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- GAME DAY GRIND: February 28, 2025 – Empires Crumble & Coaches Clash!
GAME DAY GRIND: February 28, 2025 – Empires Crumble & Coaches Clash!
Your Shot of Sports News with a Side of Coffee.
Tom Hillary
February 28, 2025
👋 Happy Friday Sports Fans.
It's that time of the week! It’s time to take a breather, grind those beans and fire up the coffeemaker (or just pop the kettle on). This week’s special blend: “Sir Jim's sporting empire shows cracks while coaches lose their cool on the sideline.”
Ready for your weekly caffeine-fueled sports fix?
Grab your mug, settle in, and let's spill the beans on this week's biggest sporting moments 👇
Table of Contents
1. The Perfect Pour
This Week's Pairing: Spiced Chai Latte × Keano vs Wrighty on Bruno.
Just like Roy Keane and Ian Wright's fiery debate over Bruno Fernandes' captaincy credentials, this week's drink brings the heat! Keano ripped into Bruno, questioning everything from his leadership to his body language, while Wrighty jumped to the Portuguese midfielder's defense.
When two football legends clash, you need a drink with enough kick to match the drama. Enter our spiced chai latte – warming, bold, and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression (like Keane's opinions…).
How to Brew The Perfect Chai Latte:
Pop a Pukka Spiced Chai tea bag into your favorite mug
Pour over freshly boiled water (about 3/4 full)
Let it steep for 3-5 minutes (about as long as Keane can go without criticizing someone)
Remove the tea bag and stir in a teaspoon of honey
Warm about 100ml of milk in a saucepan until steaming (or blitz it in the microwave if you're as impatient as Roy watching Bruno track back)
For the proper experience, froth your milk with a whisk or milk frother
Pour the milk over your chai and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top
Sit back, take a sip, and decide whose side you're on – Team Keane’s "he's not fit to captain" stance or Team Wright's "he's doing his best with what he's got" defense. Either way, this spicy brew will have you fired up and ready to join the debate!
Pro tip: For an even more authentic experience, furrow your brows and shake your head disapprovingly with each sip, channeling your inner Keane.
2. 🏆 The Big Play – Top Sports Story
TEBAS VS CITY: ROUND 147
La Liga boss Javier Tebas has dragged Man City to the European Commission, accusing them of pocketing UAE subsidies that break EU competition laws.
Tebas wants sanctions, claiming City's Abu Dhabi cash is wrecking fair competition across European football.
City's response? Utter rubbish. They insist their books are spotless and fully compliant.
The financial fair play soap opera continues – same characters, bigger stage!
3. 🔥☕ Espresso Express – A quick, bold shot of sports headlines, served hot and fast!
🏏 Cricket: Champions Trophy Upset
England Out: In a stunning turn of events, Afghanistan eliminated England from the ICC Champions Trophy, successfully chasing down a target of 287 in a thrilling final over. This unexpected defeat has raised serious questions about England's ODI strategy and leadership.
⚽️ Premier League Highlights
Liverpool Extend Lead: Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, extending their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.
Manchester City Edge Tottenham: Erling Haaland's early goal ensured a 1-0 win for Manchester City against Tottenham Hotspur, keeping their title hopes alive.
Arsenal Held to Draw: Arsenal's title aspirations took a hit as they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest, marking their second consecutive game without a goal.
Manchester United's Narrow Escape: Despite being reduced to ten men, Manchester United managed a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town, with Harry Maguire scoring the decisive goal.
Leicester's Struggles Continue: Leicester City suffered a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United, marking their fourth consecutive loss and deepening their relegation worries
🏉 Rugby Union - Six Nations Highlights
England Edges Out Scotland: In a nail-biting finish, England reclaimed the Calcutta Cup with a 16-15 victory over Scotland, as Finn Russell missed a late conversion.
France Dominates Italy: France kept their championship hopes alive with a commanding win over Italy, setting a new record for the most tries in a Six Nations fixture.
Ireland win Triple Crown: Ireland secured a hard-fought 27-18 victory over Wales in Cardiff. Wales have now lost 15 games on the bounce but it’s not all bad as Wales’ first half display against the Irish shows that the players have already brought into Matt Sherratt’s philosophy.
🚴 Cycling
British National Track Championships Record-Breaking Performances: The championships saw outstanding achievements, including Anna Morris setting a new world record in the Individual Pursuit and Lauren Bell clinching multiple titles in sprint events
🎯Darts
Premier League Darts: The two Lukes lock Horns in the latest round of Premier League Darts. 'Cool Hand' Luke Humphries took the victory securing his first win against Luke 'The Nuke' Littler in this competition.
