2021/22 has been a season to forget for Manchester United. The Red Devils had what, on paper, looked an excellent summer transfer window.
They would sign Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo – all three world-class players with plenty of experience at the highest level.
However, though said signings were expected to help United, who finished 2nd last season, challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the title, that has not come close to transpiring.
A dejected Cristiano Ronaldo during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at American Express Community Stadium. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Instead, the once great Manchester United are on course for their worst-ever finish to a Premier League campaign.
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What is Manchester United’s worst Premier League finish?
Given Sir Alex Ferguson helped United dominate the Premier League from its inception in 1992 to his retirement in 2013, Manchester United have not had that many terrible finishes.
However, since Ferguson left, Manchester United have experienced a massive decline. 2012/13 saw United amass 89 points to clinch the title, but the club have managed to reach the 80-point mark just once since then – in 2017/18 under Jose Mourinho.
Outside of that, United have had two campaigns that ended in them securing 70 or more points, with the remainder all ending in the 60s.
That worst of that bunch came immediately after SAF retired, with David Moyes and then interim boss Ryan Giggs taking the club to a dismal 64 points in 2013/14.
So, given Manchester United are currently only on 58 points and have one game left to play of the current campaign, they are now guaranteed to set a new record for their lowest points total in the Premier League.
The worlds of Patrick Mahomes and Paolo Banchero collided at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday thanks to an all-time snafu by F1 reporter Martin Brundle.
It seems redundant to point out, but things happen incredibly fast at an F1 course. Not only is the very nature of the sport blindingly fast, but the need to process information is heightened thanks to the high octane stakes at play.
Life also comes at you fast during a Formula 1 event, which is something longtime reporter Martin Brundle found out when he did the one thing no one wants to do: Go viral for the wrong thing.
Thankfully this isn’t an old tweets situation, but rather a seasoned pro getting caught in real time being way too far out of his depth.
Here’s the situation. Brundle was mingling with the famous faces in attendance for the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday and came across who he accurately recognized as an athlete. Everything after that couldn’t have gone more poorly if Brundle had tried.
F1 reporter Martin Brundle thought Paolo Banchero was Patrick Mahomes
In one of the toughest looks in recent memory — and a true all-timer — Brundle kept referring to the person he was speaking to as Patrick Mahomes. The only problem was that the man he was speaking to was not Mahomes and was in fact future NBA lottery pick Paolo Banchero, who most recently helped Duke to the Final Four a month ago.
Banchero had some fun with the goof once it started to go viral.
And of course Mahomes weighed in on being mistaken for someone decidedly less famous than he is and categorically a different kind of athlete.
A brief comparison of Patrick Mahomes and Paolo Banchero:
Patrick Mahomes is 6’3″, Paolo Banchero is 6’10”
Mahomes is the face of multiple national ad campaigns, Banchero is not (yet)
Mahomes is one of the most famous athletes on the planet, Banchero is still taking Finals exams
Once more, Mahomes is 6’3″ and Banchero is nearly seven feet tall
Personally, I’d like to thank Brundle for this algorithmic snafu. He managed to combine Patrick Mahomes, Duke basketball, and F1 into one content creation dream come true. So this might actually be a stroke of genius and not at all the blunder it initially appears to be.
Let’s not kill Brundle too much for this, because it’s less a case of a reporter not being good as their job and more a reporter being asked to cover something they’re clearly not familiar with. This isn’t the first time an athlete has been mistaken for another, but it’s certainly the most hilarious example we’ve seen in quite a while.
Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
The 2022 NFL Draft came and went, so let’s predict some things involving the Dallas Cowboys.
Now that the Dallas Cowboys completed a largely forgettable NFL Draft when compared their usual attention-grabbing standards, there are things to predict about “America’s Team” heading into the heart of the NFL offseason.
No, don’t be stupid. Dallas is not getting a second NFL team, no matter how badly their mayor wants one. There are plenty of ways to spend someone else’s money more unproductively. Though the Cowboys have a tendency to overpay their own guys years before hitting free agency, they should have one of the better teams in the NFC. They must get to the NFC title bout or else.
Here are three things that without a bat of an eyelash are going to happen for Dallas this summer.
