The Beard visits Arsenal, tries crossbar challenge
The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.
Jump to: Rapinoe for President? Poll says she has a shot in 2020 | Spurs’ Ndombele name-checked in verse by AJ Tracey
With the first team away on preseason tour, Arsenal welcomed a VIP guest to the Emirates this week as NBA superstar James Harden dropped in for a visit.
The Houston Rockets point guard was given a tour of the stadium by young Gunners winger Reiss Nelson.
– What was said in Pogba-Lingard ‘row’ in Man United tour?
– USWNT keep World Cup party going on whirlwind schedule
– QUIZ! Which star are you: Ronaldo? Messi? Neymar?
Amid links of a move which would see Neymar return to Barcelona, the PSG superstar failed to turn up for the first day of preseason training in Paris.
PSG on the club’s website confirmed the Brazilian’s absence was not excused saying: “PSG affirms that the player Neymar Jr was not present at the time and place required, without prior authorisation from the club.”
“PSG regrets this situation and will take appropriate action.”
To make matters worse, Neymar, who missed the recently concluded Copa America with an ankle injury, was spotted Tuesday in an Instagram video playing Footvolley on the beach in Brazil.
Monday: PSG release a statement accusing Neymar of failing to show for preseason.
Tuesday: Neymar plays footvolley on a beach in Brazil. pic.twitter.com/7pb4c96TL4
PSG will not be happy to see this and this is just further proof that Neymar is looking to force his way out of Paris. Neymar’s father has since stated that his son will report on Monday, and that these institutional commitments were pre-planned and should not come as a surprise to PSG. If there is one positive to the Beachvolley video, Neymar’s injured ankle looks good!
PSG sporting director Leonardo has said “Neymar can leave PSG, if there is an offer that suits everyone.
“But to date, we do not know if anyone wants to buy him, or at what price. All this is not done in a day, that’s for sure.”
One thing is for sure, the Neymar Show is never short on drama..
.@mPinoe = leadership.
🔥⚽️🏆🙌🇺🇸
Also, #PayThem: https://t.co/jQD3qfCBy9
& thanks to @ppppolls for the polling data. Huge. pic.twitter.com/1e05e06gCj
One of the biggest storylines coming out of the Women’s World Cup this summer was Megan Rapinoe’s exchanges with U.S. President Donald Trump that played out on social media. Trump has been a critic of Rapinoe for not respecting the anthem ahead of matches, while the U.S. winger maintained her behaviour is no reflection on her patriotism, calling herself “extremely American.”
Rapinoe went as far as to say she wouldn’t visit the White House if the team won the trophy, with Trump responding that she should take care of business on the field before making those kinds of comments. Well Rapinoe and her U.S. teammates got the last word as they beat Netherlands 2-0 to win the World Cup and the 34-year-old took home the Golden Boot in the process.
And while no one can be sure what is next for Rapinoe, a recent survey from Public Policy Polling suggests that the Reign FC captain could have a future in politics as soon as 2020. The Democratic firm’s poll shows that Rapinoe would beat Trump in an election by the narrowest of margins at 42% to 41%. And that number could skew even higher for Rapinoe with the polling company adding that many of the 17% who were undecided would likely side with the USWNT star over POTUS as her name recognition grows in the aftermath of the World Cup win.
Speculative? Sure. A long shot? Of course. But it’s certainly fun to consider and would be one intriguing way for Rapinoe to circumvent the need for an invitation to the White House.
“You know I ball like Ndombele.” @ajtracey couldn’t resist giving @SpursOfficial a shoutout in the Live Lounge 😅
This Sweet Female Attitude cover of ‘Flowers’ with @JorjaSmith is a BIG summer mood: https://t.co/P8fLd8E7XG pic.twitter.com/adkyLlaIOm
When Tanguy Ndombele signed for Tottenham from Lyon earlier this month he probably didn’t think he’d find himself immortalised in rap within his first week in north London.
However, while performing a cover of “Flowers” by Sweet Female Attitude in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, rapper AJ Tracey dropped in a verse that name-checked Tottenham’s new £55m midfielder.
AJ Tracey is a massive Spurs fan and even performed at the club’s 2017-18 kit launch event.
Indeed, his song “False 9” — which Tottenham played over the speakers at Wembley last season — includes lyrical references to Christian Eriksen, Eric Dier, Hugo Lloris and Josh Onomah. So now Ndombele’s record-breaking signing is doubly official.