Barney Ronay
@barneyronay.bsky.social
📤 9449
📥 158
📝 356
Sports journalist
One problem with rebuilding the England cricket team. It represents nothing. Has no meaning. Is basically some employees of a wealthy minority pursuit. And doesn’t read its own reports.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Sack the vibe: goodbye Bazball and hello England’s search for a cricketing soul | Barney Ronay
There have to be consequences for Rob Key and Brendon McCullum but English cricket’s problems lie much deeper and will be much harder to fix
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/08/sack-the-vibe-goodbye-bazball-and-hello-englands-search-for-a-cricketing-soul
about 9 hours ago
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Barney Ronay
The sun also rises
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Jacob Bethell plays starring role in Ashes Wars Episode 5: A New Hope | Barney Ronay
A brilliant hundred against an elite attack on a wearing pitch shows this England Test team can still survive and evolve
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/07/jacob-bethell-plays-starring-role-in-ashes-wars-episode-5-a-new-hope
1 day ago
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The sun also rises
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Jacob Bethell plays starring role in Ashes Wars Episode 5: A New Hope | Barney Ronay
A brilliant hundred against an elite attack on a wearing pitch shows this England Test team can still survive and evolve
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/07/jacob-bethell-plays-starring-role-in-ashes-wars-episode-5-a-new-hope
1 day ago
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Barney Ronay
This is the end
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Conscript Potts is England’s paratrooper fighting a lonely Ashes war in Sydney | Barney Ronay
While England’s batting always gets to hog the limelight, this tour has also been lost in the bowling fade-outs
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/06/conscript-matt-potts-england-paratrooper-fighting-lonely-ashes-war-sydney-cricket
3 days ago
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This is the end
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Conscript Potts is England’s paratrooper fighting a lonely Ashes war in Sydney | Barney Ronay
While England’s batting always gets to hog the limelight, this tour has also been lost in the bowling fade-outs
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/06/conscript-matt-potts-england-paratrooper-fighting-lonely-ashes-war-sydney-cricket
3 days ago
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Barney Ronay
The bad thing
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Anatomy of an Ashes brain-fade: Jamie Smith and the shot heard around the world
England’s meek concession of the series is a waste of talent and this stroke sums up the structural failure
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/05/jamie-smith-cricket-england-dismissal-ashes-australia
4 days ago
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The bad thing
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Anatomy of an Ashes brain-fade: Jamie Smith and the shot heard around the world
England’s meek concession of the series is a waste of talent and this stroke sums up the structural failure
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/05/jamie-smith-cricket-england-dismissal-ashes-australia
4 days ago
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Cryptic Baz
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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Jacob Bethell’s place remains a puzzle as gifted batter is let down by stop-start approach | Barney Ronay
The No 3 has been belatedly shoved into this role in the Ashes after a summer starved of proper cricket
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/04/jacob-bethells-place-still-a-puzzle-as-gifted-batter-is-let-down-by-englands-planning
5 days ago
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It’s a Vaib
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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What a 14-year-old Instagram sensation and six-hitting superstar tells us about life and cricket | Barney Ronay
The inexorable rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will continue in the Indian Premier League this year, but it is unlikely to stop there
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/03/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-14-year-old-instagram-sensation-cricket-ipl-india
6 days ago
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It’s a Vaib
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...
