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It is well known that Manchester City are facing an injury crisis of sorts as they prepare to take on Southampton later today. The champions will be determined to pick up three points despite missing a host of players. But rather than use the injuries as an excuse it is just another challenge for City to overcome.
Manchester City enters today’s game without several key players. Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne are all out of today’s match. That’s the nature of football that injuries occur. But how a team overcomes the hurdles that are presented over a season often defines them. It’s a road the world champions know all too well based on their exploits over the past seven seasons.
Speaking during his pre-game press conference Pep Guardiola knows the injury situation facing his squad is far from ideal. But that is the hand City have been dealt as they have a tough of fixtures on the horizon. When asked about City’s injury situation, Guardiola said: “For one game or two games, it’s fine, Now we have a tough period after each game we have four days or three days to Bournemouth [after Tottenham], how difficult and demanding that is. We go to Lisbon after three days and then come back and go to Brighton. With just 14/15 players, of course, I am [concerned].”
The Manchester City manager added that the injury situation is just another challenge for his team to overcome. Rather than dwell on what players he doesn’t have Pep Guardiola reminded everyone that the ideal scenario doesn’t exist in football. He added: “I said last season it would not be easy to win four in a row. This is the challenge. Every season there is difficulty, we had injuries in the past like we had last season unfortunately with Rodri. It is what it is. The perfect scenario never exists in sport.”
How champions overcome adversity often defines them. That rings true for Manchester City. They have faced adversity and the loss of key players on their road to winning 6 of the past 7 Premier League titles and a host of other trophies along the way. If they can overcome the loss of 6 key players over the coming weeks it may be a period looked back upon as a period that laid the foundation for what lies ahead this season. That challenge starts today at home against Southampton. If Manchester City can pick up another three points today they’ll be well placed for the tough fixtures that lie ahead.
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Multiple deals on the horizon as Daniel Levy sharpens Tottenham Hotspur’s knives
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing several lucrative financial deals Tottenham Hotspur are moving swiftly off the pitch, negotiating a series of new sponsorship and commercial deals under the guidance of Daniel Levy and his newly recruited team. But while Spurs tighten their grip on the business side of football, the events of the past week serve as a harsh reminder that commercial growth means little without squad investment, especially as our rivals surge forward in the transfer market. According to Football Insider, Spurs are currently in talks over multiple sponsorship agreements, following the appointment of Altius8, a commercial agency founded by former Manchester United executives. The team, led by ex-United commercial chief Victoria Timpson, has been tasked with maximising Tottenham’s revenue potential, particularly through the stadium and naming rights. Levy’s commercial machine in full swing This comes at a crucial time. Although the club’s total revenue dipped from £549.6m to £528.2m last year due to the absence of European competition, commercial income rose from £227.7m to £255.2m, thanks to new revenue streams around the world-class Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Talks are also ongoing regarding a long-awaited stadium naming rights deal, with chairman Daniel Levy reportedly holding out for a package worth over £20 million per year. This would be a major coup for the club and could open doors to even greater brand partnerships in the coming seasons. The Gibbs-White letdown must be addressed But while Levy sharpens the knives in the boardroom, the collapse of the Morgan Gibbs-White deal has left a sour taste. After believing we had activated a £60 million release clause, with medicals pencilled in and plans already in place, Spurs were blindsided by Nottingham Forest’s legal challenge, and ultimately, the player’s shocking U-turn to sign a new contract until 2028. It’s a painful reminder that all the commercial brilliance in the world counts for little if it doesn’t translate into on-pitch investment. Stadium naming rights and sponsorships may balance the books, but they don’t bring top-four finishes. And right now, our rivals are not just balancing books, they’re strengthening significantly. Arsenal have bolstered their squad early. Manchester United have landed key targets. Even Chelsea are trimming their squad to fund targeted upgrades. Meanwhile, Spurs, despite the early arrival of Mohammed Kudus, have let a marquee midfield signing slip through their fingers.
