The first time I played Path of Exile was in November 2013. After entering open beta, throwing open the gates for all and sundry, Grinding Gear Games finally revealed its free-to-play action RPG – a tribute to Diablo 2 and an attempt to create a worthy successor. This is usually the part where I tell you of the utter surprise and how much it shocked me, but that’s not what happened.
The grim setting of Wraeclast; the combat and its responsiveness; the Skill Gems and customization – it felt…right. Even the massive Passive Tree didn’t intimidate me, perhaps because I took all the damage nodes, ignored health, and opted for more of my main stat over something like “resistances.” Ah, the good old days of no…
Laurent Blanc says Paris Saint-Germain must look to emulate UEFA Champions League opponents Barcelona over the coming years.
PSG are facing a quarter-final exit for the third year running after losing the first leg 3-1 in Paris, with Tuesday s trip to Camp Nou representing a tall order.
With European success having eluded the French champions following substantial investment in 2011, Blanc says the club shoukd seek to model themselves on Barca.
Barca are a big club, everyone knows that. The club are fortunate enough to have players who will be remembered for years after their retirement, the former France boss said.
There s a difference between PSG and Barca PSG are building a great club and Barcelona are already a great club.
We know we …
Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini, according to the Mirror.
The Argentina international, who is one of struggling Premier League side’s star players has been coveted by a number of sides recently with both halves of Merseyside also monitoring his situation.
Everton were keeping tabs on the twenty-four year old before they turned their attention to Gylfi Sigurdsson while he was on Liverpool’s radar when they were looking for potential replacements for Philippe Coutinho.
He signed for the Hammers from Al Jazira Club, initially on loan in the summer of 2015 and has since racked up seventy-seven appearances in all competitions, scoring sixteen goals.
His current deal is set to expire in 2020 and it…
Marsielle are keen on agreeing a permanent deal form Swansea City forward Bafetimbi Gomis,.
The thirty-one year old moved to the Ligue One outfit on loan in the summer and has already netted for them six times in ten games.
His form has impressed the club’s president Jacques-Henri Eyraud who has hinted the a full-time switch for the Frenchman is on the cards.
Gomis joined Swansea from Lyon in the summer of 2014 and made seventy-one appearances for them in all competitions before returning to his home country, scoring seventeen goals.
He has been capped twelve times for France, scoring three times but hasn’t featured for them since coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 friendly defeat to Brazil in June 2013.
Swansea will be hoping to record…
Mauricio Pochettino remains Manchester United s top target, according to reports.
It may be some time before the Paris Saint-Germain boss ends up at Old Trafford, though.
United appear set to finish this season with an interim manager before making a permanent move for the sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s long-term successor.
TOP STORY – UNITED FOCUSED ON INTERIM MANAGER OPTIONS
All indications are that Mauricio Pochettino will end up at Manchester United eventually, but it could take several months.
The Daily Star reports Pochettino will have to wait six months – through to the end of this season – before jumping from Paris Saint-Germain to Old Trafford.
The report says United have not made any official overtures to PSG and ar…
Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho were on target as Manchester City moved back into second in the Premier League with a comfortable 2-1 home win over West Ham.
The defending champions made light of the difficult wintry conditions at the Etihad Stadium, where the visitors have now won just once in 16 top-flight visits.
Gundogan was on target in a first half where Riyad Mahrez had a strike ruled out, while the Hammers – who have now suffered back-to-back league defeats – were put to rest when Fernandinho netted late on with Manuel Lanzini s goal proving a mere consolation.
Pep Guardiola s 10th top-flight win in 11 attempts against West Ham means City move level on points with leaders Chelsea, albeit that may prove brief as the Blues host Manchester United later on…
Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton and Reading come head to head on Friday night.
The pair are currently separated only by goal difference at the top of the Championship.
However they are six points clear of third place West Ham.
Superb
Both teams have been superb this season and the managers of the respective clubs deserve immense credit for their fantastic seasons. Both Southampton’s Nigel Adkins and Reading’s Brian McDermott have proved themselves to be very astute Championship managers.
Physio
Southampton’s Nigel Adkins has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the Championship from physio to boss in a very short time.
He actually started his managerial career off in Wales with League of Wales side Bangor City, …
Pep Guardiola admits Chelsea’s former Manchester City starlet Cole Palmer has been one of the players of the season.
The City manager has also revealed the 21-year-old England midfielder had been trying to leave the Etihad Stadium for two years prior to his £42.5million switch to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Palmer, who was considered one of City’s brightest Academy products, has been Chelsea’s most influential performer since he moved south in search of more first-team opportunities.
Palmer has scored 25 goals this season, 11 of which have come in his last six appearances.
He heads into Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final showdown with former club City at Wembley fresh from a four-goal salvo against Everton on Monday.
Guardiola said: “Cole ha…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Jack Wilshere for his remarkable strength and believes the midfielder is ready for an England recall.
Wilshere scored his first Premier League goal since May 2015 with the opener in Arsenal s 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Wednesday.
The midfielder has played 11 league games this season but only six of those have been starts.
Wilshere last played for England at Euro 2016 but Wenger says it would be no surprise if the 26-year-old forces his way back into the England squad with the World Cup just over five months away.
I think he is at the level now where not many people expected him to be, Wenger told a news conference.
When was the last time he played for England? Exactly, against Iceland [at Euro 2016], he cam…
Nicolas Otamendi is thoroughly enjoying playing under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and feels like the Spaniard is teaching him even when he is at home.
City announced on Wednesday that Otamendi had signed a two-year contract extension to tie him to the club until 2022.
The Argentina international, who leads the Premier League in completed passes with 2033, is enjoying his best season at the Etihad Stadium since arriving in 2015 and praised the impact Guardiola has had on his game.
I think that now I have an important role because the central defenders have to build-up with the ball and make the team work as best we can. Pep has taught us how to do that, Otamendi said in an interview with CityTV.
From the first day you work with him you learn from hi…