&black this season. Port Vale, Charlton, Utrecht and of course Pumas who always has it

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/26/tunisia-police-storm-al-jazeera-office-in-tunis