The decision to hire Juric in the first place only served to highlight the lack of a clear sporting strategy.
When the Friedkins arrived, their decision to bring in Jose Mourinho as manager won them plaudits. A proven winner and a man capable of capturing global interest, Mourinho would satisfy both commercial and sporting needs.
The Stadio Olimpico was sold out for 43 consecutive games and the fanbase fell in love with the Portuguese who led them to back-to-back European finals.
However, Roma failed to prepare for what was to come after Mourinho. When he was sacked, the fans were furious and the decision to hand the reins to Daniele de Rossi seemed a way to placate supporters rather than to serve a long-term vision.
The former captain of the side understands the club and the culture but had a different playing style and little experience. The decision to then extend his contract before the summer raised a few eyebrows.
Investing more than 100m euros (£83m) in summer transfers, the Friedkins sought to support De Rossi’s tactical vision and squad requirements.
Dismissing him only four weeks into the season remains a hasty and bewildering decision – but to then entrust the squad of players to Juric, a man with an entirely different playing philosophy, emphasised the lack of forward planning.
Juric predictably failed. He not only failed to transmit his ideas but the players were visibly sad, unhappy or overlooked.
Spare a thought in particular for Germany centre-half Mats Hummels, who joined Roma on a free transfer in the summer.
He had spoken of growing up watching Francesco Totti and De Rossi and his excitement to be training under the latter – only to watch on from the sidelines as Juric consistently overlooked him, choosing to play a midfielder at the back rather than the Champions League finalist.
“We are big believers in stability and culture,” said Dan Friedkin in his first official interview four years ago.
“This is important in our existing businesses, and it’s critically important in football. We try to identify, and more importantly support, strong management.”
The problem at Roma is no-one quite understands who is calling the shots.
The club are still without a CEO after Lina Souloukou resigned from her role, while Frenchman Ghisolfi – the man who stepped up to absorb fans’ ire and acknowledge mistakes – seems to have no power to make decisions, leaving the Italian media to debate how long he will last in his role.
It does not help that he only speaks in French at a club obsessed with its history and traditions.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement says unpopular substitutions like the withdrawal of Connor Barron in the 1-0 home win against Hearts is down to managing players’ work load. (Sun), external
Supporters “don’t know all the facts,” insists Clement. (Mail), external
Clement believes Sunday’s match winner Cyriel Dessers is taking steps to be more clinical in front of goal. (Herald – substitution), external
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his side are ready for an “ultramarathon” of games after the international break. (Mail), external
Ante Palaversa had no doubt Aberdeen would bounce back from their League Cup humbling by Celtic, as the Dons got back to winning ways against Dundee in the Scottish Premership. (Record), external
Nicky Cadden is bothered by the notion that he is not deeply affected by Hibernian’s woes. (Record), external
Former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Scotland manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bought a flat in Glasgow’s west end to be near his brother. (Sun), external
The decision to move Buttler down to number three after so much success as an opener for England raised a few eyebrows.
But given he was in to face the second ball of the innings after Salt, a day on from his century in the first T20, chipped Akeal Hosein to cover first ball, the England skipper might as well have been opening.
After a golden duck of his own on Saturday, Buttler made a careful start and it was Jacks who got things started as England upped the tempo late in the powerplay.
From the moment he clobbered Shepherd for a huge straight six in the sixth over, with a pair of boundaries either side, Buttler then led the charge.
The 34-year-old hammered Gudakesh Motie on to the roof of the Kensington Oval and clubbed Roston Chase into the stands to bring up a 32-ball fifty.
When he nailed back-to-back maximums off Chase a couple of overs later, an England victory seemed assured, as did a Buttler hundred.
However, he skied a slower ball from Shepherd in the next over and was denied a second T20 international ton.
Liam Livingstone came in and smacked an unbeaten 23 from 11 balls to get the job done in a hurry for England.
Relinquishing the wicketkeeping gloves and moving to bat at three were the big decisions made by Buttler before this series and it remains to be seen whether they are the right calls in the long run.
