davieG

If it's Ipswich it could be a 'who sits at the top' after it. so likely to sell quickly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/67295892 By David LockwoodEditorial Sustainability Lead, BBC Sport Last updated on2 November 20232 November 2023.From the sectionSport Tyson Fury's fight against Francis Ngannou last Saturday took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia New research claims to show the extent and scale of Saudi Arabian state investment and involvement in sport for the first time. The report published by Play the Game - run by the Danish Institute for Sport Studies, which is funded by the country's government - found 312 sponsorship deals across 21 sports, as well as multi-sport events. Play the Game's data was released days after the gulf kingdom was confirmed as the sole bidder for the 2034 World Cup. The research details how football is the main focus with 83 of the 312 deals - motorsport, with 34 deals, and golf, with 33, are the two sports with the greatest number of agreements after that. 'Golf truce shows how Saudi money is changing world sport' Saudi 2034 World Cup: Why this decision should not surprise anyone Ros Atkins on… How Saudi Arabia bought into golf The research suggests 139 of the deals are connected directly to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund - the Public Investment Fund (PIF), that estimates its wealth assets at $700bn (£574bn), and which also owns Newcastle United. Both the PIF and Saudi Sports Ministry have been approached for comment. In June, Newcastle confirmed PIF-owned events company Sela as their new shirt sponsor on a multi-year deal, one of a number of Saudi partnerships it now has. This year, PIF also took over four leading Saudi Pro League football clubs. In addition, it owns and finances the LIV Golf series. In October, the country's tourism board Visit Saudi became the main sponsor of the new African Football League, and the official global partner of the Asian Football Confederation. It also has a sponsorship deal with Spain's La Liga. Saudi Arabia's national oil company Aramco, meanwhile, is a major sponsor of Formula 1 and has a global partnership with the International Cricket Council, the sport's world governing body. Play the Game researcher Stanis Elsborg told BBC Sport that the research was based on publicly available information and represents "a minimum" figure. "Saudi Arabia's sports strategy is run by a small group of individuals that hold important positions inside and outside sport at the same time," he said. "We wanted to show that these people engage in world politics on behalf of Saudi Arabia, both as representatives of the sports world but mainly as state representatives of the geo-political interests of Saudi Arabia." Earlier this year, in a US court case, documents published by LIV Golf's lawyers described the PIF as "a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan - the chairman of both Aramco and Newcastle United - as "a sitting minister of the government". Saudi Arabia has been criticised for its human rights violations - 81 men were executed on one day last year - women's rights abuses, the criminalisation of homosexuality, the restriction of free speech and the war in Yemen. The country's international standing was severely damaged by the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist who was a prominent critic of the government. Human rights campaigners say sport is being used by the Saudi government to detract from long-standing reputation issues, a process known as 'sportswashing'. Environmental campaigners have also raised their concerns. Freddie Daley, from environmental campaign group Badvertising, said: "Saudi Arabia's push into sport is a concerted, targeted and strategically astute effort for the country to bolster its standing on the world stage and leverage the soft power of sport." Daley said Saudi Arabia is a "country deeply dependent on fossil fuels" and that its "massive presence within sport" allows it to continue "promoting and normalising high-carbon products to billions of fans". He added: "This research shows how extensively global sport is becoming intertwined with Saudi investment and hosting the World Cup in 2034 is set to be the cherry on top." The Saudi authorities have previously rejected such criticism, insisting that their investments are designed to help sports to grow, modernise the country as part of the ruling crown prince's 'Vision 2030' strategy, diversify the economy away from a reliance on oil, boost tourism, and inspire a youthful population to be more active. Other oil-rich countries such as the United Arab Emirates also have government-owned companies such as Emirates and Mubadala with sponsorship portfolios including European football clubs, stadiums and high-profile sporting events. Analysis - Dan Roan, BBC Sports Editor This research reveals the remarkable level of influence Saudi Arabia has managed to build up in recent years across international sport. And it helps explain just how the country has emerged as the sole bidder for the 2034 World Cup, something that for many would have been unthinkable until relatively recently, given the criticism the country has received for its human rights record. Such sponsorship deals are one plank of a network of investments that also includes the hosting and bankrolling of many events across a range of sports. Just in football alone, Saudi Arabia is due to host the Fifa Club World Cup, the Spanish, Italian and Turkish cup finals, and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Is it any wonder, some will ask, that Fifa appeared to pave the way for Saudi's hosting of the World Cup with a fast-tracked bidding process, and that potential rival Australia felt there was no point in trying? With PIF riches enabling the remarkable spending spree by several Saudi Pro League clubs this summer, and benefiting top players, clubs and agents, especially in Europe, it is easy to see how the country has built up such power in the sport. And why, despite the disruption to the traditional football calendar that another winter World Cup will cause, it is unlikely to encounter much opposition within football as it prepares to host the tournament. The Saudi authorities insist that suggestions the country is trying to take over sport - or stage some kind of 'land grab' - are unfair, and that they are far from the only country to have invested in sponsorship and events in recent years. But the level of ambition and reach of influence seems to be as extensive as anything the world of sport has witnessed in the past.

