Sean Strickland said, 'If you meet a girl and she doesn't want to be with you, well you're driving a Hyundai Accent she ain't the one dude'

"Not a joke, folks," President Joe Biden likes to say to punctuate points in speeches that few would mistake for jokes.

Demi Stokes believes Manchester City can rise to the challenge as the competition in the Women’s Super League gets ever tougher. City were forced to settle for a disappointing fourth place last season, finishing outside the Champions League berths for the first time since 2014. After winning the title in 2016 and then finishing runners-up in four successive seasons, City have been muscled out of the top positions in recent years. Chelsea have been the dominant force, having won the past four WSL crowns, but first Arsenal and now Manchester United have got their noses in front of City. Yet far from being frustrated, City defender Stokes has welcomed the increased competition as a sign of the growing strength of the women’s game and is convinced her side can match them. “I think if you look at last year, we had some very good performances,” the 31-year-old left-back told the PA news agency. “We were obviously disappointed with how we finished but I think if you look at the team and the depth that we’ve got, we’ve got everything that we need to win and it’s just about being consistent. “Obviously the league is getting harder and harder but that’s what we want. Other teams are improving, but we’re improving. It is going to be tight. “You know that you have to be consistent every week and every game is hard. It’s not just a handful that are going to be hard – each game is hard. “Everyone can take points off everyone. If you don’t turn up on the day, you’ll get punished for it. “But we know what we need to do. We’ve had our conversations and we’re just looking forward to the season starting.” Stokes, a member of England’s successful Euro 2022 squad, was overlooked for this summer’s World Cup campaign. She enjoyed watching the Lionesses run to the final as a fan but has not given up hope of forcing her way back into the international picture. “I had a good summer and I enjoyed watching it,” said Stokes, who signed a new one-year contract at City in June. “The girls did really well and they should be proud. “For me, I got my holidays in and it’s almost been like having a reset button and going again. “I’ve just got to concentrate on City now and then see where that goes. Play minutes – injury free – and we’ll go from there.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Vincent Kompany excited about Wilson Odobert’s potential after impressive debut Changes on and off the pitch as a new era approaches for Women’s Super League Pain of missing Ryder Cup will hit home now with LIV rebels – Rory McIlroy

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KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 27, 2023--

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Vincent Kompany is excited about Wilson Odobert’s potential after watching the teenager score on his full debut for Burnley in a 4-0 Carabao Cup win over League Two Salford. The 18-year-old had already tested home goalkeeper Alex Cairns on a couple of occasions before crowning a comfortable win for Burnley with his 81st-minute strike, collecting a cross from the impressive Anass Zaroury and cutting back inside before firing home. It was only Odobert’s second appearance in a Burnley shirt following his summer move from Troyes and while Kompany will not rush the young Frenchman, the manager wants him to be making a regular contribution soon as the Clarets look to turn around their Premier League form. “We talk about the team settling and stuff and as I’ve told you, some of the guys who will be the heroes for us this season, you don’t see them but I see them in training and we have to be prepared for them to come into the team,” Kompany said. “Guys like Wilson are these type of guys. You can see the talent. It’s a matter of time. Is it tomorrow? Is it in a week or a month’s time? We don’t know. We’ll go with them. “Just like Luca Koleosho, we’ve some exciting players and hopefully they’ll be able to show it very soon for us. We’ll need it.” Kompany made 11 changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Manchester United on Saturday as he continues to marshal a 34-strong squad and figure out his best combinations. But even with so many changes, it still felt like a strong selection. Vitinho returned from injury, Odobert made his first start and Jack Cork got only his second run out of the campaign, starting in defence, but most of those involved have already featured regularly this term. After bringing in 13 new faces this summer, Burnley still need time to gel, as has been reflected by their winless start to the Premier League season. A cup win over a side struggling near the bottom of League Two is only a small step forward, but progress all the same. “We’ve got a lot of players still gelling together and I don’t think players would have played together as a team,” Kompany said. “Seeing a collective performance is more important than just seeing the individuals for me.” He added of that gelling process: “It’s not something that’s abnormal. We knew it was part of something that was going to happen and we had it last year. In that sense, it’s not different. “The level of opposition of course is different but you work hard on the training ground and after every game to make sure the team gets to the level it needs to be at as quickly as possible. You also enjoy that side of it. That’s why we’re coaches… “It’s still early days for a lot of these guys but in the end, if the collective is robust then you can make adaptations. We prioritised game time – Corky played at centre back as if he had played there for the last 10 years. “But when you look after the ball and when you have strikers and wingers who can be dangerous, it always gives you a chance to spread the load across the team.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Demi Stokes insists Manchester City well placed to challenge for WSL title Changes on and off the pitch as a new era approaches for Women’s Super League Pain of missing Ryder Cup will hit home now with LIV rebels – Rory McIlroy

Rapper Nashawn Breedlove, best known for appearing in a rap battle against Eminem in the 2002 movie "8 Mile," has died at age 46.

'He can't handle the truth or accept that I exposed Nina for who she is. A real man would want to handle it in the ring', Dillon Danis said