But with two wins from two and a trademark, swashbuckling innings so far, the early signs are certainly positive.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray produced a scintillating display in a dominant 31-6 success over the New York Jets – with 266 yards, a passing touchdown and two rushing scores in a fourth straight win for the Cardinals.
Aaron Rodgers had no answer as the Cardinals defence did not allow a touchdown for the third straight home game and they now look a team to watch for the play-offs.
The play-offs appear well out of reach for the 3-7 Jets, who fancied a Super Bowl run with Rodgers but have now lost six of seven and looked totally lost in Arizona.
“We’re playing like trash,” was Jets wide receiver Garret Wilson’s verdict.
It looks even bleaker for the Dallas Cowboys, who looked lifeless in attack without injured quarterback Dak Prescott as they were demolished 34-6 by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prescott could miss the rest of the season, but their season will be over soon enough if they continue producing the kind of performances that have seen them lose four in a row.
The Chicago Bears are another fancied side in trouble. Caleb Williams was sacked nine times in a 19-3 home defeat by the New England Patriots that dropped them to 4-5.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is under serious pressure after the worst of three straight losses and the team’s inability to score points despite their array of talented playmakers.
Ireland and Argentina have played each other 19 times at Test level, their first encounter coming in 1990.
The Irish have won 13 of those, including all 10 at home, the most recent being a resounding 53-7 win in November 2021.
Argentina do, however, possess some notable wins against the Irish having prevailed in three out of their four World Cup encounters.
The most recent of those came in the 2015 quarter-finals in Cardiff. With Ireland favourites to earn a semi-final berth for the first time, the Pumas raced into a 17-0 lead and eventually won 43-20.
It was a hugely painful evening for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, who were missing Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne because of injury.
Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Iain Henderson, all of whom featured in that quarter-final, are still in the Ireland squad while the likes of Santiago Cordero and Matias Alemanno are still in the Argentina panel.
While Hammarby failed to defend their league title this season, they are enjoying a new adventure in Europe.
A 12,062 crowd – a record for a WCL qualifier – watched Martin Sjogren’s side lose 2-1 at home in the first leg of their play-off against Benfica, quarter-finalists last season.
A week later in Lisbon, Cathinka Tandberg’s 95th-minute strike secured a 3-2 aggregate victory and a place in the group stage for the first time.
Before their group-stage debut – a 2-0 win against Austrian side St Polten at the Tele2 Arena – the players were welcomed on to the pitch by a huge tifo showing captain Alice Carlsson planting a Hammarby flag in the centre of a map of Europe.
More than 14,000 tickets have been sold for the home fixtures against Manchester City and Barcelona.
“The backing we have from the stands is unique,” midfielder Julie Blakstad said before the trip to Barcelona. “It really helps us in matches, especially knowing many fans travel to support us.”
And that is the point of it all, really. What Sandstrom, Hommrich and thousands of other Hammarby fans are doing continues the fight for gender equality in a space that still desperately needs it.
“I have three daughters – I want them to have the same dreams as the boys,” says Sandstrom.
“My heart is burning for equality in football. I want the women’s teams to play for the same amount of people and I want to have big singing stands with capos, drums and big tifos. In Hammarby, female players can live that dream right now.”
Davis scored 22 points in 26 minutes before exiting the game in the third quarter due to an eye injury sustained while attempting to block a shot from the Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl. This marks another eye injury for the 31-year-old, who dealt with a corneal abrasion last season in March against the Golden State Warriors and was again struck in the left eye in April against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James contributed a standout performance, posting 19 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds, marking his second consecutive triple-double. At 39 years old, he became the oldest player in NBA history to achieve this milestone, notching his third triple-double of the season and the 115th of his career.
The Raptors led 34-26 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 48-38 in the second, but the Lakers rallied to narrow the gap to 55-53 by halftime. Late in the third quarter, with the Raptors ahead 77-72 and 3:59 left on the clock, the Lakers surged with a 16-5 run that shifted control of the game in their favor.