Aaron Rodgers responds to criticism from Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw
The Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers was an immediately polarizing move that did not sit well with large portions of the fan base. It also did not sit well with one of the team's all-time greatest players, four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw initially referred to the signing of Rodgers as a "joke" and that he should "stay in California and go chew bark" in reference to Rodgers isolating himself in a darkness retreat last year. On Saturday, Rodgers finally had a chance to respond to Bradshaw and did so with a combination of taking the high road, and also trying to make light of it. “I whisper to the gods every single day. I’ve known Terry for a long time, being a part of Fox. Terry’s a legend. He’s an absolute legend. He won four Super Bowls. He’s had a legendary career in the media. But Terry, like a lot of people, doesn’t know me. And so, he’s got an idea of what he thinks about me based on what I’ve done, the documentary, what I’ve said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about. I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level. I feel like if he gave me a chance to get to know him, then we’d have a good friendship." He ended the answer by saying, "So, I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level if he’s open to it. And maybe we can go chew some bark or whatever the hell he’s talking about together.” The Steelers were in a pretty desperate quarterback situation this offseason after completely overhauling the position for a second year in a row. They missed out on the chance to re-sign Justin Fields, let Russell Wilson walk, missed out on every other veteran who changed teams and passed on the opportunity to select a quarterback near the top of a weak quarterback draft class. (They ultimately selected Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round.) The whole Rodgers saga has been quite a soap opera for the Steelers as they waited around for months while he decided on whether or not he wanted to play this season, and if he wanted to play for the Steelers. Add in the fact he has had a tendency to cause some off-field distractions with his comments and weekly "Pat McAfee Show" appearances, as well as the fact he will turn 42 years old this season and hasn't been a top-tier quarterback in three years, and a lot of Steelers fans — and former players — were put off by the idea. The only thing that will matter in the end, however, is how Rodgers plays on the field. He has said all of the right things since joining the team, and his new teammates have all spoken highly of him so far, but it will still come down to results on the field. The Steelers have not won a playoff game in eight years and are facing added pressure each year to end that drought. They are hoping Rodgers has one more good year in him to help them advance in the postseason.
Green Bay Packers 3rd Year Receiver Turning Heads At Training Camp
The Green Bay Packers have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. A big reason for this is their wide receiver room. For the past three seasons, they have relied on rookies and second-year players to carry the load on offense from a pass-catching perspective. However, that has led to some inconsistent play. Last year, drops were a huge issue, especially for former fifth-round pick Dontayvion Wicks. He was able to get open but would drop the ball in key moments. Wicks is determined to change the narrative and is already turning heads in training camp. Green Bay Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks Looking Good Wicks was the star of the 2-minute drill during Friday’s training camp practice. He found a hole in the zone and ran the post route. Quarterback Jordan Love saw him immediately and unloaded a long ball. The former Virginia receiver was all alone and caught a 49-yard touchdown pass to end the drill. This was one of the many great plays Wicks made throughout the practice. He was asked about the play after the practice. “I knew I had the post,” Wicks said. “I had a man on me. I released, ran full speed. I knew X was over the top. So I stemmed out a little bit and broke flat across. It was a runaway, and J-Love gave me the ball and I ran under it, and that was all from there.” This is great news for the Green Bay Packers. Drops can often be attributed to a lack of confidence. They can snowball. Once a player drops one pass, it can snowball into more drops. The same can be said about catches. Once a player gets confidence, it can be hard to stop. If Dontayvion Wicks has gotten his confidence, the league should watch out. No Problems Getting Open Wicks had no problems getting open last year. According to ESPN Analytics, he was open on 84% of his routes, thanks to a quick burst off the snap and his ability to find gaps in the zone. However, getting open doesn’t matter if a player can’t bring in the ball. The Green Bay Packers hope this is the start of a new player in 2025. Matthew Golden has also looked good in training camp, and Jayden Reed has vowed to drop fewer passes as well in 2025. If that trio can haul in passes, this offense could be one of the best in the league. Final Thoughts We always have to be cautious about training camp news. It can sometimes point to what will happen in the season, but not always. However, this seems like a step in the right direction for the Green Bay Packers. If Wicks gains confidence now, that should carry over into the season.
Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
Things have largely gone cold on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front, but that does not mean teams are not thinking of the possibility of that changing. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard noted that the Warriors are being cautious in negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, as he could be possible trade bait if Antetokounmpo is traded by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors are adamant about not giving away Kuminga for less than his full trade value, which is why his situation remains unresolved with August looming. Kuminga and the Warriors have yet to agree on a contract, and it remains unclear when the situation will be resolved. He has a $7.9 million qualifying offer on the table, and signing it would allow him to approve any trade he is involved in. If he signs a multiyear extension, he would not be eligible to be traded until January, which could complicate things if Antetokounmpo decides late in the offseason that he wants a move. Presumably, Kuminga would be a key part of any trade the Warriors make involving Antetokounmpo. However, with no market materializing, there seems to be a growing chance he could remain with the team next season. The former No. 7 overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game last season. He appeared in 47 games, making 10 starts and averaging 24.3 minutes per game. However, he has been unable to consistently lock down a major spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, which reportedly led to some tension between the two last season. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still seems unlikely to be traded, but teams are still going to prepare for the possibility.
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