Thursday cannon fodder: inspire poking protest passion

Premier League/England

Liverpool hope £50m Kirkby training facility will inspire academy players | Football | The Guardian
Manager Jürgen Klopp believes the new facility will inspire the club’s academy prospects

West Ham take down video poking fun at new Spurs boss Mourinho | Football | The Guardian
West Ham upped the ante before José Mourinho’s first game in charge of Tottenham by goading the Portuguese on Twitter.

Jose Mourinho: Tottenham’s new manager says he will bring passion and happiness - BBC Sport
I mean, he’ll definitely bring one of the two.

Stevenage’s Mark Sampson charged by FA over offensive remark about player | Football | The Guardian
The caretaker manager has been charged by the Football Association with making an offensive remark.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham really did prove that trophies are not the only measure of success | FourFourTwo
The outgoing Spurs manager didn’t deliver silverware – but he built a project and left a legacy that fans will cherish for a long time.

Europe

Ryan Giggs: Has Wales boss won over fans with Euro 2020 qualification? - BBC Sport
Ryan Giggs may be changing perceptions among Wales fans by winning when it really matters and sealing Euro qualification.

Footballers in the Netherlands to protest against racism - BBC Sport
Footballers in the top two divisions in the Netherlands will not play the first minute of their matches this weekend to draw attention to racism.

Sources: Gareth Bale flag celebration ‘a bad joke’ - Real Madrid
Wales captain Bale was pictured laughing and joking with teammates while posing with the fan-made banner post-game.

Sources: Manchester United players told to stay indoors at Astana
Manchester United players have been told not to go outside for more than 10 minutes at a time when they travel to Astana, due to cold conditions.

MLS/Americas

MLS All-Stars to face Liga MX All-Stars in 2020 | Pro Soccer USA
The 2020 MLS All-Star Game will pit the league’s best players against their counterparts from Liga MX for the first time.

Brazil 3-0 South Korea: Tite’s side claim first win since lifting Copa America - BBC Sport
Brazil end their five-game winless run with a comfortable victory over South Korea in Abu Dhabi.

2019 Expansion Draft results: Inter Miami, Nashville SC make their picks | MLSsoccer.com
MLS expansion teams Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC added new players to their squads during the 2019 Expansion Draft.

Other

Rapinoe and Pique give Bale a lesson in how to tackle murky world of politics | Kevin Mitchell | Football | The Guardian
The Wales forward may think of little other than football and golf, but not all athletes are so disengaged with the world around them.

Australia and New Zealand discuss dual bid for Women’s World Cup in 2023 | Football | The Guardian
Australia’s bid for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup is shaping to be a joint bid with New Zealand.