In other NBA action, Stephen Curry nailed seven of his 13 three-point attempts, totaling 36 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 127-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 43-point effort wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Bucks, who fell 113-107 to the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum led the defending champions with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Boston, who have won nine of their first 11 games, still trail the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference by two games. Payton Pritchard added 18 points off the bench for Boston, with Derrick White and former Buck Jrue Holiday scoring 15 points each, and Jaylen Brown adding 14.
Antetokounmpo, who also claimed 13 rebounds, had a heated moment with Brown, elbowing him to the floor before playfully offering his hand only to pull it away when Brown reached for it. Brown responded, saying, “Giannis is a child. I’m just focused on helping my team get a win.”
Pep Guardiola attributed Manchester City’s unexpected 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth partly to the limited recovery time his squad had before the match. Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson scored to secure a historic victory for Bournemouth, who had never before defeated City in the league.
“Pep Guardiola Blames Recovery Time for Man City’s Shock Defeat to Bournemouth”
City’s loss came just days after a 2-1 Carabao Cup exit against Tottenham, giving them only three days’ rest before heading to Bournemouth. In contrast, Bournemouth had a week-long break after their last game at Aston Villa, allowing them a distinct advantage. With this defeat, City slipped to second place, trailing Liverpool by two points after Liverpool’s comeback win over Brighton.
Reflecting on the match, Guardiola acknowledged the disparity in intensity. “We couldn’t match Bournemouth’s intensity, especially with just three days to recover,” he explained. He highlighted the challenge of defending against Bournemouth’s long balls and noted that while City created some chances, they struggled to defend deep against the sustained pressure.
Ahead of the game, Guardiola had raised concerns about injuries affecting his team. Key players, including Savinho and Kevin De Bruyne, remained on the bench, while defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones face extended injury absences. Guardiola also pointed out the strain on players like Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake, who returned to play despite limited training time.
Kyle Walker echoed his manager’s thoughts, emphasizing that Bournemouth’s preparation time gave them an edge. “Sometimes, in games like this, you have to play with heart,” Walker said. He noted City’s late push in the final minutes but acknowledged that coming back from 2-0 down was always going to be difficult.
Conclusion
Despite the loss, both Guardiola and Walker gave credit to Bournemouth’s well-organized team. City now faces the challenge of managing a thin squad as they move forward in the season.
Best Web Hosting Services for 2024: Expert Reviews and Comparisons
Image Source: AI Generated
Picking the right web hosting service is a vital decision that website owners must make in 2024. The web hosting market now offers plenty of options at different price points and service levels. Website owners need to understand their specific hosting requirements before they commit to a service provider.
This piece gives you a complete breakdown of the best web hosting providers in all categories – shared hosting, VPS hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers. You’ll find detailed comparisons of leading providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, and DigitalOcean. The guide covers everything from uptime guarantees and storage space to bandwidth limits and customer support quality. Each recommendation comes from thorough testing and ground performance data.
Top Shared Hosting Providers for 2024
Shared hosting remains the most popular choice for small to medium-sized websites and provides an excellent balance of features and affordability. Let’s get into the top providers that stand out in 2024 for their exceptional service and value.
Hostinger: Best overall value and features
Hostinger guides the market by combining exceptional affordability with outstanding performance. The Premium shared hosting plan costs just $2.49 per month and provides remarkable value with 100 websites and 100GB of storage capacity [1]. Their custom-built hPanel control panel features an easy-to-use interface, and LiteSpeed web servers guarantee optimal performance.
Hostinger stands out with its perfect 99.9% uptime record during testing periods [2] and delivers an impressive average response time of 511ms [2]. The company’s global data centers throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas let users choose servers nearest to their target audience.
Bluehost: Best for WordPress beginners
Bluehost has managed to keep its position as WordPress.org’s recommended hosting provider since 2005 [3]. The platform automatically installs the latest secure version of WordPress and gives users access to hundreds of free and premium themes [3].