Then 3 come along at once

Another Great

Leicester City’s Championship clash against Leeds United will be the first game of the season to use a new ‘high visibility’ winter ball, the EFL have confirmed. The new ball will be used throughout the winter, with the policy reintroduced to the EFL for the first time since the 2018/19 season. Over the last few seasons, bright match balls have only been used during low visibility or in extreme weather conditions. But in a change this season, all EFL games will use the Puma Orbita 1 Hi Vis Sky Bet match balls up until mid-February. City’s match against Leeds will be the first to use the new ball with all other EFL games following suit over the weekend.

Do you mean this.

...and sadly the links to our history both on and off the pitch couldn't be more invisible.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/two-new-leicester-city-pairings-8876435 Two new Leicester City pairings show Enzo Maresca's side is constantly evolving Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy shared the pitch for a brief period at the weekend and could be an option in the future as Maresca tries to make them unpredictable ByJordan Blackwell 07:00, 2 NOV 2023 In each of the first 13 games of the Championship season, Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho were never on the pitch at the same time. Enzo Maresca had alternated between the two, sharing the striker role between them. When it got to around the 65-minute mark and it was to freshen up the attack, Maresca brought one on for the other. But, for around four minutes at QPR, they were on the pitch together. During that period, Harry Winks scored City’s winner, and so with a lead to protect, Maresca made more changes and Vardy came off. But that they shared the pitch is a sign of the slight tweaks that the manager is making as they evolve. The plan is to avoid ever becoming so predictable that they can be beaten. Maresca has said that during the last international break, he worked with his side on how to beat a defensive line of five players. Usually, City have one striker, two wingers and two attacking midfielders pushing onto the opposition’s defence. When it’s a four, they outnumber them. When it’s a five, they do not, and finding a gap to break into becomes more difficult. With City chasing a winner at Loftus Road, the tweak was made. After Andre Dozzell’s red card, Ricardo Pereira came on for Hamza Choudhury and played in Cesare Casadei’s position, allowing the Italian to push towards Vardy, essentially playing as a number 10. Now, City had six players attacking QPR’s five defenders, the tactic they worked on a couple of weeks ago. Iheanacho eventually replaced Casadei and for the first time, City’s two main strikers were on the pitch together. It worked instantly, with QPR’s defence pushed back to create more space on the edge of the box from where Winks could fire into the net. Maresca said: “We tried to change a little bit, the shape, with Ricardo inside for Cesare’s position and Cesare in behind the striker just to attack with six players the line of five. We tried it during the international break, how we can attack. The other solution is to play a long ball, but it’s not the way we try to play.” The question now is whether Iheanacho and Vardy will ever start together in matches where Maresca anticipates a team playing with a back from kick-off. It certainly leaves the opposition guessing. There was another intriguing selection at the back. It was expected that Maresca would always be choosing between Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady, and yet they started together. Perhaps because he did not fear that QPR had the pace to hit City on the counter, Maresca chose to bring in Coady for Wout Faes and play him in the wide centre-back role. The summer signing did a solid job. Coady has not had many opportunities since his injury recovery because Vestergaard has performed so well in the central role, but if Maresca feels he can play in Faes’ position, he no longer has to pick between the England and Denmark internationals. Faes is expected to come back into the team against Leeds this Friday, but he will know he cannot rest on his laurels if he has Coady for competition. The manager said: “Conor can play in Jannik’s position and Jannik can play on the right side. Because since we’ve started, Jannik is there, so in this moment, he has managed the build-up quite good, so it was only for that reason.”

I'm mostly cooking for just me, MrsG eats weird concoctions. I've found it very useful for that reason and rarely use the oven but still use the hob and microwave. The 'ovens' on mine aren't dishwasher proof so are hard to clean so I use these and chuck them in the dishwasher.

Who knew, I've never see this before.

Lost Football Grounds and Terraces of the United Kingdom · Join Paul Carr · · This is the 1902 F.A. Cup final-replay between Sheffield United and Southampton, at Crystal Palace. It was the last final to be played with Victorian pitch markings...The six-yard-box, we know today, consisted of two semi-circles. Penalties were taken from anywhere along the solid white 12-yard line. The remaining players had to stand behind the intermittent white line as the kick was taken. Here is Billy Barnes scoring the winning goal, in a 2-1 victory, for Sheffield United (Att: 33,068).