Dallas Cowboys: 3 bold predictions for offseason after 2022 NFL Draft
3. Jalen Tolbert will do his part in helping Dallas forget all about Amari Cooper
Even if the Cowboys’ 2022 NFL Draft was of the nondescript variety, outside of what former Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith said at the podium about other people’s opinions that had Mike McCarthy in absolute stitches, Dallas did add to its receiver room by taking Jalen Tolbert in the third round out of South Alabama. He will do his part to help Dallas forget about Amari Cooper.
The two-time all-conference performer was utterly magnificent during his final season in Mobile. Tolbert took home Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year last fall. Though he may draw comparisons to Michael Gallup coming out with a ton of promise out of a Group of Five school, he will help the Dallas receiving corps make do without its former overpaid and overrated wideout.
Tolbert will likely be the No. 3 wide receiver for Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb and Gallup in that order. Though Gallup is working his way back from injury, he got paid the big bucks to put up or shut up. With Lamb needing a huge season in year three out of Oklahoma, look for Tolbert to be wide open on several occasions when the Cowboys go with 11 personnel to Dak Prescott’s liking.
Dallas may not have drafted many big names, but Cowboys fans will know all about Tolbert soon.
The fee Barcelona are set to net following their Champions League qualification has been revealed.
Barcelona would secure their spot in the 2022/23 Champions League on Saturday evening. Xavi Hernandez and co. took on Real Betis, looking to put an end to their patchy run of form that included a surprise Europa League exit at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
And, when all was said and done at the Benito Villamarin, that is exactly what Barca managed.
La Blaugrana took the lead in the tie after 76 minutes via Ansu Fati:
Barcelona then pulled one back just three minutes later via Marc Bartra. However, Barcelona were able to snatch a winner at the death via Jordi Alba.
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Barcelona’s Champions League funds
And, as Real Betis are currently 5th in La Liga, a win over them was enough to ensure Barcelona have secured a top-four place with three games left to play.
Given Barcelona were outside of the top-four and there was even some doubt they would secure a Europa League space when Xavi took charge, the former midfielder has done a decent job of getting Barcelona up to 2nd in La Liga.
Now, Mundo Deportivo have revealed how much Barcelona will earn from their Champions League spot.
The Spanish giants are guaranteed to earn just under 50 million euros simply for qualifying for Europe’s most coveted club competition, over 40 million euros more than they would have netted for a Europa League place.
Barcelona are guaranteed to earn €49.75m just for qualifying to the Champions League. Qualifying to the Europa League would have just earned the club €7.85m.
The Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James came back on Saturday night to where he started the weekend … at CARBONE BEACH in Miami Beach, and he partied his ass off!!!
The Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 142-112 on Saturday night and took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. The Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant re-injured his right knee late in the game when Golden State’s Jordan Poole grabbed it as they fought for a loose ball.
“He’s getting evaluated now. Nothing further. We just watched the replay,” Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game, via ESPN. “He was going after a dribble and Jordan Poole actually grabbed his knee and yanked it, which kind of triggered whatever happened, so I’m actually going to be very curious to see what happens after that.”
Mikel Arteta has provided a fresh injury update on Ben White ahead of Arsenal’s next outing.
White has been a staple of the Gunners’ backline throughout 2021/22 and, despite a pretty shaky start to the campaign, hehas been a solid edition for the north Londoners.
However, the Englishman has missed Arsenal’s last several games, including their 2-1 win over Leeds United on Sunday.
Arsenal dominated that match and, despite conceding to Diego Llorente in the second half, were able to see off the Peacocks with relative ease.
And now, speaking after that game, Mikel Arteta has provided an update on White, confirming that the form Brighton stopper is expected to be available for the upcoming north London derby.
“I think so [he’ll be available against Tottenham],” Arteta said. “He’s starting to do a little bit of work on the pitch. We want everyone available.”
Arteta on Ben White’s fitness:
“I think so [he’ll be available against Tottenham]. He’s starting to do a little bit of work on the pitch. We want everyone available.”
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Arsenal vs Tottenham
Arsenal will face Tottenham this coming Thursday in the final north London derby of the season.
It is a huge tie for both teams, with a spot in next season’s Champions League very much on the line.
Arsenal head into the game occupying that coveted 4th spot and, thanks to Spurs’ draw with Liverpool on Saturday, Mikel Arteta and co. now boast a four-point lead over their bitter rivals.
As a result, if Arsenal win on Thursday, they will secure a Champions League place for the first time since 2017.