The provider’s accessible dashboard makes WordPress management simple, which helps newcomers build websites easily. Their shared hosting plans come with powerful features:
Automatic WordPress updates and security patches
Free domain name for the first year
Access to hundreds of WordPress themes and plugins
24/7 expert WordPress support
HostGator: Best for scalability and growth
HostGator stands out with its innovative Shared Web Hosting platform that adapts perfectly to growing websites. The system lets you upgrade smoothly when you need more power and storage [4]. The platform comes with several benefits:
Effortless Maintenance: The team at HostGator takes care of all server maintenance so you can concentrate on your website
Performance Monitoring: You get round-the-clock website monitoring and tips to optimize performance
Resource Flexibility: You can easily upgrade storage and CPU resources through the customer portal [4]
HostGator delivers remarkable reliability with >99.99% uptime and just 5 minutes of downtime in two months of testing [2]. Their average response time of 525ms meets industry performance standards effectively [2].
Each provider brings something special to the table. Hostinger shines with its value and performance metrics, and Bluehost creates the perfect environment for WordPress beginners. HostGator’s flexible platform makes it an excellent fit for websites that need room to grow.
Best VPS and Cloud Hosting Options
The next level of web hosting comes in the form of Virtual Private Server (VPS) and cloud hosting solutions that deliver improved performance and flexibility when compared to shared hosting options. Let’s explore the leading providers in this space.
Liquid Web: Best managed VPS hosting
Liquid Web delivers premium managed VPS hosting services with a remarkable 100% uptime guarantee for server power and network access [5]. The basic Linux VPS plan comes with 2GB RAM, 40GB SSD storage, and 10TB monthly data transfer [6].
Key Features:
Root access to control your server completely
Linux distribution options like CentOS, Ubuntu, and Debian [5]
Quick issue resolution through automatic server monitoring [5]
Liquid Web’s exceptional support team sets them apart from competitors. Their experts provide rapid assistance round the clock throughout the year [5]. The managed services take care of technical tasks such as SSL configuration and server maintenance so clients can concentrate on growing their business.
DigitalOcean: Best for developers
DigitalOcean has grown into a developer-friendly cloud platform over the past decade. The platform combines transparent pricing with resilient infrastructure. Users benefit from a 99.99% uptime SLA through 14 globally distributed data centers [7].
Their Droplets (virtual machines) cost just $4.00 monthly [7] and provide:
Support for all popular content management systems
Managed Kubernetes and database options
Pre-configured 1-Click Apps for popular frameworks
Free hosting for 3 static sites on their App Platform [7]
Kamatera: Most flexible cloud hosting
Kamatera stands out by offering custom cloud solutions that scale instantly. The company runs data centers in thirteen global locations and maintains a 99.95% uptime guarantee for hardware components [8]. Their platform gives users exceptional control with:
Server Customization:
RAM options up to 128GB and 32 vCPUs
Resources that scale on demand
Support for various operating systems and control panels [9]
Users can adjust their resources immediately through the management console with a straightforward pay-as-you-go pricing model [8]. The cloud infrastructure eliminates failure points and delivers reliable performance consistently [10].
Enterprises and high-traffic websites just need maximum performance and control through dedicated server hosting – the ultimate web hosting solution. These plans give you exclusive access to server resources and ensure optimal performance and security for your critical applications.
A2 Hosting: Best performance and speed
A2 Hosting stands out with blazing fast server performance thanks to their next-generation processors, DDR5 RAM, and NVMe storage that makes pages load up to 20X faster [11]. Their dedicated servers boast a resilient 99.9% uptime guarantee [11] and come packed with these features:
HostGuard Management takes care of your hosting needs
Turbo Boost servers powered by LiteSpeed technology
Daily, automatic updates that don’t need reboots [12]
Their Turbo Cache page-level caching system stores HTML contents in memory and speeds up page loads by a lot [11]. Root access comes standard with these servers, and you can pick your CPU specs to build the perfect hosting setup [12].