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What a 14-year-old Instagram sensation and six-hitting superstar tells us about life and cricket | Barney Ronay
The inexorable rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will continue in the Indian Premier League this year, but it is unlikely to stop there
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/03/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-14-year-old-instagram-sensation-cricket-ipl-india
6 days ago
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“And when I click my fingers it will be 3-2… and you will remember nothing”
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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McCullum must be held to account even if England end Ashes with another win | Barney Ronay
A 3-2 series scoreline may make it hard to change coach but you don’t reward a failure of planning because the players clawed a bit back when it was too late
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/30/brendon-mccullum-must-be-held-account-england-ashes-cricket
9 days ago
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Immoral victories
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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England attack’s holiday fling might be the start of something more serious | Barney Ronay
If Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse can repeat their MCG displays, this may be more than a marriage of convenience
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/28/ashes-josh-tongue-brydon-carse-england-ashes-bowling
11 days ago
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An immoral victory Void it
add a skeleton here at some point
12 days ago
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The Gs take the G
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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England’s MCG triumph is a genuine coup – and a picture of what might have been | Barney Ronay
A properly prepped, balanced and weaponised team finally had the chops to expose Australia’s weaknesses, unlike in Perth and Adelaide
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/27/englands-mcg-triumph-is-a-genuine-coup-and-a-picture-of-what-might-have-been
13 days ago
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Barney Ronay
Bethell, Key, McCullum, managerial incompetence, and another Christmas barbecue
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Duckett and Bethell were dangled out to dry by failings of a slack setup | Barney Ronay
No rational judge could have expected England’s fall guys to succeed at the MCG where they were thrown on to a festive bonfire
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/26/auf-wiedersehen-pets-duckett-and-bethell-were-briefly-back-in-town-but-failings-lie-at-the-top
13 days ago
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Bethell, Key, McCullum, managerial incompetence, and another Christmas barbecue
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Duckett and Bethell were dangled out to dry by failings of a slack setup | Barney Ronay
No rational judge could have expected England’s fall guys to succeed at the MCG where they were thrown on to a festive bonfire
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/26/auf-wiedersehen-pets-duckett-and-bethell-were-briefly-back-in-town-but-failings-lie-at-the-top
13 days ago
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Punditing your own failure
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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English cricket meets Spinal Tap as Rob Key delivers latest Ashes autopsy | Barney Ronay
The England men’s cricket MD offered a postmortem that didn’t address the nuts and bolts of the system he manages
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/23/ashes-autopsy-english-cricket-meets-spinal-tap-rob-key-ecb
16 days ago
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James Dart
19 days ago
'So this is Christmas. And what have we done? The Ashes is over. With two Tests still to come.' By
@barneyronay.bsky.social
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Arrogant England’s cricket machine collapses like a castle of dust in 11 days | Barney Ronay
So this is Christmas. And what have we done? The Ashes is over. With two Tests still to come
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/21/england-cricket-machine-collapses-like-castle-of-dust-in-11-days-ashes-australia-cricket
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The Harry Brook Show. Starring: Australia. Co-starring: Australia And introducing…. Harry Brook
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Harry Brook’s moment of madness a fitting epitaph for England’s flawed cult of Baz | Barney Ronay
The day was transformed in Australia’s favour by the batter’s failed swish, a perfect demonstration of talent being wasted and Test matches squandered
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/20/harry-brook-epitaph-england-bazball-australia-ashes-cricket
19 days ago
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Will Jacks and decline of civilisation
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Waste of Jacks’ talent speaks volumes for England’s bodged Ashes planning | Barney Ronay
The highly talented England player is simply being used for when either the batting or bowling goes wrong
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/19/waste-of-will-jacks-talent-speaks-volumes-england-bodged-ashes-planning-cricket?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
20 days ago
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Barney Ronay
Bazball fact checked by coaching theory. Is it total balls? Slightly balls? Not balls?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Burning down the Baz-house is easy, but what comes after that for England? | Barney Ronay
Brendon McCullum’s regime may be unravelling but there is rarely any suggestion of what to do next and how the team can be improved
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/08/bazball-brendon-mccullum-ben-stokes-england-cricket-ashes?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
about 1 month ago
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Bazball fact checked by coaching theory. Is it total balls? Slightly balls? Not balls?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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Burning down the Baz-house is easy, but what comes after that for England? | Barney Ronay
Brendon McCullum’s regime may be unravelling but there is rarely any suggestion of what to do next and how the team can be improved
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/08/bazball-brendon-mccullum-ben-stokes-england-cricket-ashes?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
about 1 month ago
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A Christmas turkey
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