This needs to be standard practice. A Spanish referee has sent the internet into a frenzy after using his vanishing spray in an inventive way. As we all know, the magic spray is used as a temporary marker during free kicks to remind the defenders of where they have to stand and the attacker from where to take the set piece. However on this ocassion, Saúl Ais Reig opted for a different method. While awaiting a VAR decision in a LaLiga Two game, Ais Reig sprayed a barrier in-between himself and the Mirandes and FC Cartagena players, telling them not to encroach it until VAR had made it’s mind up. Having never been seen before, fans were taken aback by what they saw and encouraged for it to become a regular thing. “Give the players a clear line that they’ll get punished for stepping over, and they won’t. This might catch on,” said one fan. “Honestly I love this,” wrote a second. A third added: “Could see this catching on…the players reaction to him going for the spray is funny.” VAR decisions aren’t the only thing that have changed in football. In recent times, we’ve seen officials use white cards and green cards while during the Sidemen Charity Match, YouTuber Max Fosh Uno Reversed a red card he received at the London Stadium.

Shttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-leicester-city-need-achieve-8874547PORT By Jordan Blackwell 11:33, 1 NOV 2023 “We have a big problem: it’s just October,” he had said after the win over QPR on Saturday. “I would like to be in the same position in February, March. “They deserve it. We always judge and analyse the final score. The way they work every day on the ball and off the ball, how they try to learn this new idea, this new journey, they have made an unbelievable effort. They have open minds and they are fantastic. “You can lose a game for many reasons. But for sure you’re going to lose games if you drop the intensity. They know that because we always mention that. If we maintain the intensity, we will win more games than we lose.”

Not crazy although could be. https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-leicester-city-need-achieve-8874547 A closer look at the number of wins City need to reach the average promotion points tally and to beat Reading's record following their breath-taking start to the campaign ByJordan Blackwell 11:33, 1 NOV 2023 Leicester City’s record-breaking start to the Championship campaign means they can afford to drop points in more than half of their remaining fixtures and still reach the average required for promotion. City are one of only two sides in the history of the second tier to win 13 of their opening 14 games, matching Bristol City in 1905-06. It puts them well on course for an immediate return to the Premier League. The battle for promotion is coming into sharper view this week with City hosting fellow hopefuls Leeds on Friday night. Daniel Farke’s side currently sit in third, 14 points off the pace City are setting. Since the Championship rebrand in 2004-05, the average points tally required to finish in the top two stands at 84. City need 15 more wins to hit that mark, and so with 32 games remaining, they could effectively lose 17 fixtures and still get there. If they were to get 17 wins from their 32 games, City would hit 90 points, a total that has guaranteed promotion in every Championship season. Brighton in 2015-16 finished third with 89 points, the highest tally not to earn an automatic ascent to the Premier League. Stoke in 2007-08 and Hull in 2012-13 clinched promotion with 79 points, the lowest tallies to secure a top-two finish. If they keep up their current rate, City would finish with 128 points, which would blow Reading’s record out of the water. The Royals earned 106 points in 2005-06. To surpass that, City would need 23 more wins from their remaining fixtures, meaning they can drop points in nine games. But these are matters for fans and pundits to discuss, rather than City boss Enzo Maresca. He is not thinking about his side’s position in the table until the end of the season is in sight.

Another great.

Story of Leicester · Throwback Thursday and wow what a difference there is between 1968 and today. Looking across what is now Orton Square towards Rutland Street. The Curve will be built on the right and J & R Army and Navy Store would become The Exchange bar. Lovely car in the centre of the image as well, looks like that might have been retro even in 1968! #StoryOfLeicester #Leicester

I'm not excusing poor management rather that the creditors would have been worse off with us going out of business or into administration and that is down to Wise & Hall otherwise we could have eventually recovered and paid people their dues.

If Wise and Hall hadn't sued us we had a plan to survive and would have paid those debts over time, we did not choose to go into administration we were forced too by their actions.

British roadscene 1955-1995 · Join John Pizinas · toenodrsSpeo9f1ir90a 0tlum176a3h3 2u2b88ct2 5:31O0g0ca2ii8u6 · Policeman on duty at Gallowtree Gate, Leicester 25th October 1971

That was the result of of Wise and Hall suing us and forcing us into administration. The other option of liquidation of the club would have led to the demise of LCFC and to even more associated businesses not receiving their due payments and an unfinished stadium that no one would seriously want. The club were between a rock and a hard place and chose survival and not to let Wise and Hall benefit from the outrageous attempt to extort Money from us. I know I said I'm out but a little balance seems to be warranted.

I try to please.👍 Even if it is by accident.😉