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Gers fans rage at Castore mix-up

Glasgow Rangers fans are livid with Castore’s latest mistake, which has been doing the rounds on social media.

The Gers are currently embarking on their second season with Castore as their kit manufacturer. The first campaign was magnificent on the pitch as Rangers won the Premiership title, the 55th in their history, but the Liverpool-based company had their troubles, with there being complaints of damaged kits from Gers supporters who had purchased the shirts (The Scottish Sun).

Now, another mistake appears to have occurred. A fan has shared a photo of a piece of club merchandise which has the sponsor Unibet printed the wrong way round – not exactly what the Gers will have been hoping for when they signed off on the five-year deal with Castore (The Scotsman).

The photo was shared on Twitter by @EmpireFF, and it attracted plenty of attention from the Gers supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the matter.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Castore news below

“Castore are genuinely one of the worst football brands out there.”

Credit: @helander55

“Castore need to go”

Credit: @Euan_Sheppard

“Brutal. How long is the contract again?”

Credit: @Jed_Bartlet

“Even the most staunch Castore fan wouldn’t be able to defend that. Overpriced dross.”

Credit: @levi_stubbs

“Clearly we’re mugs”

Credit: @glasgowsportsfa

“We will be rid of them at some point. They were a necessary step in getting out from Ashley. With the sales figures we post there will be plenty of interest from more reliable brands who are happy to deal without all the legal risk that they would have had before.”

Credit: @GrantRfc89

In other news, this man reveals his Rangers regret.

USMNT legend and Premier League great Tim Howard elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Former goalkeeper Tim Howard has been elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

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  • Howard had distinguished career
  • Played in Premier League and for USA
  • Now elected into 2024 Hall of Fame
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    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Former Manchester United and Everton keeper Howard was on the ballot for this honour for the first time and received 46 of 48 votes (95.8%) from the player select committee. The stopper made 121 appearances for the U.S. men's national team from 2002-17 and was first-choice between the sticks at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

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  • WHAT HOWARD SAID

    After being told of the news live on air for NBC's Premier League coverage, he said: "When you play football, you try and for the love and play for the glory, and hopefully along the way you do some things."

  • THE BIG PICTURE

    Howard will go down as one of America's greatest-ever goalkeepers. Not many from his country have starred in the Premier League but he has done that. Josh McKinney, captain of the U.S. seven-a-side Paralympic team, was also elected to the Hall of Fame. A player must appear on 50% or more of ballots to be elected and Howard, 52, passed with flying colours.

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    WHAT IS NEXT?

    Howard will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on May 4, 2024. On top of his television work, the former keeper is a minority owner and sporting director at Memphis, who are in the second tier of the United Soccer League's League Championship.

'Never much love when we go OT' – Man City & Lionesses hero Chloe Kelly quotes Drake in savage post mocking Man Utd after derby victory at Old Trafford

Manchester City and England star Chloe Kelly has quoted Drake lyrics in a savage post mocking Manchester United after a derby win at Old Trafford.

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  • Eagerly-anticipated WSL clash in Manchester
  • Blues took the spoils in 3-1 win
  • England star revels in memorable success
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Lionesses forward, who famously netted the winning goal for her country in the Euro 2022 final, helped City to a memorable victory at the home of their fiercest rivals on Sunday. The visitors were comfortable in the end at the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’ as Jill Roord, Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw found the target in a 3-1 win.

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    Kelly has taken great delight in picking up three points in a derby encounter that saw England team-mate Mary Earps endure an afternoon to forget between the sticks for United – with the experienced goalkeeper making an uncharacteristic error for Shaw’s second-half goal.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Unsurprisingly, City were not given the warmest of receptions at Old Trafford – with Kelly posting on social media afterwards: “Never much love when we go OT”. That message, which was accompanied by an image of the 25-year-old shushing the home support, offers a nod to the lyrics from the platinum-selling Drake track ‘One Dance’.

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  • WHAT NEXT?

    City have now risen above United to sit third in the WSL standings – six points adrift of leaders Chelsea – and will be back in action on Wednesday when playing host to Leicester in the Women’s League Cup.

Expert reveals Southampton target Joakim Maehle is for sale

Southampton have been handed a potential boost in their pursuit of Joakim Maehle, with Forza Italian Football editor Conor Clancy claiming the full-back is up for sale at Atalanta, with Saints reportedly making an approach earlier this summer.

Maehle only joined the Serie A club from Belgian outfit Genk in January and went on to make 25 appearances as the Italians booked a place in the upcoming season’s Champions League.

However, it appears Atalanta are already looking to cash in on the 24-year-old after impressing at Euro 2020.

Despite featuring predominantly at right-back for Atalanta, Maehle shone on the left side of Denmark’s defence and showcased his attacking qualities by scoring two goals and adding an assist as he played every minute of his country’s run to the semi-finals of the competition.