InMotion Hosting: Best support and reliability
InMotion Hosting stands out with its complete support and reliable systems. Their dedicated servers pack powerful processors and plenty of RAM options. The state-of-the-art data centers run with N+1 redundancy [13]. Their “Premier Support” system provides:
Support Features:
U.S.-based support teams available 24/7/365 through six different channels [14]
The numbers speak for themselves with 99.93% uptime and servers that respond in 414ms on average [15]. Each dedicated server comes loaded with RAM up to 192GB, 2TB NVMe SSD storage, and bandwidth that ranges from 15 to 20TB [15].
GoDaddy: Best for small businesses
GoDaddy has announced it will stop providing dedicated server hosting services [16]. The company now asks its customers to switch to VPS solutions or find other providers [16]. GoDaddy helps customers with this change by providing:
Free one-month migration coupons
Transition support for existing customers
Help in choosing alternative hosting solutions [16]
Comparison of Current Dedicated Hosting Features:
| Feature | A2 Hosting | InMotion Hosting | |———|————|——————| | Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% [11] | 99.93% [15] | | Storage Options | Up to 2x960GB NVMe [13] | Up to 2TB NVMe [15] | | RAM Capacity | Up to 256GB DDR4 [13] | Up to 192GB [15] | | Support Channels | 24/7/365 Expert Support | 6 Support Channels [14] |
Businesses looking for dedicated hosting will find A2 Hosting and InMotion Hosting as strong contenders. A2 Hosting stands out with its Turbo Boost technology and advanced caching systems [11]. InMotion Hosting shines with its excellent support infrastructure and reliable hardware setups [13]. Your choice between these providers depends on your business needs – whether you need raw performance or complete support systems.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web Host
The right web hosting solution needs a thorough evaluation of several critical factors that affect website performance and business success. Website owners can make better decisions that match their specific needs by understanding these essential elements.
Uptime and reliability
Website availability is the life-blood of online success, and industry standards at the time just need a minimum of 99.9% uptime [17]. This percentage difference becomes most important when we look at actual downtime. A 99.9% uptime allows for approximately 8.76 hours of downtime per year, while 99.99% reduces this to just 52.6 minutes [17].
Downtime has substantial financial impact on businesses. Statistics show that IT downtime costs an average of $5,600 per minute [17]. Reliability goes beyond just uptime to include:
Server response time consistency
Hardware performance stability
Network infrastructure quality
Backup systems effectiveness
Speed and performance
Website performance substantially affects user experience and search engine rankings. Research shows desktop webpages take 10.4 seconds to load on average, while mobile pages need 27.4 seconds [18]. The hosting speed depends on several key factors:
Target audience’s proximity to server location is a vital factor that reduces latency and speeds up load times [19]. Modern hosting providers use NVMe storage that delivers read/write speeds up to 10 times faster than traditional SSDs [19].
Security features
A detailed security framework protects website data and builds user trust. The security features you need include:
Modern hosting security demands Two-factor authentication (2FA) and secure file transfer protocols (SFTP) as standard requirements [20]. Network monitoring systems detect and mitigate security risks early by scanning threats continuously [20].
Customer support
Quality customer support is a great way to get help when technical problems occur. Research shows that responsiveness remains the most critical element of customer support [21]. Good hosting providers typically respond within minutes or hours based on how severe the issue is [21].
Customer support teams act as trusted advisors that guide clients through complex hosting decisions and technical challenges [22]. Their expertise goes beyond basic troubleshooting and includes recommendations for optimization and security measures.
Scalability options
Growing businesses need hosting solutions that adapt to increasing demands. Cloud hosting makes scaling smooth and easy through:
Scaling Methods:
Horizontal scaling (distributing workload across servers)
Vertical scaling (adding more resources to existing infrastructure) [23]
System monitoring tools deliver up-to-the-minute data about resource usage and help make proactive scaling decisions [23]. Many providers use a pay-as-you-go model that helps manage costs economically during traffic changes [23].
