It was a great story to tell!

No more gimmicks: Coventry’s perilous journey back to the Premier League is finally over Supporters and club insiders look back at the Sky Blues’ journey, from the depths of text-a-sub ridicule and fan mutinies to promotion

You can read the piece here:

For @sport.theguardian.com:

Supporters and club insiders look back at Coventry's journey, from the depths of text-a-sub ridicule and fan mutinies to promotion.

I spoke to the digital guru behind the 'idea' to let fans text sub suggestions...

No more gimmicks: Coventry’s perilous journey back to the Premier League is finally over Supporters and club insiders look back at the Sky Blues’ journey, from the depths of text-a-sub ridicule and fan mutinies to promotion

“As a way to generate extra revenue, fans would be able to text substitution suggestions to a premium-rate number during a match”

@samcunningham.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on the rebirth of Coventry City. From gimmicks to Championship glory.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Premier League news: Howe vows to ‘fight harder than ever’; Slot ready for derby heat Newcastle manager in defiant mood before facing former club while Liverpool’s head coach defends team’s character

Roberto De Zerbi insists Tottenham can escape relegation if his players are mentally stronger and feel proud to wear the shirt

For @sport.theguardian.com

Champions League: Liverpool bow out with home defeat to PSG Arne Slot's side are beaten 2-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate - and lose their top scorer this season, Hugo Ekitike, to injury

Liverpool are out of the Champions League – and the pressure is now on to qualify for the competition next season.

But their final run-in includes a Merseyside Derby and four teams in the top seven.

Analysis of a monumental challenge @eng-premierleague.bsky.social

Man City v Arsenal: Why title duel is the 'biggest game for years' All you need to know as Premier League's top two teams go head-to-head on Sunday

Man City v Arsenal: Why title duel is the 'biggest game for years'

For @eng-premierleague.bsky.social ⬇️⬇️⬇️

My understanding is he took a wage cut and yes there's the option of an extra year

Manchester United’s £10m boost; £5k Masters gnomes and Southgate TikTok Manchester United are set for a £10m boost from kit sponsor Adidas if, as now seems likely, they qualify for the Champions League. The club sit third in the Premier League with a seven-point cushion o...

Sport will take place in Saudi Arabia across the weekend, despite the Formula 1 Grand Prix, originally scheduled for these dates, being cancelled due to war in the Middle East.

This and more in my @cityam.bsky.social column 👇

Augusta gnomes, bought for £44 last week, are on sale for £5,500 already.

Even that will be a bargain if rumours are confirmed the limited-edition collectibles are to be discontinued.

Read more in my @cityam.bsky.social column 👇

Augusta gnomes, bought for £44 last week, are on sale for £5,500 already.

Even that will be a bargain if rumours are confirmed the limited-edition collectibles are to be discontinued.

Read more in my @cityam.bsky.social column 👇

Manchester United’s £10m boost; £5k Masters gnomes and Southgate TikTok Manchester United are set for a £10m boost from kit sponsor Adidas if, as now seems likely, they qualify for the Champions League. The club sit third in the Premier League with a seven-point cushion o...

Column @cityam.bsky.social

💰 Manchester United's £10m Champions League boost
⛳️ £5,500 Augusta Gnomes
🤳 Southgate goes viral on TikTok
➕️ More

The Briefing: Iraola announces exit, Arsenal injury latest and more Our daily round-up of the latest news from clubs and players across the Premier League

The Briefing @eng-premierleague.bsky.social:

↩️ Iraola to leave Bournemouth
🚑 Saka injury worry ahead of City
🥳 Haaland celebrates Leeds' win
🔴 Carrick backed for Man Utd job
➕️ More

Saturday wrap: Arsenal defeat blows title race wide open Bournemouth stun leaders to give Man City a boost, while Salah scores in Liverpool win at Anfield

Saturday wrap for @eng-premierleague.bsky.social

April is becoming Arsenal's bogey month and this is shaping up to be another shaky one. They have won only 42 per cent of their April games under Arteta – the only month in which they have failed to win at least half.

Roberto De Zerbi targets ‘Ange-ball’ revival to save Spurs from relegation The new head coach said he wants to replicate Tottenham’s former manager’s style, insisting: ‘I want to see the Spurs I watched with Postecoglou’

Roberto De Zerbi intends to bring back “Ange-ball” as he attempts to prevent Tottenham’s first relegation in 49 years.

For @theguardian.com

Roberto De Zerbi hopes fans accept his apology for his comments about Mason Greenwood.

"I’m not going to go back over this topic," he said. "I spoke about it in my first interview, I spoke about it today, and it wouldn’t be right to go back over this topic again."

Roberto De Zerbi targets ‘Ange-ball’ revival to save Spurs from relegation The new head coach said he wants to replicate Tottenham’s former manager’s style, insisting: ‘I want to see the Spurs I watched with Postecoglou’

Roberto De Zerbi intends to bring back “Ange-ball” as he attempts to prevent Tottenham’s first relegation in 49 years.

For @theguardian.com

Champions League: Havertz and Raya star in win for Arsenal Substitute Havertz scores late goal to give the Gunners the advantage against Sporting

Is David Raya now the best goalkeeper in the world?

Havertz and Arteta think so.

For @eng-premierleague.bsky.social

The Briefing: Maguire's new deal, Ramsey retires and other top stories Our daily round-up of the latest news from clubs and players across the Premier League

The Briefing @eng-premierleague.bsky.social

Maguire's new deal, Ramsey retires, James closing in on return + more 👇

Why all is not lost for the rarest of breeds – a true No 9 | Sam Cunningham Lack of specialist training may explain drop in influence, but many feel the centre-forward is due a revival

Read via the link @sport.theguardian.com
why all is not lost 👇

Academy coaches say kids all want to be the No 10 or wingers.

Training sessions for strikers can be boring, full of decoy runs to make space for others.

"You’re not going to create these real No 9 predators."

"It's no longer a sexy position."

Will things change?

There's no clear successor to Harry Kane for England and unless something changes, that's a problem.

The great striker partnerships of the 90s and before have been killed off, mainly due to shifting tactics from Mourinho, Guardiola and others.

Academies focus on possession.

Two decades ago, strikers scored 41.6% of the Premier League’s goals. This season, the figure stands at 25.9%.

Between 2007 and 2012, 4/5 seasons featured 10+ hat-tricks by centre-forwards. In the past nine seasons, that threshold has been passed once.

What's happening?

Why all is not lost for the rarest of breeds – a true No 9 | Sam Cunningham Lack of specialist training may explain drop in influence, but many feel the centre-forward is due a revival

Where have all the No 9s gone? Why has the striker become a dying breed? Can anything be done to arrest the decline?

An investigation into the global centre forward shortage for @sport.theguardian.com

They are adapting. But it's coming at the cost of strikers. As mentioned in the piece, when the FA/academies align, they can make things change.

Also, as a grass roots coach back in the day, most of the best teams had really good centre half’s who were quick and hard to get past, but the weakest player was often the left back, as most teams could t find left footed players, so I always put my best forward on the right wing.

Really good point. The Firmino/Mane/Salah combination a great example

What do you mean?

An alternative perspective on young players not wanting the pressure of being the No 9...

There's still time!