Southampton have been long-term admirers of Maehle, according to Danish media outlet Ekstra Bladet. The report reveals Crystal Palace, Fiorentina, Sevilla and Valencia were also in the hunt for Maehle before Atalanta made their move.

But Clancy feels Saints could finally get their man before the transfer window closes.

He told Football FanCast: “Everyone at Atalanta is for sale. That’s just how they work every summer.

“Maehle is not a starter on the left or the right at Atalanta. He showed some flashes of the player we saw at Euro 2020 early on at Atalanta, but then it didn’t quite happen for him.

“If a club wants Maehle, they can sign him. Everyone who saw the Euros knows Southampton would be getting a very good player if they can sign him.”

Newcastle in contact over Nat Phillips

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle’s interest in Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

What’s the talk?

According to James Pearce of The Athletic, the Magpies have been in contact with the Reds over a potential deal for the centre-back this month. Newcastle, Southampton, Brighton, Burnley, Bournemouth, Celtic and Sheffield United are all said to be showing varying degrees of interest in the defender.

Liverpool are looking for a fee in the region of £12m-£15m and will not stand in his way if he wants to leave. It remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle are willing to match their valuation.

Better than Lascelles

Steve Bruce must sanction a deal for Phillips this summer as he could come in and improve the defence ahead of next season. The centre-back caught the eye when given a chance by the Reds last term and showed enough to suggest that he could thrive for a club further down the table such as Newcastle.

He could come in and be an upgrade on club captain Jamaal Lascelles. The Magpies skipper played 19 times in the Premier League last season and averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.60 whilst winning 2.5 aerial battles and making 4.4 clearances per game. He also averaged fewer than one tackle and one interception per game, which shows that there could be scope for the club to bring in a better player in his position.

Meanwhile, Phillips played 17 games in the top flight and averaged a sensational WhoScored rating of 7.29 for Liverpool. He won 5.6 aerial battles and made 4.8 clearances per game, whilst also making 1.3 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per match.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was effusive in his praise of the “unbelievable” 24-year-old earlier this year. He told Goal.com: “Nat Phillips is just an exceptional career so far, with all the things he did in the past and what he thought about and where he was and all these things.

“Now playing for Liverpool in the Champions League, Premier League, winning games, winning challenges.

“[He will have] probably the best heading statistics in the history of the Premier League I could imagine at least, it is unbelievable what the boy is doing there, and on top of that playing good football.”

These comments and the comparison of the statistics between the pair suggest that Phillips would be a significant improvement on Lascelles in Newcastle’s defence. He has been able to perform to a much higher standard than the former Nottingham Forest man whilst playing in the same division.

Therefore, Bruce must work hard in the final weeks of the window to secure a deal for the Liverpool centre-back in order to strengthen his squad.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Hayden: NUFC must sanction swoop for “perfect” £24k-p/w powerhouse…

Explained: Why the Glazers won't be attending funeral of Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton

The funeral of Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton will take place on Monday, but reports claim the Glazer family will not be in attendance.

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  • World Cup winner passed away at age of 86
  • Service to take place at Manchester Cathedral
  • Unpopular owners will not be represented
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Red Devils and England icon, who savoured European Cup and World Cup glory with club and country, passed away on October 21 at the age of 86. The all-time great, who won the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 1966, had been struggling with dementia prior to his passing.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Charlton made over 750 appearances for United in his playing days, while earning 106 caps for England, and was a director at Old Trafford up until his dementia diagnosis in 2020. The world of football will unite to celebrate his life at an emotional service at Manchester Cathedral on November 13.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    According to the , no representatives from the Glazer family will be present. That is because the current owners of United are wary of upsetting supporters that have been opposed to their ongoing presence for some time. A long-running takeover saga at Old Trafford has dragged on for almost a year now.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    The Glazers do not want to make negative headlines as tributes are paid to Sir Bobby, meaning that they will choose to stay away. If a late change is made to those plans, with talks having been held with senior officials at United, then Joel Glazer will be the man to represent the unpopular ownership team.

A chance to change perceptions: Why the USMNT are taking Germany friendly so seriously

There may be nothing riding on it, but Saturday's match means so much more to the U.S. team

For the last several years, the new generation of U.S. men's national team stars has been united by two separate, but similar, rallying cries. The first defined their road to the 2022 World Cup. It called on the players involved to change the way the world views American soccer, not just for one tournament, but forever.

That one is still a work in progress. Their efforts in Qatar were definitely admirable and players' progress on the club level has definitely made the rest of the world take notice, but Rome wasn't built in a day. It will take sustained, consistent improvement to accomplish that goal.