Golden State Warriors forward Otto Porter Jr. had his best game of the 2022 playoffs last night, as he went for 13 points/4 rebounds/3 assists/2 blocks on 71.4% shooting against the Memphis Grizzlies in a 142-112 Game 3 victory.
Going into the contest, Porter Jr. was only shooting 30.0% from the field so far this postseason, but teammate Klay Thompson knew he would continue to stick with it and eventually find his stroke.
“Yeah, Otto, you can’t leave him open. He’s an incredible shooter and has been his whole career. I knew he was going to have a big night soon because he’s been getting great looks and been sticking with it. What was most impressive to me was his ability to rebound. He got some really great second chance opportunities for us and he’s a great teammate. He’s a true pro. A true testament to our strength in numbers mantra because he might not have had the shots go down the first couple games, but he’s a real pro and just stuck with it.”
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Taking it to the house: This promises to be the best Mother’s Day ever for Luisa Turner. A gift of a lifetime by her son, Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne, makes it so.
Turner will spend the day in her new home in Oregon, which Bourne purchased for his parents just a few weeks ago.
While it is much bigger than their prior two-bedroom, one-bathroom residence — and has everything from a basketball court to a hot tub and sauna — it’s what that space represents that means the most to Mom.
“When I walked in, it just felt like home. I could see my life — my grandchildren here, my kids here,” she said. “It warms my heart that he did this for his family.”
Bourne, who has three siblings, had told his parents, Luisa and Eric, of his dream to buy them a home. He asked them to explore different possibilities and let him know what they found.
That’s when he decided to add a playful twist to it all.
When Luisa told him this was the one, Bourne relayed that he spoke with the realtor and they might not be able to close the deal based on another offer. So he identified a different house for them to consider.
Luisa was appreciative, of course, but the location of the second option wasn’t as preferable because it wasn’t as close to Kendrick’s Oregon residence.
Ultimately, Kendrick brought his parents back to the original house and handed them a floor mat that read “Home Sweet Home.” The house was theirs.
“That’s when I burst out in excitement,” Luisa said. “Since he was a baby, he’s been something else!”
Bourne’s sense of humor, and positive demeanor, have been staples with the Patriots since he signed a three-year contract worth a maximum of $22 million in March of 2021. His hard work as a football player — elevating from undrafted out of Eastern Washington in 2017, to hooking on with the San Francisco 49ers, and then to the Patriots — set the stage for his gift to his parents.
“He’s just a great son — a golden child,” Luisa said. “I tell him that all the time.”
2. O’Brien on hand: Bill Belichick previously said the Patriots’ coaching staff was likely complete, but that doesn’t mean visitors won’t be welcomed at various times — and Belichick’s network is deep. Along those lines, players took note of current Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on the field at Gillette Stadium last week at the voluntary offseason program. O’Brien, of course, has deep roots in New England as a former Belichick assistant.
3. Groh at Shrine Bowl: Eric Galko, the director of football operations and player personnel for the Shrine Bowl, pointed out that the Patriots tied for the NFL high (with the Titans) by drafting four Shrine Bowl players.
The players are receiver Tyquan Thornton (second round), cornerback Jack Jones (fourth round), running back Pierre Strong Jr. (fourth round) and defensive tackle Sam Roberts (sixth round). While it might have been a coincidence, the presence of New England director of personnel Matt Groh throughout Shine Bowl week was notable to Galko.
“He was one of the longest-staying executives, there for at least four days,” he said. “One of the things we added this year was a lot of formal interview time. Most all-star games have 8 to 10 hours of interview time with players, sometimes up until 11 o’clock at night. Not for us. We had 24 hours of available interview time, all structured throughout the day.
“I think for executives like Matt, who were there and took advantage, they probably got a lot of good character and background feedback, for sure.”
4. Jones’ character: Jones, the fourth-round pick from Arizona State who began his career at USC, was arrested for breaking into a restaurant in 2018. A plea agreement reduced the initial felony charges to a second-degree misdemeanor charge of commercial burglary. In 2020, he was also suspended at Arizona State for fighting during practice. Teams had to investigate those issues while scouting Jones. Galko, who says he got to talk with Jones at Arizona State before inviting him to the Shrine Bowl, vouches for him.
