Richard Jolly

sts03@sph.com.sg

Will United be the odd champs in an odd season?

Jan 17, 2021, 5:00 am

On The Ball: In strange season, Manchester United mount one of the oddest title challenges

Jan 16, 2021, 5:04 pm
Tottenham's reliance on Harry Kane and Son Heung-min for goals is risky. Steven Bergwijn is the third of the front three, a diligent defender who has not scored in 27 appearances. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

On The Ball: Two may not suffice for Tottenham

Jan 10, 2021, 5:00 am

Brilliant Kane-Son pair may not be enough to fulfil Spurs' goals

Jan 9, 2021, 5:20 pm
While Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho is still Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's top target, there is still a vacancy on the right wing. Manchester United's immediate addition on the flanks will be the young Ivorian Amad Diallo (in blue), whose arrival from

January transfers will be the stuff of reality, not dreams

Jan 3, 2021, 5:00 am

On The Ball: January EPL transfers will be the stuff of reality, not dreams

Jan 2, 2021, 10:22 pm
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not be Man United boss under new Brexit rules. PHOTO: REUTERS

On The Ball: Brexit largely a barrier to foreign teenage dreams

Jan 1, 2021, 5:00 am
Perhaps no one, Barcelona included, could afford Lionel Messi. His current annual £54 million (S$97 million) salary means any club's finances would need to be radically revised, even if Messi took a considerable cut.

Messi could move soon, but who can afford him?

Dec 27, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Messi could move soon, but who can afford him?

Dec 26, 2020, 11:00 pm
Donny van de Beek (left) and Paul Pogba brought invention and incision against Sheffield United, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer often pairs Nemanja Matic or Scott McTominay with Fred.

Creative spark missing at Theatre of Dreams

Dec 20, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Creative spark missing inside Manchester United's Theatre of Dreams

Dec 19, 2020, 10:42 pm

On the Ball: Arsenal's efforts are one step forward but two steps back

Dec 13, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Arsenal's efforts are one step forward but two steps back

Dec 12, 2020, 10:42 pm

Defensive Mourinho back in fashion

Dec 6, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Mourinho can come back in fashion to inspire throwback champions

Dec 5, 2020, 6:09 pm

Will the pupil outwit the master again?

Nov 29, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Will the pupil outwit the master again when Lampard takes on Mourinho?

Nov 28, 2020, 10:59 pm
Brendan Rodgers (with Jamie Vardy at Elland Road on Nov 2) is a former evangelist for possession football, with his side scoring five goals at the Etihad and four at Elland Road with 28 and 32 per cent of the ball respectively. Vardy, especially, rev

On The Ball: Defence is Rodgers' best form of attack

Nov 22, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Defence is Leicester and Rodgers' best form of attack

Nov 21, 2020, 9:51 pm
As Riyad Mahrez's Man City have lacked fluency in attack, Harvey Barnes' Leicester have seized the initiative and ascendancy in the Premier League.

Some big guns may miss out on Europe

Nov 15, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Possible new European order among football's elite

Nov 14, 2020, 10:22 pm

Guardiola still searching for answers in Klopp rivalry

Nov 8, 2020, 5:00 am

On The Ball: Guardiola still searching for answers in Klopp rivalry

Nov 7, 2020, 9:32 pm

United struggle with deep-sitting sides

Nov 1, 2020, 5:00 am