Impact of Hosting Choices on Business Growth:
| Factor | Business Impact | Cost Consideration | |——–|—————–|——————-| | Uptime | 7% conversion reduction per 1-second delay [17] | $5,600 per minute of downtime [17] | | Security | Data protection and customer trust | Preventive vs. recovery costs | | Scalability | Accommodation of growth | Pay-as-you-go flexibility |
Conclusion
Web hosting services have grown substantially over the years. They now provide solutions that work for businesses of all sizes and needs. Today’s hosting providers give you strong performance tracking, advanced security features, and expandable options that affect your website’s success. You can choose from affordable shared hosting plans that work great for small businesses or go for dedicated servers that handle enterprise-level traffic. Each option comes with its own benefits for different situations.
You need a full picture of your hosting needs to make smart choices that match your current situation and future plans. Website owners should look at uptime guarantees, server response times, security features, and support quality before picking a provider. This comprehensive strategy will give you the best performance, reliability, and value for your online presence. You’ll also have room to grow when needed. ## FAQs
What are the top recommended web hosting services for 2024? The best web hosting services for 2024 include Mochahost, which is ideal for transferring existing sites, DreamHost, which is great for WordPress beginners, GoDaddy for easy site setup, HostGator for comprehensive hosting packages, IONOS for user-friendliness, InMotion Hosting for site performance, and Namecheap for scalability.
Which web hosting provider is the best choice? For beginners, Hostinger is highly recommended. SiteGround is best for WordPress users, DreamHost is ideal for small businesses, HostGator excels in shared hosting, ScalaHosting is suited for enterprises, Namecheap offers affordable web hosting, inMotion Hosting is great for tech-savvy users, and GreenGeeks is the best choice for environmentally conscious hosting.
Which web hosting service offers the best customer support? The top web hosting companies with excellent 24/7 customer support include SiteGround, known for its superior support, WP Engine, which is optimal for business sites on WordPress, Kinsta with real IT technicians on hand, A2 Hosting for fast hosting and support, Bluehost with its new and improved support, InMotion Hosting with a 100% US-based support team, and Flywheel, which is particularly loved by design agencies.
Which web hosting provider is the most secure? Hostinger is known for its robust security at budget-friendly prices. Nexcess offers expert-managed security, InterServer provides proprietary security solutions, Kinsta offers secure premium WordPress hosting, and HostArmada features advanced, AI-powered security measures. ## References [1] – https://www.hostinger.com/pricing [2] – https://cybernews.com/best-web-hosting/hostinger-vs-hostgator/ [3] – https://www.bluehost.com/wordpress [4] – https://www.hostgator.com/help/article/what-is-scalable-shared-hosting [5] – https://www.websiteplanet.com/web-hosting/liquid-web/ [6] – https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/liquid-web-hosting [7] – https://www.digitalocean.com/solutions/website-hosting [8] – https://www.kamatera.com/products/cloud-desktop-hosting/ [9] – https://www.techradar.com/news/best-vps-hosting [10] – https://hostadvice.com/vps/ [11] – https://www.a2hosting.com/dedicated-server-hosting/managed/ [12] – https://www.a2hosting.com/dedicated-server-hosting/ [13] – https://hostadvice.com/dedicated-servers/ [14] – https://www.inmotionhosting.com/inmotion-hosting-vs-godaddy-vs-a2hosting [15] – https://cybernews.com/best-web-hosting/inmotion-hosting-review/ [16] – https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/godaddys-surprising-exit-from-dedicated-hosting-and-why-liquid-web-is-the-ideal-next-step/ [17] – https://www.active-domain.com/web-hosting-uptime-and-reliability-why-it-matters/ [18] – https://www.bluehost.com/blog/hosting-impact/ [19] – https://hostscore.net/how-to-choose-a-web-host/web-hosting-performance/ [20] – https://www.cloudpanel.io/blog/web-hosting-security/ [21] – https://www.hostwinds.com/blog/why-web-hosting-customer-support-is-so-important [22] – https://www.okmg.com/blog/the-importance-of-customer-support-in-web-hosting [23] – https://www.scalahosting.com/blog/scaling-your-hosting-how-to-manage-costs-as-your-website-grows/
