paulmbanks, Author at The Bank

Arsenal Starting XI Prediction vs Liverpool FC (EFL Cup Semis)

January 19, 2022 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

Tomorrow brings a rescheduled EFL Cup semifinal, leg 2/2, between Liverpool and Arsenal, and the main storyline transcends football. This match was originally scheduled to take place two weeks ago, and with Arsenal’s Premier League fixture versus Burnley this weekend potentially getting called off, the elephant in the room is of course the coronavirus pandemic.

The cancelations and rescheduling have created a massive mess, in which it really feels like no one actually knows what’s going on right now. Just ask the manager of Arsenal’s biggest rival.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Arsenal, Football/Soccer, Liverpool

Arsenal Team News vs Liverpool (EFL Cup): Arteta, Odegaard, Mari

January 19, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

As we head into the second leg of the EFL Cup semifinals, the tie between Liverpool and Arsenal, the major match storyline revolves around postponements and rescheduling. There has been a lot of criticism aimed at Arsenal, whether that’s fair or not, and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta used his press conference on Wednesday to address that.

After the North London Derby was cancelled, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte made his feelings known, with rather strong opinions, as he hit out at the Premier League.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Arsenal, Football/Soccer, Liverpool

Antonio Conte Slams Premier League Rescheduling as a Mess

January 19, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte slammed the Premier League’s rescheduling strategy after and amid a wave of matches postponed from covid-19 outbreaks. Tomorrow sees Tottenham Hotspur travel to Leicester City for a match that got called off on Dec. 16, just hours before kickoff.

Their North London Derby on Sunday was postponed because Arsenal, which had only one covid case at the time, was very short-handed due to a multitude of reasons (injuries, suspensions, players away at AFCON. According to Conte, there doesn’t seem to be any real consistency when it comes to the criteria the league has utilized for cancelation, or how it goes about rescheduling.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Football/Soccer, Tottenham Hotspur

Johnny Davis Top Concern as Northwestern Hosts #8 Wisconsin

January 18, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis is considered a front-runner for Big Ten Player of the Year, National Player of the Year awards and a NBA Draft Lottery prospect. He leads the top ten ranked Wisconsin Badgers into Evanston tonight to take on the up-and-down Northwestern Wildcats.

NU is coming off their massive upset victory at #10 Michigan State on Saturday. The Wildcats took down the Spartans despite missing Pete Nance, who is their leading scorer (17.7 points) and rebounder (7.7). Nance, a fringe NBA Draft prospect had a career-high 28 in the 2 OT loss against Maryland on Wednesday night.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: College Basketball, college sports, Northwestern Wildcats

Man United Starting XI Prediction at Brentford FC

January 18, 2022 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

Manchester United remain a mess, but there is still a lot of potential there. That’s provided the team can find some real semblance of team chemistry. The Premier League title race is over now, and they have been out of the mix for some time, but you still have plenty to play for.

However, nothing salvageable will come of this season unless interim manager Ralf Rangnick can figure out his lineup. He needs to find the winning hand that works for him and his side.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Manchester United

United Team News at Brentford: Ronaldo, Pogba, Rashford, Martial

January 18, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

As Manchester United prepare to host Brentford FC on Wednesday, the main storyline revolves around the rift between Anthony Martial and Ralf Rangnick. The Frenchman has fallen far out of favor for quite some time, and one wonders if his days at the club are numbered.

Rangnick insists the once fractured player-manager relationship has now been mended though. “I’m here now for six weeks, all the things that needed to be said, I said after the press conference (at Aston Villa),” Rangnick said to a news conference today.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Football/Soccer, Manchester United

Andre Curbelo Finally Returns, Provides Illini with Big Lift

January 18, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

“He’s gaining ground on it,” Illini coach Brad Underwood responded when asked about the potential return of Andre Curbelo, the day before the blockbuster double overtime loss at home to #4 Purdue. Curbelo scored 20, on 8-14 shooting, and grabbed six rebounds, while handing out three assists.

He caught Purdue coach Matt Painter by surprise, as Curbelo had been out since the November win over Kansas State with a very mysterious injury. (It’s been described as a head and neck injury/head injury/concussion, but there really hasn’t been any official word)

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: College Basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini, NBA

Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction at Brighton

January 17, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

When Chelsea lost 1-0 at Manchester City over the weekend, there was plenty of blame to go around. Some of it fell on Romelu Lukaku directly, and when you’re the most expensive player in club history, it comes with the territory.

And of course, when you start trouble at your current club, with your current manager, you can get singled out, in a bad way, by your boss. And that’s exactly what Thomas Tuchel did on Saturday. Now the situation is supposedly rectified, so what does that mean moving forward, starting with a trip to Brighton?

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chelsea, Football/Soccer

Chelsea FC Team News at Brighton: Mendy, Christensen, Chalobah

January 17, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

Chelsea fell at Manchester City on Saturday, 1-0, and in doing so they saw their Premier League title dreams dashed. Now they’re not even the side closest to Manchester City in the table, as Liverpool (even with a game in hand) have surpassed the Blues.

Now it’s time to shift the focus to the top four instead, with “the rest of the season” beginning with a trip to surprisingly solid Brighton & Hove Albion.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chelsea, Football/Soccer

#4 Purdue 98, #17 Illini Basketball 88 (2 OTs): Notes, Quotes, Stats

January 17, 2022 By paulmbanks Leave a Comment

In the words of Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan: “69 dude.” At the end of regulation, that was the tied score between #4 Purdue and #17 Illini basketball. In order to get there, the Boilermakers blew a 65-58 lead, when 12th year senior (not literally, but that is what it feels like at this point) Sasha Stefanovic hit a big three with 2:47 left in the regulation.

The Boilers biggest lead was 13, as they took a 37-26 lead into the second half. They did not trail after the 4:05 mark in the first time OT. The final score read 96-88 Purdue, with the visitors getting the signature road W after not one, but two overtimes.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: College Basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini, Purdue Boilermakers

Erling Haaland Says ‘things will happen now’ Regarding Potential Transfer

January 17, 2022 By paulmbanks 1 Comment

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is The Next Big Thing in football, so when he leaves Borussia Dortmund for his next club, it will be blockbuster news. According to the man himself, it seems like it’s going to happen this summer, and the preliminary negotiations will get started soon.

Haaland has been linked with absolutely all of the biggest clubs, in the entire world, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

[Read more…]

Follow paulmbanks

Filed Under: Chelsea, Football/Soccer, Manchester City, Manchester United