“I think a lot of people see the one incident he had as an 18-year-old kid at USC, and [assume] that’s who he is. It’s really important, when assessing character for a player, [to consider] it’s not about what the player has done before but what they may do in the future. Is that past behavior predictive? …[Jones] made a mistake, he owns it, and it isn’t something he glosses over.”
5. Lofty comparison: While acknowledging he has a vested interest in Jones’ success as a Shrine Bowl alum, Galko, who previously founded Optimum Scouting and was a head personnel executive for the XFL, compared his potential to some of the draft’s top-rated cornerbacks.
“His ball skills, timing and reaction makes him special. I think in terms of pure man coverage ability, Ahmad Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., he’s in that … ‘upside’ category,” he said.
Gardner went fourth overall to the New York Jets, one pick after Stingley was selected by the Houston Texans. Jones was selected 121st, and some draft analysts believe that was early.
If Jones delivers at the level Gardner and Stingley project to as top-5 picks, that would be quite a story in New England.
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Check out the highlights from Baylor’s speedy wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.
6. Thanks, mom! In an interview with the Patriots’ in-house media, Thornton, the second-round pick who ran a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, (fourth best for a receiver since 2006) credited his blazing speed to his mother, Latasha Jackson. Thornton said she was always the fastest in her class. A perfect Mother’s Day note, indeed.
7. Strong report: One NFL scout projects Strong, the running back from South Dakota State, to follow in the footsteps of James White, Shane Vereen and Kevin Faulk in terms of his role. “He is a pure speed, third-down back,” the scout said, adding that he hoped to see more toughness from Strong at times. “He didn’t dominate enough at the end of this year when they were making their playoff push to make me say ‘This is the guy.’ But he definitely has talent. Catches the ball. He’s got traits, the production is good, but one question I had is why were they alternating him during the playoffs against Montana State?”
8. Schedule preview: The NFL releases its 2022 regular-season schedule on Thursday night, which will pair the much-anticipated when to the already-known against whom. One of the first thoughts last week, when it was announced receiver DeAndre Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the season, was if the Patriots might catch a break with an early-season date at Arizona. Ditto with a road game against Cleveland, with the possibility that quarterback Deshaun Watson faces an early-season suspension.
9. Older draft class: Patriots first-round pick Cole Strange turns 24 in July, and fellow rookies Thornton (22 in August), Marcus Jones (24 in October), Jack Jones (25 in December), Strong (24 in December), and Bailey Zappe (just turned 23) reflect how COVID-19 made this an older NFL-wide draft class. Age wasn’t a major concern for the Patriots. “Once you start getting to some of these older players, it’s a factor that you keep in mind, and I think the position plays a factor in that,” Groh said. “But I don’t think there’s that big of a difference between some of those age groups that we’re talking about.”
10. Did you know? The Patriots selected seven offensive players in the 2022 draft, the most of any team in the NFL, and their most in a draft under Belichick, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Arsenal are facing competition for £40m rated Youri Tielemans as Real Madrid stand ready to pounce on the Belgian should the Gunners fail to qualify for Champions League football this season.
The Leicester City central midfielder is set to leave the King Power Stadium this summer, with just one year left to run on his contract in the midlands at the end of this season and no signs that he is planning on penning a new one.
This means that he will be available at a cut-price, with a fee as low as £25m even being mentioned for the 24-year-old, who is valued at double that by transfermarkt.
Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans during the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Saturday April 23, 2022. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
It has caught the attention of Arsenal, who are keen to strengthen in central midfield this summer. And, as per the Sun, ‘there is growing confidence from the player’s camp and the Emirates club that Tielemans will be an Arsenal player next season’
Real Madrid in the wings
However, there is a catch, in the form of Champions League football, with Real Madrid waiting in the wings should the Gunners fail to make 4th in the Premier League table their own.
And the Spanish side would have little problem convincing the Belgian to swap England for Spain.
As per Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Tielemans has already told those closest to him that he would prefer a move to Spain over remaining in England this summer.
He claims that ‘Youri Tielemans told those around him his preference for a departure to Spain’, something which means that the likes of both Madrid sides and Barcelona will surely be taking notice.
In the case of Los Blancos, it could be a formality, with Tavolieri adding that ‘Real Madrid, interested, could position themselves concretely in the coming weeks’.
That, however, depends on how Arsenal finish the season.
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