Sports Category
Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.
Qatar 2022: The Winter World Cup
THE farce that is Qatar 2022 continues, with workers’ rights being chucked in the bin, allegations of bribery abounding and, of course, the playing of a football tournament in a country that doesn’t have any stadiums and the kind of weather that negates the beautiful game.
There’s been talk of a winter World Cup for a while, much to the chagrin of 99% of football fans. For a start, a World Cup in Winter would land in the middle of the club’s football season.
However, all this doesn’t matter because money is talking loudest and senior, influential football figures have backed proposals that could see the Qatar 2022 World Cup being hosted at the same time as the Winter Olympics. In the meeting was Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Football Association general secretary Alex Horne, along with the head of the Qatar 2022 organising committee Hassan Al Thawadi and other representatives from domestic leagues and regional confederations.
BBC Sport understand that talks at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich have resulted in support for a Winter tournament, which would be held in January and February or November and December. Of course, no final decision has been made, but it is looking increasingly likely that this is going to happen. FIFA are adamant that the tournament cannot take place in summer because of the extremely hot temperatures in Qatar.
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Life Imitates Prince Buster: Swiss Footballer Banned For 50 Years
TO Switzerland, where Portugal Futebol Clube defender Ricardo Ferreira has kicked the ball into an referee’s face and sprayed him with water.
The local officals consider matters. He can play again…on June 5, 2064.
Says Ferreira, 28:
“I had expected one or two years maximum. But 50 years? Football’s my life.”
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Manchester United Lummox Marouane Fellaini Didn’t Spit On Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero: He Drooled
MANCHESTER United are an expensive mess. Manchester City are powerful. And the talk is on whther or not Marouane Fellaini spat at Sergio Aguero during the Manchester derby.
Did he?
The Mirror says he did – maybe:
…pictures appear to show him spitting at the match winner… Pictures showed Fellaini leaning over Aguero and abusing him – and appearing to spit in his direction – after the City striker had gone down under a challenge from him in the United area.
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Posted: 3rd, November 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Snooker Champion Jimmy White Was Hooked On Crack And The ‘Devil’s Dandruff’
JIMMY ‘Whirlwind’ White, the greatest snooker player never to be world champion. was once hooked on crack cocaine.
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Transfer Balls: Arsenal Sell Julian Draxler To Manchester United
TRANSFER Balls: The Daily Express has an “EXCLUSIVE”. News is that “Arsenal face fresh battle from Man Utd for Schalke star Julian Draxler”. What with his being an Express exclusive, it is most likely utter balls.
John Richardson writes:
MANCHESTER UNITED have joined Arsenal in the pursuit of emerging German midfielder Julian Draxler.
Richardson adds:
But both clubs were left stunned on Friday night when the 21-year-old limped off after just 15 seconds in Schalke’s 1-0 victory over Augsburg in the Bundesliga.
Arsenal and Manchester were “stunned” by an injury to an injury-prone player who doesn’t play for them.
And let’s not forget other Daily Express Draxler scoops:
In October, the Mirror had other news:
Arsenal step up Julian Draxler interest sending scouts to monitor Schalke playmaker – The German World Cup winner has been on Wenger’s radar for a number of years and the Gunners could soon be set to test Schalke’s resolve
The Metro told its readers that Draxler “missed out on a place in this summer’s successful World Cup squad”.
Today the Metro says “Manchester United are closing in on a double deal for Schalke 04 pair Julian Draxlerand Benedikt Howedes.”
The Daily Star says United are “set to win the race for Draxler”.
And the Express told readers: “Schalke slap £60m price tag on Chelsea target Julian Draxler.”
Such are the facts.
Posted: 2nd, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Balls: Failing Steven Gerrard Needs To Join Manchester City
TRANSFER Balls: First Manchester City came for Chelsea’s Frank Lamaprd. Now they are coming for Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
In “Tug Of War” Martin Hardy writes in the Sunday Times:
MANUEL PELLEGRINI is ready to spark a fight for the services of Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain. Gerrard, who played poorly in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United yesterday, has admitted there is uncertainty regarding his future at Anfield, with his contract set to run out at the end of the season.
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Posted: 2nd, November 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Spurs Sell Lloris To Real Madrid But Barcelona Already Bought Him
TRANSFER Balls: Is Spurs ‘keeper Hugo Lloris on his way to Real Madrid? The Daily Express has an “Exclusive” that says he is…maybe:
EXCLUSIVE: Real Madrid prepare a MEGA £20m bid for Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris
REAL MADRID are ready to launch a £20million January move for Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
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Liverpool And Manchester City Balls: Photos of Mario Balotelli’s Post Fireworks Bathrrom
IN readiness for Bonfire Night, the The Daily Mail have obtained photos of Mario Balotelli’s bathroom – the one his friends (not him – no, not him) let off fireworks in. Then with Manchester City, now with Liverpool, Balotelli’s friends (no, not him – his friends) caused £400,000′s worth of damage to the £3 million-valued property in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.
