Michael Hincks
LightNews LightNews
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Michael Hincks
@michaelhincks.bsky.social
790 followers 210 following 34 posts
Sports journalist | Mainly The i Paper - mainly football and tennis - following Aston Villa on their Champions League journey #AVFC

Email: michael.hincks@theipaper.com | Open to talking about grief and loss 💜
Posts Replies Media Videos
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Something a little different 👣

Travel tips and lessons I've learned from every continent - ranging from ice cream flavours in Europe to carrying grief in my backpack in Antarctica

#travel 🌎🌍🌏 #antarctica #japan #travelwriting #blueskytravel #traveltips #southamerica

inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...
I’ve visited every continent – this is what each one has taught me
Africa gave Michael Hincks the travel bug when he was 16. Soon, he was five continents down and keen to complete the set
inews.co.uk
June 24, 2025 at 11:22 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Duran and McGinn wonder goals ⚽ Prince William the pundit 😲 Taylor in the Irish pubs ☘️ Mings learning a lesson 😬 Tinnies by superyachts 🛥️Booting balls in Bruges 🫣 Handbrot 🤤

How to sum up Aston Villa's Champions League journey?

I tried 👇 #AVFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
I followed Aston Villa all over Europe this season - and learnt two huge lessons
Golazos, tinnies in Monaco and the tastiest delicacy I discovered on my travels - this was the journey of a lifetime for Villans
inews.co.uk
April 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Bonjour, Paris 🇲🇫🌞

Not a bad #AVFC away day for work
April 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
👴 "Uncle? More like Grandad"

Interview with Albert Adomah, aka "Uncs", aka the cult hero who works his socks off 🧦

Loved at Aston Villa, QPR, Boro and beyond, I in turn loved speaking to him about Walsall's nervy promotion push, that nickname + more 👇 #AVFC #Saddlers

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
'Uncle? I'm more like Grandad': The Aston Villa icon still starring in the EFL
Albert Adomah’s career has gone full circle, but ‘Uncs’ is not done yet as he leads Walsall’s push to reach League One – the only EFL division he is yet to feature in
inews.co.uk
March 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
🔥 "The torch is passing"
🍻 Sales up, bars thriving
😎 The city's feel-good factor

The sun is shining on Nottingham, where Forest fans who recall 33p pints are finally close to sharing a European journey with the next generation #NFFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
'A pint was 33p!': The Nottingham Forest fans ready for new Euro tales
The sun is shining on Nottingham, where belief is growing every week
inews.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
🌞 Jaysus, this ground on a day like this

At the god-tier City Ground for a wait-what-top-four showdown between Nottingham Forest and Man City

For @ipapersport.bsky.social #NFFC
March 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
I've watched every minute of Marcus Rashford's loan spell at Aston Villa 🧐

🔢 Here's a game-by-game breakdown

And what I'd do if I were England boss Thomas Tuchel... 👇

#AVFC #MUFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Should England pick Rashford? I watched every minute of him at Villa to find out
Rashford is back in the conversation - here's how he is faring at Aston Villa game-by-game during his loan spell away from Man Utd
inews.co.uk
March 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Huzzah

Harry Kane’s trophy curse is about to end ⚡

Every football supporter - or at least every non-Arsenal-supporting England fan - should celebrate

#Bayern #BayernMunich

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Harry Kane’s curse is about to end - every rational fan should celebrate
Kane’s long wait for a trophy should soon be over – and the England great could even double up at Bayern Munich this season
inews.co.uk
March 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
😲 26 May 2018 - the day Marco Asensio won the Champions League for a second time + the day Aston Villa lost the Championship final to Fulham

A deep dive on this unlikely union, seven years on, six games down, and four goals later...

#AVFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
March 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
That miss
Two assists
Chances
Argy bargy

William Osula's all-action display was some watch, and you can tell Eddie Howe just loves working with him

Analysis + quotes from the #NUFC boss below

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Newcastle’s livewire with ‘rough edges’ has the makings of a fan favourite
William Osula’s all-action display includes a miss-of-the-season contender, two assists and an admirable desire to berate his older teammates
inews.co.uk
February 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
👍 Lots of space, easy to watch Brits
👎 Fans making... noises

Attending #AusOpen as a fan was enlightening - it helped me realise what makes Wimbledon great, but what it really, really lacks as well

And it's something they are trying to address...

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...
My trip to the Australian Open showed exactly what's wrong with Wimbledon
The respectful silence at Wimbledon is preferable to some of the sounds I heard in Melbourne, but overall the Australian Open is a better experience for punters
inews.co.uk
January 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
🎁 There's only thing Reading fans want for Christmas...

The festive twist on Sell Before We Dai's latest protests against the ownership of Dai Yongge and CEO Dayong Pang

"They can still come off the naughty list..."

#ReadingFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
'Reading's last Christmas?': Furious fans protest outside homes of AWOL owners
Sell Before We Dai say there is still time for Reading owner Dai Yongge and CEO Dayong Pang to ‘come off the naughty list’ this Christmas
inews.co.uk
December 20, 2024 at 4:18 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
The problems run beyond Gary O'Neil... Fosun Group's ethos has filtered through to the Wolves players

They aren't playing for the badge, they're playing to be the next £50m transfer away

#WWFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Doomed Wolves have too many stars who don't care about the badge
Wolves’ problems go far beyond Gary O’Neil – Fosun Group’s approach means players are only enticed by the prospect of being the next £50m transfer away
inews.co.uk
December 15, 2024 at 8:40 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
🗣️ “We do like a soap opera down The Den"

Thanks to @achtungmillwall.bsky.social's Nick Hart for helping me untangle the drama at Millwall:
🔹 "Thickos"
🔹 Jose Mourinho
🔹 Admirers of Brentford

And crucially, the departure of Neil Harris, aka Mr #MillwallFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Life after Neil Harris is Millwall’s biggest leap into the unknown yet
Admirers of the Brentford blueprint, Millwall are eager to evolve – and that ultimately alienated 'the biggest figure in the club’s history'
inews.co.uk
December 12, 2024 at 4:29 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Credit to Matty Cash, a winner of last night's tactical tweak which played to his strengths and saw him deliver a quality performance

He has his critics, so deserves praise when he comes good

Analysis from Leipzig

#AVFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
‘He was fantastic’: The Aston Villa star who silenced his critics in new role
Matty Cash silences critics in the Champions League win at RB Leipzig thanks to a strong display in a system that suits his strengths
inews.co.uk
December 11, 2024 at 9:12 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Canals and markets 😍 Leipzig will feel like a home from home for Brummies tomorrow

Aston Villa fans, for das love of god, get this heavenly square of bread, cheese, and chicken (curry flavour, too...) from a stall by the statue of Goethe. Best €7 I've spent 🤤

#AVFC #Leipzig
December 9, 2024 at 12:50 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Constants and variables 🧪

Ruben Amorim is in the early stages, but there's one constant that will keep ruining his Man Utd experiment

#MUFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
December 8, 2024 at 8:17 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
🐺 Gary O'Neil's Wolves future assessed

3⃣ contenders to replace him and 3⃣ outcomes to Monday's match vs West Ham - one being both managers getting sacked. I explain why/how that could happen 👇

Thanks to #WWFC fan "Dazzling Dave" yet again!

inews.co.uk/sport/wolves...
Gary O'Neil's Wolves future assessed - and three managers who could replace him
Wolves fans are ‘absolutely staggered’ O’Neil is still in charge and want a former Porto boss to replace him - not David Moyes or Graham Potter
inews.co.uk
December 7, 2024 at 9:15 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
An ugly win would have masked the problems - a draw in that manner exposes them

Analysis from Selhurst Park as Newcastle have zero shots on target and plenty of issues to address - namely their lack of creativity and where exactly to play their captain

#NUFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Bruno Guimaraes' new role further exposes Newcastle's big issue
Newcastle fail to register a shot on target at Crystal Palace, meaning the midfield headache goes on for Eddie Howe
inews.co.uk
November 30, 2024 at 5:52 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Evidently, Leicester City liked what they saw

Man Utd's two wins over #LCFC under Ruud van Nistelrooy contributed to some stats that defied #MUFC's time under Erik ten Hag - but backed what RvN had achieved at PSV

On what Leicester can expect 👇

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
What Ruud van Nistelrooy will bring to Leicester - and if it will work
Van Nistelrooy’s Manchester United side were typically efficient and Leicester City must follow suit to stay in the Premier League
inews.co.uk
November 29, 2024 at 4:17 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
A draw against Juve 👍
Seven games without a win 👎

That is the longest winless run of the Emery era at Aston Villa - and poor form requires a drastic change

I think that means a bold call in midfield

Piece from Villa Park #AVFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
The difficult call Unai Emery faces after Aston Villa enter new territory
Villa’s seven-match winless run is their longest since Emery took charge – it’s no quick fix, but the answer is surely a midfield change
inews.co.uk
November 28, 2024 at 8:42 AM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
A bit of analysis below the news on Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic's union being 25 years in the making

And why Murray has been a coach and mentor to many already: just ask Nick Kyrgios, or any GB teammate

#Djokovic

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic at Australian Open
Djokovic and Murray confirmed the shock announcement on Saturday
inews.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 5:22 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Robert Sanchez caused a storm when all was calm

In a league of fine margins, a goalkeeper shake-up may not be the worst thing for Chelsea, who are the best of the rest and unlikely to trouble #LFC and #MCFC with Sanchez in goal

#CFC #LEICHE

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Chelsea will remain best of the rest unless they address obvious flaw
A goalkeeper shake-up may not be the worst thing for Chelsea after Robert Sanchez caused a storm when all was calm
inews.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 3:08 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
Mainly football, sometimes tennis. 🎾

So, tennis, and an attempt to sum up Emma Raducanu's season while trying and failing to ignore her trolls

Her recent quotes were deemed arrogant, but it's an essential mindset, and her 2024 record against top-50 players: impressive

inews.co.uk/sport/tennis...
What Emma Raducanu's critics fail to understand about her 'arrogance'
Raducanu ends the season with a positive record against top 50 players this year, giving her an obvious and achievable target for 2025
inews.co.uk
November 20, 2024 at 12:50 PM
michaelhincks.bsky.social
What’s holding West Ham and Crystal Palace back from hiring Graham Potter?

Well. Several factors I think, and the longer time goes on, the longer the former Chelsea boss is in danger of becoming yesterday’s man(ager)

#WHUFC #CPFC #CFC

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
What's holding West Ham and Palace back from hiring Graham Potter
The former Chelsea boss is in danger of becoming yesterday’s man
inews.co.uk
November 19, 2024 at 1:30 PM