Former England manager Marcus Rashford has attracted criticism from fans after suggesting the striker won't play beyond 30. The 21-year-old has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances to fire Manchester United back into the fight for a top-four finish but Allardyce has concerns over his future. Speaking to TalkSport, the ex-Everton and West Ham boss predicted that Rashford's career would be cut short and the comments quickly picked up traction on social media, where a number of fans were critical. “[It will] probably be very difficult [for Rashford] to get to 30 because of the demands physically and mentally and the fatigue that he will suffer. He will have three weeks a year off, that’s it. "He’ll play all over the world because there’s no pre-season anymore, he’ll be playing straight away across these tournaments." Fans didn't hold back in their reaction to Big Sam's comments ... … [Read more...] about Sam Allardyce hammered by fans over Marcus Rashford comments
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Di Maio comments part of EU election debate
(see related) (ANSA) - Rome, January 22 - Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said Tuesday that controversial comments by Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio about France's policies towards Africa were part of the new political reality in the EU. "We are used to hard-hitting debate within States, less so on the European level," said Moavero Milanesi. … [Read more...] about Di Maio comments part of EU election debate
Picardo takes German MEP to task over Gibraltar comments
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo yesterday wrote to German MEP Manfred Weber, the chairman of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, asking him to clarify comments he made at the weekend during a speech to the Partido Popular party conference in Madrid. Mr Weber was quoted in the Spanish press as saying that, ‘the problem of Gibraltar is also a European problem and “we are with Spain.” In his letter, the Chief Minister asked Mr Weber to confirm that these quotes were correctly attributed and, if so, to whom the word ‘we’ referred. In firm terms, Mr Picardo said: “There is no ‘Gibraltar problem’.” “The only problem seems to be that Spanish politicians do not accept that the people of Gibraltar have repeatedly chosen in free and fair referenda to remain British,” he went on. “By saying the EPP ‘sides with Spain,’ Mr Weber seems to be saying that Gibraltarians should not be consulted … [Read more...] about Picardo takes German MEP to task over Gibraltar comments
‘I wish I could have been more like him’: BBC 5Live commentator Alan Green recalls friendship with Jimmy Armfield
“It seems just like yesterday”, recalls an emotional Alan Green, the legendary football commentator. READ MORE: How much would Blackpool legend Jimmy Armfield be worth in today's transfer market? That wasn’t like Jimmy.Green, who had worked alongside Armfield in football commentary for more than 30 years, knew instantly that something wasn’t quite right.“It was weird because, I’m not saying I expected it, but I knew there was something wrong because I had been trying to arrange to go up to see Jimmy,” Green told The Gazette.“A couple of times he sort of put me off, saying things like ‘I’ve got a bad cold, I don’t want to give it to you’, that type of thing.“I just felt it was odd, but on reflection it was probably knowing that I would be looking at Jimmy thinking ‘goodness, my dear friend, you’re not looking good’.“I think he was trying to avoid that and trying to make sure I … [Read more...] about ‘I wish I could have been more like him’: BBC 5Live commentator Alan Green recalls friendship with Jimmy Armfield
France summons Italian ambassador over deputy PM’s Africa comments
France summoned Italian ambassador Teresa Castaldo on Monday following comments made by Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio over the weekend, in which he accused France of manipulating African countries and exacerbating the migration crisis. Speaking in Italy's Abruzzo region, Di Maio said he believed France would drop in the rankings of the world's largest economies had it not been for "what it is doing in Africa." “If we have people who are leaving Africa now it’s because some European countries, and France in particular, have never stopped colonising Africa,” he said. "If France didn’t have its African colonies, because that’s what they should be called, it would be the 15th largest world economy. Instead it’s among the first, exactly because of what it is doing in Africa." The incendiary comments marked the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries, following last year's quarrel over migration, and, specifically the Aquarius … [Read more...] about France summons Italian ambassador over deputy PM’s Africa comments