Posted: 1st, November 2014 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Arsenal Balls: £7m Reasons Why Pep Guardiola Will Head To Manchester United
THE London Evening Standard reports that “Arsenal will join race for former Barcelona boss when Spaniard leaves Bayern Munich”. That former Barca boss is Pep Guardiola.
But how does Writer Paul Smith know Arsenal will be after the Spaniard?
Pep Guardiola is expected to quit Bayern Munich at the end of next season – just when Arsene Wenger might be ready to relinquish his role as manager of Arsenal.
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Posted: 1st, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Manchester United Balls: Gary Neville Would Kill For Manchester City’s Defence
MANCHESTER United great Gary Neville has made a name a talented TV pundit. His writing , however, is less pointed. In the Telegraph, Neville bemoans the lowering of Premier League defences.
The death of an ex-playing TV pundit is when he continually says: “In my day it was like this – and it was better”. I find myself feeling that the Premier League is a far superior place than when I set out in 1992 – but one area of slippage is defending, as Sunday’s Manchester derby may illustrate.
Manchester United and Manchester City are leaking goals. City have let in 10 in 9; United 13 in 9.
United are in a state of flux at the back. But City remain formidable, and have the better players. Manchester United would break the bank for a Vincent Kompany.
Both clubs have amassed a vast array of firepower. Yet each is currently struggling to balance defence with attack at a time of huge change in the way the game is played. If you look at the Premier League goalscoring chart, it bursts into the thousands from 2010 on. There were 942 goals in 2009 and 1052 last season. That’s a huge shift. Once you have a five-year trend of more goals being conceded and more scored it starts to look irreversible. It points to a permanent change in the sport.
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Posted: 31st, October 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
QPR Balls: Harry Redknapp Forgets Twitter A Year After He Was Trolled
COMPARE and contrast the wit and wisdom of QPR manager Harry Redknapp:
“I’ve never read it [Twitter]. I don’t know where you get it from. Every day someone has got something to say on Twitter. I don’t understand. It would be easier – it would save all the hassle – if no one was on Twitter”
In a move that definitely won’t end in tears, Harry Redknapp is doing a Twitter Q&A today using the hashtag #AskHarry£#
He was mercilessly trolled.
#SuchAreTheFacts
Liverpool Balls: Steven Garrard And His Fans Could Sign For Manchester United, Everton Or Major League Soccer
NEWS from Liverpool FC is that Steven Gerrard is thinking about leaving. Would Liverpool fans mind if he went? Professional sport is a brutal business. And Gerrard is a fading force.
Other than that mid-2000s wobble when he briefly flirted with joining Chelsea only to be sent death threats from his adoring public, Steven Gerrard has stuck by Liverpool through thick and thin his entire career to date having first joined the club at the age of eight.
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Posted: 31st, October 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
How To Be A BBC Football Reporter: John Motson’s Great Advice To A Budding Journalist
IAN Dennis recalls advice the BBC’s John Motson gave him 26 years ago.
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Posted: 31st, October 2014 | In: Sports, TV & Radio | Comment
Transfer Balls: Sami Khedira Heads To Arsenal Before Moving To Manchester City And Back To Chelsea
The Mirror says Khedira is a Gunner
TRANSFER Balls: Anorak’s look at football speculation passed off as sensation and fact. Let’s see ehat the mesi has been saying about Sami Khedira and his move from Real Madrid to Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City or anywhere else.
It sesm that Arsenal need Khedira most, with former Gunner Perry Groves (he of the Perry Groves world) quoted in the Evening Standard:
“If Arsenal can get their injured players back while making sure the gap to the top doesn’t get too big with Chelsea and City then they have a chance to challenge for the title. If they can get to within six or seven points by the time the January transfer window opens and then sign Khedira, they could win it.”
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Posted: 31st, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Liverpool Sign Higuain For £9m More Than Arsenal Bought Him For
TRANSFER Balls: The Daily Star says “Liverpool suffer HUGE blow as Arsenal move a step CLOSER to signing Gonzalo Higuain”.
Know that:
ARSENAL are leading the race to sign Napoli star Gonzalo Higuain.
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Posted: 30th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment (1)
American Soccer’s Greatest Players: When Football Went Disco
A passerby scratches his head as he studies a sign posted in a window at Warner Communications, Inc., on Tuesday, June 11, 1975 in Rockefeller Center at New York, announcing the appearance of Brazilian soccer great Pele on Sunday as a member of the New York Cosmos, a professional soccer team owned by Warner. (AP Photo/ Ron Frehm)
NEW YORK COSMOS have had a bewildering array of fantastic players, and the latest in the club’s bumpy history is the Spanish legend, Raul. The Real Madrid superhuman decided to come out of retirement to play for the club made famous by Pele.