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BBC showing tennis’s new Battle of the Sexes will just offer up opportunity to belittle women’s sport | Barney Ronay
The match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios opens up a direct channel between the BBC of old and a world of toxic internet hatred
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/06/bbc-showing-tenniss-new-battle-of-the-sexes-will-just-offer-up-opportunity-to-belittle-womens-sport
about 1 month ago
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Hating Bazball: it’s a cult
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
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If we are witnessing the death spiral of the cult of Bazball, let’s savour what it created | Barney Ronay
There have been many good points – challenging orthodoxies and Ben Stokes talking openly about male emotions – and even when it was bad, it was unignorable
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/29/if-we-are-witnessing-the-death-spiral-of-the-cult-of-bazball-lets-savour-what-it-created
about 1 month ago
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There’s a chance that we might fall apart before too long
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Can Arne Slot revive this Frankenstein’s monster of a Liverpool side? | Barney Ronay
New players have come in, too many of them, and that has meant a dilution of the collective will instilled by Klopp
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/27/arne-slot-liverpool-psv-eindhoven-defeat-champions-league
about 1 month ago
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Take it Eze baby, take it as it comes
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze finds own plane just above ground level to sink Spurs | Barney Ronay
The England forward has made a decent start to his Emirates career but this performance was stick-it-on-a-mural stuff
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/23/arsenals-eberechi-eze-finds-own-plane-just-above-ground-level-to-sink-spurs
about 2 months ago
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Ronaldo: now the most abject regime fluffer of all time
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Ronaldo dines with Donald for glamour portion of grotesque Saudi-funded spectacle | Barney Ronay
A pension-pot World Cup is looming for CR9 and with Donald Trump in the White House and Mohammed bin Salman at his back, it seems this is now a safe space
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/22/cristianoronaldo-dines-with-donald-trump-grotesque-saudi-funded-spectacle-world-cup
about 2 months ago
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Hyperdynamic disruptivism
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
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Alastair Cook and Becky Ives make best of TNT Sports’ shonky Ashes production | Barney Ronay
Presenter Becky Ives was breezy, while Alastair Cook was pushed to the front like the last ceremonial horse of some dying cavalry unit
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/21/alastair-cook-becky-ives-make-best-tnt-sports-shonky-ashes-production-cricket
about 2 months ago
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My beautiful laundrette
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Silence over Sudan: why do Manchester City’s owners get away with so much?
Two midweek matches in England had a backdrop of war and geopolitics, but only one drew large protests
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/08/silence-over-sudan-manchester-city-owners-football?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
2 months ago
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Actually a very funny picture of David Warner
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
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Three weeks to the Ashes? Unleash the Bazball alpha-bears, Australia just loves them | Barney Ronay
England need to turn volume up and lean into tone of exceptionalism that continues to annoy their rivals
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/01/three-weeks-to-the-ashes-unleash-the-bazball-alpha-bears-because-its-too-damned-quiet
2 months ago
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There's a way back for Bellingham! Play better. And don’t be a drag.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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England have their best chance of winning World Cup since 1970 – and Tuchel is the key | Barney Ronay
This new realistic, pragmatic approach, with no snags or celebrity bodge-jobs, means that this time could be the one
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/16/england-thomas-tuchel-world-cup-2026-finals-tournnament
3 months ago
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Barney Ronay
Nick Ames
3 months ago
Very high security here in Oslo for Norway v Israel – a game many locally feel shouldn't be taking place at all, but one the visitors can't wait for after this week's news.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Tight security and political tension hang over key Norway v Israel World Cup qualifier
The hosts in Oslo are closing in on qualification but the politics surrounding their visitors’ presence casts a shadow over the football
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/10/norway-israel-world-cup-qualifier-security-tension
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Barney Ronay
I liked Gary Neville’s speech even though he fucked up part of it
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Flag alert! Gary Neville may not be Orwell but he is a very English type of patriot | Barney Ronay
An easy target for accusations of luxury hypocrisy, Neville has at least tried to address an issue that has everything to do with aggressively flag-draped and militarised modern sport
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/10/flag-alert-gary-neville-orwell-english-patriot
3 months ago
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I liked Gary Neville’s speech even though he fucked up part of it
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Flag alert! Gary Neville may not be Orwell but he is a very English type of patriot | Barney Ronay
An easy target for accusations of luxury hypocrisy, Neville has at least tried to address an issue that has everything to do with aggressively flag-draped and militarised modern sport
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/10/flag-alert-gary-neville-orwell-english-patriot
3 months ago
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Insert own Bazball joke
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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Barney Ronay
It’s the hope, really
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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England embrace a new frontier but Tuchel must be wary of hope and glory | Barney Ronay
Win against Wales is over before it began, yet unbridled expectations are the enemy of any manager in this job
