Thursday cannon fodder: respected mockery benefit

Premier League/England

Barclays deal shows women’s game now big-bucks business | Suzanne Wrack | Football | The Guardian
Barclays’ sponsorship of the FA Women’s Super League shatters idea that sponsoring women’s sport is the cheap option that makes your brand look good.

Sophie Jones: Sheffield United Women forward banned for racial abuse - BBC Sport
Sheffield United Women forward Sophie Jones is found guilty of racial abuse and given a five-game ban.

Guardiola ‘furious’ over decision that could benefit Liverpool - Football365
Pep Guardiola is reportedly ‘furious’ with a scheduling decision made by the Premier League.

Three Smaller Premier League Stories to Watch | StatsBomb
Looking at some things that might have flown under your radar.

Wales 1-0 Trinidad and Tobago: Ben Woodburn scores injury-time winner - BBC Sport
Ben Woodburn’s injury-time winner gives a shadow Wales side a win against Trinidad and Tobago as international football returns to Wrexham.

Why societal change makes mockery of England’s dual nationality debate | Barney Ronay | Football | The Guardian
Increasing numbers of England players are dual-qualified, requiring a nuanced approach to identity, history and family.

Chelsea’s Emma Hayes: ‘We respect PSG but we don’t fear them’ | Football | The Guardian
The Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes, has said the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain is a game for which they have been preparing ‘all season’.

Europe

Barcelona prepare €50m bid to sign Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt | Football | The Guardian
Barcelona are preparing a €50m bid for Luka Jovic and hope to start negotiations with Eintracht Frankfurt in the next few weeks.

MLS/Americas

Christian Pulisic on USMNT’s future: We want to be respected around the world | Pro Soccer USA
And I want someone to walk up to me and hand me a million dollars.

MLS announces multi-year gaming partnership with MGM Resorts International | MLSsoccer.com
Corruption is possible! MLS is hitting the big time now!

Randy Levine: NYCFC Stadium Announcement Could Come “This Year” - Hudson River Blue
Manchester City West currently play at Yankee Stadium, which is, to be extremely charitable, ill-suited for soccer.

I want whatever Brad Guzan is having - 7500 To Holte
Our old pal was involved in a right situation earlier this week.

Other

Football managers: What are their job interviews really like? - BBC Sport
Ever wondered what actually goes on in a manager's interview? BBC Sport takes a look inside the boardroom.

The strange existence of modern football's back-up goalkeeper
They wait for cups or injuries and they perform. But before they know it, the first-choice goalkeeper returns and the back-up finds the bench again.

Marvin Sordell column: the TRUTH about being an 'overnight' success in football | FourFourTwo
It's easy to assume that those who make it through academies have done so without a hitch, by just always being the best kids around. It's also incorrect.