As well as being a player, Raul is all set to take on the role of technical adviser to the club’s soon-to-be opened youth academy, which he’ll look after when he’s retired.
“Everyone throughout the soccer world knows the Cosmos name and the legacy of the players that played for this team previously,” Raul said in a statement. “They helped establish soccer in America and I’m honoured to follow in their footsteps. I believe in this club’s vision and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Of course, moving to New York doesn’t hurt either, and no doubt, he’ll be on fantastic amounts of money. You’d be mad not to!
Likewise, back in the ’70s and ’80s, footballers from all over the world saw the footballing goldrush of America. When the NASL started to become more popular and investors started throwing their money around, everyone started taking notice.
It was the arrival of Pele at NY Cosmos that saw the floodgates open and a huge number of footballers going Stateside for a huge paycheck and all the coke and champagne they could stomach in America’s disco clubs.
So with that, let us look at some of the true greats that moved to America, just like David Villa and Frank Lampard are doing in the winter of their careers right now.
And be sure to watch all the videos because there’s a corker tucked away in there.
Johann Cruyff
The mighty Cruyff left Europe to play in the sunshine, ending up playing for the Washington Diplomats and LA Aztecs. He, of course, scored one of the most memorable goals in the league’s history.
Pele
The player that really opened America up was Pele when he moved to the NY Cosmos. Little needs to be said about that, other than it must’ve been absolutely brilliant in New York with all those superstars dossing about the place.
George Best
Post Manchester United, it feels like Georgie Best played for just about everyone. Somewhere in there, he managed to sup his way around America, working on his tan at Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes. Between one-night stands and hangovers, he managed to score the NASL’s greatest goal.
Franz Beckenbauer
Also at NY Cosmos was the technical brilliance of Der Kaiser. You can imagine he took it all quite seriously, which must have been borderline hilarious to everyone else there.
Eusebio
Eusebio left his beloved Benfica and decided to get one last payday. America beckoned and he found himself lording it up with the Boston Minutemen, Toronto Metros-Croatia and Las Vegas Quicksilvers. Openly in it for the money, but no-one minded. He’s Eusebio. He can do what he wants.
Giorgio Chinaglia
Napoli legend, Chinaglia rocked up at the New York Cosmos like he owned the place, regardless of who was there. Arrogant, bullish and egocentric, Chinaglia was the disco strut of that famous team and he knew it. However, he wasn’t Pele, which drove him mad. Cue: sporting soap operas galore!
Geoff Hurst
World Cup winner Geoff Hurst buggered off to play for the Seattle Sounders. He banged some goals in and picked up his money. Below, you can see his debut. He must have wondered what he’d let himself in for.
Carlos Alberto
Pele’s captain, Carlos Alberto also went to the NY Cosmos. It doesn’t matter what he did or didn’t do, because he’s Carlos Alberto who scored perhaps the most perfect goal in World Cup history.
Gerd Muller
The brilliant Munich hitman, Gerd Muller, went to Ft Lauderdale and thrashed a load of goals in while growing an absolutely magnificent beard (as seen above with a disappointingly clean-shaven George Best). 38 goals in 71 appearances, and then he rightly put his feet up.
AND FINALLY
Peter Withe made his way to America, playing for the Portland Timbers. The best record of his time there is getting involved in a tussle the a player and squaring up to a referee just after a cameraman gets taken out with a thunderous clearance from close range. Bravo lads. Bravo.
Posted: 30th, October 2014 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comment
Manchester City Balls: Citizens Fan To Be Shock New Match of The Day Pundit
MANCHESTER City fan of the day is Harry Parrot.
Making Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao’s pet parrot Coco look monosyllabic, Harry can cheer on Manchester City with the best of them.
If Harry can add two more stock phrases to his repetoire, he can replace Jamie Redknapp on the Sky Sports sofa.
BBC TV Match of the Day pundits Robbie Savage and Alan Shearer are playing catch-up…
Spotter: Sky Sports
Posted: 30th, October 2014 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Balls: Balotelli Is The ‘Great’ Who Changed Michael Owen’s Tune
MICHAEL Owen is talking about Liverpool FC striker Mario Balotelli.