Since the summer, though, the U.S. has been discussing a new goal: to change the way that America views soccer forever.

Assistant coach B.J. Callaghan says the team won't be satisfied until there are loads of Christians, Westons, Gios and Matts born and named for the country's soccer idols. The team, as a whole, has said they won't have achieved anything until they've proven they can be more than what they showed in Qatar.

But how can they do that? How does a team approach goals so lofty and so vague? Well, it starts by winning big games against big opponents, making statement after statement until everyone takes notice.

The U.S. won't demand the respect of the world if they are to beat Germany in a friendly on Saturday. Still, for many in this USMNT camp, Saturday's friendly is the perfect time to show how far they've come, and how far they have left to go.

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    A big chance that won't come to often

    The fact is that there won't be many games like this on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

    As hosts of the tournament, competitive games will be few and far between for the USMNT. Of course, there will be CONCACAF games, and the U.S. will be very, very thankful for next summer's Copa America but, by and large, there will only be a handful of opportunities to take on marquee opponents.

    Germany are one of those opponents, as are Ghana, the USMNT's second match of the window. Germany's national team may be in a state of flux right now but, make no mistake, this is one of the biggest teams in the world. And, because of that, it's one of the USMNT's biggest opportunities to show where they stand.

    Wins against the likes of Oman and Uzbekistan are nice, sure. Wins over Canada and Mexico will always taste just a bit sweeter because of all that goes with it. But this USMNT's goals are bigger than that.

    If this team wants to change perceptions, it has to regularly prove that it can win games like this, a challenge that will be made all the more difficult by the schedule leading up to 2026.

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    Understanding the opportunity

    Because of everything said above, the USMNT is moving just a bit differently this camp. Everyone on the team knows what's at stake. Yes this is a friendly, but, for the U.S., it's also something more.

    “I think it’s a great opportunity for us,” Weston McKennie said Wednesday. “I think for us, we want to show that [we can] win games against these top-level teams, that we expect ourselves to win these games now, instead of just competing with them."

    He continued: “I think it’s a great opportunity to kind of see where we’re at, and try and make that [vision] come true and win these type of games, because they’re the type of games that we have to win to advance the program forward, to advance ourselves forward, and to be successful in the coming years."

    USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter, meanwhile, will be using this game to get a closer look at what several players are made of. The team is littered with World Cup stars like McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, all of whom will be desperate to prove themselves once again after falling short against another giant, the Netherlands, in Qatar.

    But it also features some newcomers. Folarin Balogun will undoubtedly face the toughest test of his USMNT career. One of Kristoffer Lund or DeJuan Jones will as well with starting full-back Antonee Robinson out of action. Newcomers like Kevin Paredes, Lennard Maloney and Alejandro Zendejas will hope to get a chance in this game.

    And then there's Gio Reyna, who will be playing his first game under Berhalter since the infamous World Cup controversy. That's in the past, Berhalter says. This team isn't dwelling on anything that has to do with 2022; they're now focusing on how they can prepare for 2026.

    “Any opportunity we get to play teams like this, we want to do it, and it’s not about being afraid of the result, being afraid of competing,” Berhalter said Friday. “It’s about embracing these moments, and from now until the 2026 World Cup, if we could play Germany five times, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, we would do it because that’s what’s going to really strengthen this group.”

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    What the USMNT wants

    The USMNT has found success against Germany before.

    The team has a 4-7-0 record against the Germans. There was that infamous 2002 World Cup defeat, one shrouded in a Torsten Frings-led controversy that will still rile up the older generation of USMNT fans. There was the 2014 World Cup group stage clash that saw both teams make it to the knockouts despite Germany's narrow win, and there were a pair of friendlies in the mid-2010s, both USMNT wins led by then-head coach, Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann.

    Throughout the program's history, the USMNT has had a habit of overachieving against big teams. For years, the USMNT's grit and heart helped them upset some of the world's best, most famously Spain at the Confederations Cup.

    However, the team doesn't want to keep getting by as underdogs. They don't want to win by gutting out a gritty performance. This group wants to be able to play with Germany, to go at them and make them uncomfortable in some way.

    “It’s time where we want to start going into these games with confidence and not just trying to compete,” Pulisic said, “but trying to take control of these games and win these games and feel confident that we can do that.”

    At the World Cup, the USMNT learned that there are different forms of that. There's controlling the ball, which was a focus of last cycle. After years of being a counterattacking team, the U.S. is evolving into one comfortable with the ball, one that can play soccer.

    However, against the Netherlands, the U.S. learned the hard way that having the ball doesn't always mean controlling the game. They fell right into several Dutch traps, as Louis van Gaal prepared his team to counter and strike hard when the chances came.

    So what will the USMNT's version of dictating play look like this cycle, and what will it look like when they face a team like Germany? The U.S. will hope to provide an answer on Saturday.