4. 📅 What's Brewing – Upcoming Games to Watch
⚽️ Football: FA Cup Fifth Round
Aston Villa vs. Cardiff City
Friday, Feb 28, 8:00 PM GMT
Watch on: ITV1 and STV; streaming on ITVX
Listen on: BBC Radio 5 LiveCrystal Palace vs. Millwall
Saturday, Mar 1, 12:15 PM GMT
Watch on: BBC One; streaming on BBC iPlayer
Listen on: talkSPORTManchester City vs. Plymouth Argyle
Saturday, Mar 1, 5:45 PM GMT
Watch on: ITV4; streaming on ITVX
Listen on: talkSPORT 2Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday, Mar 2, 1:45 PM GMT
Watch on: ITV1; streaming on ITVX
Listen on: BBC Radio 5 LiveManchester United vs. Fulham
Sunday, Mar 2, 4:30 PM GMT
Watch on: BBC One; streaming on BBC iPlayer
Listen on: BBC Radio 5 LiveNottingham Forest vs. Ipswich Town
Monday, Mar 3, 7:30 PM GMT
Watch on: ITV4; streaming on ITVX
Listen on: talkSPORT 2
⚽️ Football: Women’s Super League (WSL)
Manchester United vs. Leicester City
Sunday, Mar 2, 12:30 PM GMT
Watch on: BBC Two; streaming on BBC iPlayer
Listen on: BBC Radio Manchester (regional)Aston Villa vs. Everton
Sunday, Mar 2, 2:00 PM GMT
Watch on: The FA Player
Listen on: BBC Radio WM (regional)Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool
Sunday, Mar 2, 2:00 PM GMT
Watch on: The FA PlayerTottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City
Sunday, Mar 2, 2:00 PM GMT
Watch on: The FA Player
Listen on: BBC Radio Manchester (regional)Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea
Sunday, Mar 2, 3:00 PM GMT
Watch on: Sky Sports; streaming on Sky Go
Listen on: BBC Radio London (regional)Arsenal vs. West Ham United
Sunday, Mar 2, 5:30 PM GMT
Watch on: Sky Sports; streaming on Sky Go
Listen on: BBC Radio London (regional)
🏉 Premiership Rugby Cup Quarter-Finals
Newcastle Falcons vs. Gloucester Rugby
Friday, Feb 28, 7:45 PM GMT
Watch on: TNT Sports
Listen on: BBC Radio Newcastle (regional)Exeter Chiefs vs. Sale Sharks
Saturday, Mar 1, 3:00 PM GMT
Watch on: TNT Sports
Listen on: BBC Radio Devon (regional)Leicester Tigers vs. Harlequins
Saturday, Mar 1, 3:00 PM GMT
Watch on: TNT Sports
Listen on: BBC Radio Leicester (regional)Saracens vs. Northampton Saints
Sunday, Mar 2, 3:00 PM GMT
Watch on: TNT Sports
Listen on: BBC Radio London (regional)
🏏 Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Australia vs. Afghanistan
Friday, Feb 28, 9:00 AM GMT
Watch on: Sky Sports Cricket; streaming on Sky Go
Listen on: BBC Test Match Special (5 Live Sports Extra)South Africa vs. England
Saturday, Mar 1, 9:00 AM GMT
Watch on: Sky Sports Cricket; streaming on Sky Go
Listen on: BBC Test Match Special (5 Live Sports Extra)India vs. New Zealand
Sunday, Mar 2, 9:00 AM GMT
Watch on: Sky Sports Cricket
Listen on: BBC Test Match Special (5 Live Sports Extra)
🏁 Motorsport: MotoGP Season Opener
Grand Prix of Qatar
Friday, Feb 28 – Sunday, Mar 2
Watch on: TNT Sports; streaming on Discovery+
⛳️ Golf: Mexico Open at Vidanta
Thursday, Feb 27 – Sunday, Mar 2
Watch on: Sky Sports Golf; streaming on Sky Go
5. 🔥🔥The Morning Roast: Ineos' Sports Breakups & Battles
Sir Jim's sporting rollercoaster - splashing cash and wielding the axe.
Man Utd: Spending Sprees & Staff Cuts
February 2024 - Ineos finally got their 27.7% slice of Man Utd. Let the games begin!
May 2024 - FA Cup Final day drama - staff not working directly with the first team told to sort their own travel. Classy.
July 2024 - 250 staff shown the door while Ten Hag bags a contract extension to 2026.