Today Owen tells Daily Telegraph readers:
Brendan Rodgers will probably never admit it publicly, but he must already be considering alternatives as he looks for strikers more suited to his style of play… I felt when he joined he was not a ‘Liverpool type’ player, and have not changed my mind…
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Posted: 30th, October 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Balls: Sturridge, Sterling And The Caribbean Slave Gene Problem
LIVERPOOL Balls: Daniel Sturridge says his injuries could be down to genetics. He tells TalkSport:
“I’ve been unfortunate this season to pick up injuries. Maybe it’s my body type and hereditary… My uncle Dean had a lot of muscle problems when he played, uncle Simon the same, and my dad. Maybe it’s the Caribbean vibes. [I have] fast-twitch muscles, I am more vulnerable to muscle injuries. As to whether I will be one of the best player in Europe or the world, for me, as long as I continue to work hard everything will take care of itself.”
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Posted: 30th, October 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Claudio Gentile, Maradona And Martin Keown’s Hypocritic Assault On Football’s ‘Dark Arts’
Argentina’s Diego Maradona, is tackled by Italy’s Claudio Gentile during the Soccer World Cup second round match, between Italy and Argentina, at the Sarra Stadium, Barcelona, June 29, 1982. Argentina defeated Italy 2 – 1. (AP Photo)
Rob Bagchi has noticed that Hands Off In The Box, the Daily Mail’s campaign to stop footballers using force in the penalty box, is a non-starter. You can read more about the Mail’s campaign to pressure referees here. And learn that it’s backed by the paragon of the clean tackle and noble virtues, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
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Transfer Balls: You Will Never Beleive Which Real Madrid Star Manchester United Are ‘Buying’
TRANSFER Balls: Splendid balls in the Daily Star which links Manchester United with a move for Gareth Bale. Let’s take a look at how the Star’s scoop breaks down.
The headline is informative:
Man Utd FREE to sign Gareth Bale as Real Madrid reveal they are willing to sell
Real want to sell the superb Gareth Bale? The Metro puts a price on the deal:
Real Madrid happy to sell Gareth Bale to Manchester United in £90m transfer deal
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Posted: 29th, October 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Hands Off In The Box: The Daily Mail’s Campaign That No-One Wants
THE Daily Mail has campaign. It wants readers to:
Join Sportsmail’s Hands Off In The Box campaign by parading the logo at matches.
You can just see football fans holding up the Daily Mail’s logo with pride. To date, the only newspaper referenced at football matches is the Sun. Liverpool fans upset over the Sun’s Hillsborough coverage ask fellow fans not to buy it.
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Posted: 29th, October 2014 | In: Chelsea, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Everton Balls: Steven Naismith Rubs It In with Burnley’s ‘keeper
IT is bad enough conceding a goal when you’re a goalkeeper, as the only thing you’re interested in is protecting the netting from bulging with a football hitting it.
Well, things could be worse than letting a striker get the better of you.
Burnley’s Tom Heaton clawed desperately at the air as Samuel Eto’o’s super strike flew into the goal during Everton’s 3-1 victory over the Clarets.
As the crowd went nuts, Everton’s Steven Naismith followed up the goal and whacked the ball in celebration. Normally, a player will crack the ball into the net for good measure, and initially, it looked like Naismith had messed his celebration up.
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Liveprool And Manchester United Balls: Luis Suarez Maintains He’s No Racist
Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, right, celebrates alongside Liverpool’s Luis Suarez after Manchester United’s 2-1 win over their Merseyside rivals following their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
THERE’S been a lot of trouble around former Liverpool player Luis Suarez, the last being a rather peculiar bite on an opponent when Uruguay played Italy in the World Cup.
However, off all the things that Suarez has done, the racism row where he used the word “negrito” in a spat with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra is the one that looms largest. And Suarez is adamant that he is not a racist and that he was simply misunderstood by non-Spanish speakers. While admitting that a row took place, he says he is “absolutely not” a racist.
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Posted: 29th, October 2014 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Flight MH17: Newcastle United Fans Prove The Football Family
JOHN Alder was a passenger on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014, the day it was shot down over Ukraine. Mr Alder, his friend and fellow Newcastle United fan Liam Sweeney and 296 other people were killed. John and Liam were going to the match, on their way to see Newcastle United play a pre-season friendly in New Zealand.
That’s fans for you. John Alder only ever applied for a passport because he needed to see Newcastle play overseas.
Joyce Robbins, Mr Alder’s sister, is talking to George Caullkin in the Times:
“Those first few days were surreal. You’re suddenly reading and watching things at an intense rate, to try and glean as much information as possible and then you hear that they can’t even get on the crash site — it’s heartbreaking . . . You’re seeing this site and thinking: ‘My brother’s there.’ The inside of you is just screaming all the time.”
For four decades John Alder never missed a Newcastle United match. He ammassed a large collection of Newcastle United memorabilia. Joyce has graciously decided to offer the lot for auction, all proceeds going to The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
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