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    Club connections

    What makes this game even more intriguing is that, for many of the USMNT's stars, this one will feel personal.

    Five players in the USMNT squad currently play for Bundesliga clubs. Four more have played in the league at one point or another. There's a connection there. Many of the USMNT's top stars will be playing against domestic team-mates and opponents, and they'll also be playing against friends.

    "It's definitely a good opportunity for us to be able to play against guys that, at the club level, we've played against and played with," McKennie said, who began his career at Schalke. "Leon Goretzka, for instance, was like a big brother to me when I was coming through the ranks at Schalke, so it's going to be nice to be able to see him and play against him as well and maybe be able to say some bad words to him in German, just to refresh my memory of how it used to be."

    Borussia Monchengladbach's Joe Scally added: “It definitely gives you a better feeling in the locker room with a bunch of German guys where you can brag."

Journalist tips Wolves to start a bidding war for Ruben Neves

Wolves will want a bidding war for Ruben Neves this summer, journalist Luke Hatfield has told The Transfer Tavern.

According to The Athletic, Wolves will have to sell an asset like Neves this transfer window if they want to spend big and Arsenal is a possible destination.

The north London club face serious competition, though, with talkSPORT claiming Manchester United are also interested in signing the 24-year-old midfielder.

In fact, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook claims United are actually leading the race for Neves’ signature in a blow to Arsenal but boost to Wolves, who will be hoping to spark a bidding war, according to Hatfield.

“They will want a bidding war,” the Express & Star reporter said. “You always want a couple of interested parties because you can drive up that price tag.

“I think for Wolves, they’re probably very calm about the whole subject. It’s not an issue of we need to get the guy out I don’t think. It’s very much an issue of if the right money comes in, then it’s one we’ll seriously consider because we can reinvest that money elsewhere.”

While Arsenal did look to be frontrunners to sign Neves, the Portugal international has been linked with United in the past, so it would not be a surprise if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did try to sign him before the transfer window closes.

Eintracht Frankfurt monitoring January deal for Feyenoord star Santiago Gimenez while searching for Randal Kolo Muani replacement

Eintracht Frankfurt are considering a January move for Feyenoord star Santiago Gimenez as their search for Randal Kolo Muani's replacement continues.

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  • German side after two strikers
  • See Gimenez as possible signing
  • Mexican has excelled at Feyenoord
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The German side saw star forward Kolo Muani leave for Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the summer window and are looking to sign a replacement.

    According to Florian Plettenberg, they want to sign two new strikers in the January transfer window and have their eye on Feyenoord star Gimenez.

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    The Mexico star is one of seven or eight candidates being monitored by the Bundesliga club, but Feyenoord would have to lower their asking price before Frankfurt would be willing to make a move.

    The Dutch side are reportedly demanding around €35 million for the 22-year-old, a figure the Germans are not willing to match.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Gimenez joined Feyenoord from Cruz Azul in July 2022 and enjoyed an excellent debut season in the Eredivisie, scoring 15 times as the Rotterdam club won the title.

    He is off to a flying start this season, too, having already struck 10 times in just seven matches.

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    WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

    Frankfurt will likely keep track of Gimenez's form before deciding whether or not to place a bid for the attacker.

‘It was a shock’ – Ben Foster retirement stunned Wrexham team-mates as Luke Young salutes ‘honest’ decision from veteran goalkeeper

Wrexham captain Luke Young admits that Ben Foster’s sudden retirement call came as “a shock” to his team-mates at SToK Racecourse.

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  • Shot-stopper hanging up his gloves
  • Took in 12 appearances for the Dragons
  • Bows out at 40 years of age
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The veteran goalkeeper has, despite signing a 12-month contract in North Wales, opted to hang up his gloves just five games into the 2023-24 campaign. That decision has been taken at 40 years of age and with the ex-England international having stepped out of retirement when answering an SOS call from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in March.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Foster is walking away because he no longer feels as though he can compete at a Football League level, with Wrexham struggling to plug defensive leaks at the start of the current campaign. He bids farewell to the Dragons with plenty of happy memories, having helped them to promotion last term, and has the full support of those that he has been competing alongside.

  • WHAT THEY SAID

    Wrexham skipper Young has said of seeing Foster call time on his distinguished career: “It was a shock. His decision came all of the sudden and one I wasn’t expecting. But it’s a sign of what a great bloke he is and fair play to him for being so honest. I won’t forget him and who will ever forget that penalty save against Notts County? I’d just like to wish him all the best in what he does in the future with his podcast and cycling.”

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    WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

    Foster made just 12 appearances for Wrexham in total, having previously spent time on loan with the Dragons in the early stages of his career, and is now free to focus on his interests away from the football field.

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