August 2024 - £200m splurged in the transfer window with Ten Hag's stamp of approval on most deals.
October 2024 - Sir Alex Ferguson's ambassador role binned. Staff Christmas do? Cancelled. Bah humbug!
October 2024 - Ten Hag gets the boot just months after his contract extension. Reportedly pocketed over £10m for his troubles.
November 2024 - Ticket prices hiked to £66 with kids and pensioners paying full whack too.
December 2024 - Dan Ashworth walks with a rumored £4m payoff. Add the £10m paid to Newcastle and the Ten Hag payout, and Utd have blown about £24m on hiring and firing two blokes.
February 2025 - Another 200 redundancies announced and free staff lunches scrapped (but not for players, mind). Ineos reckons this saves £1m a year - pocket change when Casemiro earns that in just 3 weeks for warming the bench.
The Rest of Sir Jim's Sporting Empire Crumbles
Jan 2025 (America's Cup) - Sir Jim and Sir Ben Ainslie call it quits after reportedly not seeing eye to eye.
Jan 2025 (Cycling) - Ineos Grenadiers hunting for another sponsor's cash. Reading between the lines: Ineos have tightened the purse strings.
Feb 2025 (NZ Rugby) - Ineos misses their first 2025 sponsorship payment. The All Blacks aren't happy, taking them to court for bailing on their 6-year deal halfway through.
Feb 2025 (Mercedes F1) - Word on the pit lane is Mercedes wanted to buy out Sir Jim's third of the team after contract talks got sticky. Deal eventually done, but Ineos’ logos notably downsized on this year's car.
BOTTOM OF THE CUP
Sir Jim's sporting empire seems to be running on empty. For all the talk of "smart business" when Ineos bought into Man Utd, their first year has been a masterclass in mixed messages - splashing millions on players while cutting staff lunches to save pennies. With relationships souring across cycling, sailing, rugby and F1, one has to wonder if Ineos has bitten off more than it can chew in the sporting world.
The pattern is hard to ignore: big promises followed by quick cutbacks. For Man Utd fans hoping Ineos would be their savior from the Glazer era, this bitter brew might be tough to swallow. The real question now isn't whether Ineos can balance the books, but whether any sporting partner will trust them to stick around for the long haul.
6.🫘Spilling the Beans – The Week's Most Unbelievable Sporting Moments
Scots Football Coach Headbutts Own Boss
Talk about workplace disagreements! An assistant coach at Ardeer Thistle lost the plot and headbutted his own gaffer during warm-ups before their match against Thorn Athletic in Renfrewshire. The scrap was caught on camera for all to see, and the assistant promptly handed in his resignation. The drama clearly fired up the lads though - Ardeer Thistle went on to smash Thorn 3-0!
Powerlifter Wins Silver With Brain Bleed
You think you're tough? Charlotte Metcalfe, a 20-year-old powerlifter and law student, bagged a silver medal at the GPC World Championships in Slovakia while unknowingly suffering from a brain hemorrhage! Despite her head absolutely killing her, she powered through her lifts and only bothered with medical help after collecting her medal. And they say students are lazy!
Eurosport Calls Time After 35 Years
Pour one out for Eurosport! After 35 years of Olympic coverage, obscure sports and that instantly recognizable theme tune, the channel has vanished from UK tellies, swallowed up by TNT Sports. Plenty of previously free-to-watch events now sit behind a paywall, leaving sports fans across Britain reminiscing about the good old days when you didn't need a second mortgage to watch the biathlon.
Boxing Dads and Lads Kick Off Big Time
Boxing legend Nigel Benn went full protective dad mode, grabbing Chris Eubank Jr. by the throat after Junior smashed an egg, yes an egg across Conor Benn's face. This isn't just handbags - there's decades of bad blood between the Benn and Eubank families. The scuffle has thrown their upcoming fight into doubt, though let's be honest - this drama's only going to sell more pay-per-views!
7. 🤔 Game-Day Guess Who
Who’s That Sports Star?
This week’s picture round features a rising star from the world of UK sport. Can you identify the sports star from the image below?
🕵️♂️ Hint:
Making his mark under the bright lights, this young talent is already proving to be a natural on center stage.
Hat tip to Ian P who absolutely smashed last week's Game-Day Guess Who! His lightning-quick email with the correct answer landed in our inbox before most of you had taken your first sip.
Answer: Louis Rees-Zammit.
That's full-time on this week's brew! Got a juicy sports story we missed or a coffee blend we need to try? Don't be shy—hit reply and spill the beans!