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/09/england-embrace-a-new-frontier-but-tuchel-must-be-wary-of-hope-and-glory
3 months ago
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It’s the hope, really
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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England embrace a new frontier but Tuchel must be wary of hope and glory | Barney Ronay
Win against Wales is over before it began, yet unbridled expectations are the enemy of any manager in this job
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/09/england-embrace-a-new-frontier-but-tuchel-must-be-wary-of-hope-and-glory
3 months ago
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reposted by
Barney Ronay
Game Of Throwns
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Rise of long balls marks latest trend in frenzied evolution of Premier League
Set pieces, long throws and generally getting it launched are back with a vengeance amid a notable tactical shift
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/06/premier-league-tactics-analysis-long-balls-set-pieces-throw-ins-arsenal-liverpool
3 months ago
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Game Of Throwns
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Rise of long balls marks latest trend in frenzied evolution of Premier League
Set pieces, long throws and generally getting it launched are back with a vengeance amid a notable tactical shift
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/06/premier-league-tactics-analysis-long-balls-set-pieces-throw-ins-arsenal-liverpool
3 months ago
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Barney Ronay
Crisis-ridden crisis club goes from crisis to crisis
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Maresca’s wild sprint a red-hot release after Chelsea stifle misfiring Liverpool | Barney Ronay
The Blues’ head coach was sent off after Estêvão Willian’s injury-time winner but it is Arne Slot who has solutions to find
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/04/enzo-maresca-wild-sprint-red-hot-release-chelsea-stifle-misfiring-liverpool
3 months ago
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Crisis-ridden crisis club goes from crisis to crisis
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Maresca’s wild sprint a red-hot release after Chelsea stifle misfiring Liverpool | Barney Ronay
The Blues’ head coach was sent off after Estêvão Willian’s injury-time winner but it is Arne Slot who has solutions to find
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/04/enzo-maresca-wild-sprint-red-hot-release-chelsea-stifle-misfiring-liverpool
3 months ago
1
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Barney Ronay
From bad to Wirtz- the top 30 transfers of all time RANKED!!
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Wirtz becomes latest footballer battling to best their objectively weird price tag | Barney Ronay
High-technique midfielder is talented enough for his Liverpool move to work out but most transfers over £80m don’t
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/04/florian-wirtz-latest-footballer-battling-objectively-weird-price-tag-liverpool
3 months ago
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From bad to Wirtz- the top 30 transfers of all time RANKED!!
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Wirtz becomes latest footballer battling to best their objectively weird price tag | Barney Ronay
High-technique midfielder is talented enough for his Liverpool move to work out but most transfers over £80m don’t
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/04/florian-wirtz-latest-footballer-battling-objectively-weird-price-tag-liverpool
3 months ago
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Fascinating as these topics are, just getting a sense this album may not be geared specifically towards me
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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Barney Ronay
This is a very good Arsenal
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Ødegaard and Gyökeres on centre stage as Arteta’s Arsenal plan takes shape | Barney Ronay
With an enticing run of fixtures coming up and the captain back to his best, an enjoyable autumn seems on the cards
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/01/degaard-and-gyokeres-on-centre-stage-as-artetas-arsenal-plan-takes-shape
3 months ago
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This is a very good Arsenal
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Ødegaard and Gyökeres on centre stage as Arteta’s Arsenal plan takes shape | Barney Ronay
With an enticing run of fixtures coming up and the captain back to his best, an enjoyable autumn seems on the cards
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/01/degaard-and-gyokeres-on-centre-stage-as-artetas-arsenal-plan-takes-shape
3 months ago
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Barney Ronay
Jose and the way we were
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Faux-humble José Mourinho plays his part on oddly tender Chelsea return | Barney Ronay
This was not a hangover from another world. It was bang up to date, a piece of pure theatre, entertainment product
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/30/faux-humble-jose-mourinho-plays-his-part-on-oddly-tender-chelsea-return
3 months ago
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Jose and the way we were
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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Faux-humble José Mourinho plays his part on oddly tender Chelsea return | Barney Ronay
This was not a hangover from another world. It was bang up to date, a piece of pure theatre, entertainment product
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/30/faux-humble-jose-mourinho-plays-his-part-on-oddly-tender-chelsea-return
3 months ago
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reposted by
Barney Ronay
Smash the system
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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At any normal club Ruben Amorim would lose his job – but not Manchester United | Barney Ronay
Obdurate manager’s Ruben-ball could arguably take the blame for Fernandes’s penalty fluff in another utterly bloodless performance
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/27/at-any-normal-club-ruben-amorim-would-lose-his-job-but-not-manchester-united
3 months ago
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Smash the system
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
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At any normal club Ruben Amorim would lose his job – but not Manchester United | Barney Ronay
Obdurate manager’s Ruben-ball could arguably take the blame for Fernandes’s penalty fluff in another utterly bloodless performance
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/27/at-any-normal-club-ruben-amorim-would-lose-his-job-but-not-manchester-united
3 months ago
5
40
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