Tag: Burnley

Every Premier League club’s stadium plans – from new stands to ground moves
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Every Premier League club’s stadium plans – from new stands to ground moves

As the Premier League gets bigger and bigger, so – it seems – do the stadiums that play host to it.The vast majority of clubs in the top flight have either drawn up plans to expand their grounds to service the overwhelming demand or are poised to open gleaming new stands – or, in some cases, open new stadiums altogether.Here, our experts guide you through what each club has done to their home ground and what could come next, plus how we rated each stadium in our rankings published last month.Arsenal: Emirates StadiumCurrent capacity: 60,704What The Athletic said: “The Emirates has its critics, but it now delivers the atmosphere, facilities, accessibility and product any sports fan would expect from the Premier League.”The Athletic ranking: 4thWhen was the last redevelopment work done? Ars...
Bad language, worse jokes and riot police: What really happens in the tunnel
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Bad language, worse jokes and riot police: What really happens in the tunnel

“I’ll see you in the tunnel.”There was a time when that was more than a throwaway line on the pitch, even if some players found a way to make sure that they never showed up.“One of my standard challenges was to (jump and) head the ball and put my studs down someone’s back — which you’d get sent off for now,” Liam Ridgewell, the former Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Portland Timbers defender, tells The Athletic. “I did it to the late, great Papa Bouba Diop at Fulham.”Ridgewell, now a coach with MLS side Portland, pauses as he thinks back to what happened next.“You know that GIF when Jim Carrey wipes his mouth and changes his demeanour? Well, Bouba Diop turned around, rubbed his back and went: ‘What. Did. You. Just. Do?’ And I thought: ‘S—.’“He said: ‘I’ll see you in...
Premier League stadium rankings: All 20 from worst to best – so you could shout at us
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Premier League stadium rankings: All 20 from worst to best – so you could shout at us

Welcome to The Athletic’s Premier League stadium rankings, an exercise in entertainment, creating arguments nobody can win and questionable mathematics.Before we start, we should beg for forgiveness. This is an almost impossible task and however we choose categories, weight categories and then mark the teams is going to annoy you. It’s a subjective topic and there isn’t a right answer.All we ask is that you know we have put far too many hours into all this, tried to make it as fair as possible, and are not deliberately trying to upset anyone.So take a seat — or stand, if you prefer — maybe get one of those squeezy stress balls and enjoy. Hey, you might even agree with some of it.Coming to this order has been a long, methodical process involving a working group that broke the scoring into ...
The USMNT want Premier League wonderkid Luca Koleosho – this is why
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The USMNT want Premier League wonderkid Luca Koleosho – this is why

Luca Koleosho is used to being in demand.The 19-year-old was coveted by clubs across Europe this summer after deciding to leave Espanyol in Spain, eventually joining Premier League newcomers Burnley.And internationally, too, there is a scramble for his services: he may have spent his summer representing Italy Under-20s, but the United States, Canada and Nigeria have not given up hope of persuading him to commit to them. He is qualified to play for all of them and all four will be studying his progress in England with interest.It is a startling rise for a player who had just six senior appearances to his name before this season, yet the excitement around him does not look overhyped. This is why Koleosho is a wanted man.When Luca Koleosho’s name was put forward by Burnley’s recruitment depa...