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.
Harry Redknapp Forgets His Own Record As He Bashes Manchester City And Modern Racists
HARRY Redknapp is always good for a space filler. The Daily Mail has “The best bits from our exclusive interview with Harry Redknapp as his new book of glorious football memories hits the shelves”.
He speaks about Manchester City:
‘Pellegrini won the title, but he won the title because he has got good players and spends good money. How much coaching does Vincent Kompany need?’
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Posted: 8th, October 2014 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
Transfer Balls: Daniel Alves Will Join Liverpool Or Manchester United Because Barcelona Have And Have Not Told Him To Go
TRANSFER Balls: The Daily Star almost scores a full house, failing to link the fifth of England’s top five sides – that’s Arsenal – with its story that Daniel Alves is heading to the Premier League:
Neil Lustig says Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all interested in 31-year-old Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, whose contract with the Spanish club runs out next summer.
So. He’s on his way, then?
But Alves’ agent and ex-wife, Dinorah Santa Ana, has claimed that the 31-year-old’s desire is to remain at Barcelona.
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Manchester United Balls: Roy Keane Finally Escapes The Haaland Trauma
Alf-Inge Rasdal “Alfie” Håland replies
MANCHESTER United’s former captain Roy Keane has a book out. It’s his second autobiography. To show how much he’s moved on, he talks of former Leeds Untied midfielder Alf-Inge Rasdal “Alfie” Håland:
“It was action; it was football. It was dog eats dog. I’ve kicked lots of players and I know the difference between hurting somebody and injuring somebody. I didn’t go to injure Haaland. When you play sport, you know how to injure somebody. There was no premeditation.”
Or as he put it in his 2002 autobiography:
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Posted: 8th, October 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Casillas Trains For Real Madrid At Liverpool And Arsenal Fans Are Annoyed
TRANSFER Balls: The Express leads with news that Madrid’s Iker Casillas wants to play for Arsenal or Liverpool.
Really?
REAL MADRID legend Iker Casillas has revealed his desire to play abroad, with English duo Arsenal and Liverpool believed to be interested.
Jamie Anderson does not say how this belief came to be known.
What did Casillas say?
“I’d love to have an experience abroad to bring more value to Real Madrid.”
Got that? He said he’d like to have an overseas club on his CV because theat would make him a better Real Madrid player.
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Posted: 8th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment
QPR Balls: Harry Redknapp Has More Shots Than His Team
HOW tabloid reporting works: QPR mangaer Harry Redknapp wrties for the Sun. It says on October 6:
“Harry in quit threat: Harry Redknapp is refusing to sign a new QPR deal and may quit football at the end of the season. SunSport can reveal the Hoops boss told chairman Tony Fernandes three weeks ago that his future depends upon staying up”
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Arsenal and Chelsea Balls: Wenger Misses The Misses
ARSENAL manager Arsène Wenger spoke to the Arsenal website after his side’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea. This is what he had to say:
Yes, a point was in it. It was down to us not to make defensive mistakes and use the dangerous situations we had and I think we were a bit short on both sides. We made a defensive mistake at the moment when we couldn’t afford to do it, and also when it was 1-0 and we were all over them I felt it was important not to concede a second goal. We did produce a good performance and both keepers had no saves to make.
Well, sort of. The Arsenal goalkeeper had two saves to make, but, we guess, he decided against making them…
Posted: 7th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City Feel Marco Reus As Arsenal Grope For Him
TRANSFER Balls: Marco Reus, the Borussia Dortmund player, has been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Let’s look at the latest reporting:
October 7, Daily Express:
Arsenal have [been] gazumped by Manchester City in the race to sign Marco Reus.
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Posted: 7th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester United Balls: 8 More Sweary Extracts From Roy Keane’s Autobiography
YOU read the first tirade of extracts from Roy Keane’s second autobiography, The Second Half, now read more of the former Manchester United captain’s ghost-written barbs, as seen in The Second Half. The third autobiography will surely be called Fergie Time, followed by Walks With My Dog, Who’ Is AFeckin’ Good Listener.
On Patrick Vieira:
“If it had come to a fight, Patrick could probably have killed me.”
On an encoutner with former United assistant manger Carlos Queiroz on a training camp on the Algarve:
“He [Queiroz] was just on my right shoulder; how I didn’t f******* hit him again — I was thinking, ‘The villa in Portugal, not treating me well in training — and he just used the word “loyalty” to me’… I said, ‘Don’t you f****** talk to me about loyalty, Carlos. You left this club after 12 months a few years ago for the Real Madrid job…”
Ferguson: “I’ve had enough of all this,.”
Keane: “You as well , gaffer. We need f****** more from you. We’re slipping behind other teams.”
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Manchester United Balls: 7 Hateful Extracts From Roy Keane’s Autobiography
PIES has some good bits from former Manchester United captain Roy Keane’s second autobiography. Ghost written by Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, The Second Half picks up where his first left off – in that basically it’s a long, extended list of the many, many things and people he hates.
Here’s the best of what we’ve stumbled across so far…
1. From the very first chapter. Has Roy’s view of Alf-Inge Haaland softened over the years?
“There are things I regret in my life and he’s not one of them.”
No. No it has not.
2. On the fond treasured memories he has of his emotional United exit:
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Posted: 6th, October 2014 | In: Books, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Kevin Pietersen Shoots His Mouth Off At Everyone
CRICKET, to the uninitiated, has always seemed perfectly quaint and polite. Of course, cricket fans know that within the sport is some of the most brutal trash-talking, ego maniacs and a lot of heavy drinking.
Even the ever-so-English David Gower, who played the grinning straight man on panel show They Think It’s All Over, was a lunatic. In 1991, he went for a joy-ride in a Tiger Moth biplane after they’d been dismissed in a match, before posing with his plane in the papers the next day. Even though his captain, Graham Gooch was apoplectic with rage, it didn’t stop Gower, during the fourth Test at Adelaide, walking out to the crease to the tune of Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.
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Seven Wonders of the World: The World of Sordid Sports Stadia, That Is
Seven Wonders of the World. (The world of sordid stadia, that is.)
THE Golden State Warriors rarely make headlines in the British press. But they have now – and for the all-too-predictable reason that they have piqued the national appetite for toilet humour.
The Oakland-based basketball club is planning a new stadium, you see, and the architects’ renders resemble… wait for it… A GIANT TOILET.
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DHL Promotes Itself On The Back Of Injured Jules Bianchi
MARKETING Watch looks at DHL’s reaction to Jules Bianchi, who remains ina life-threatening condition after crashing in Japanese Grand Prix. DHL is trawling for ‘Likes’:
DHL clear up the horror:
Of course it wasn’t.
Arsenal V Cheslea Balls: Wenger Says Mourinho Would Know It If He Really Attacked Him
ARSENAL manger Arsene Wenger looked like he’d strike a blow for everyone who values sport over gamesmanship and win-at-all-costs when he menaced Chelsea’s charmless manager Jose Mourinho.
The newspaper react:
Arsene Wenger is hardly contrite about intimidating Mourinho.
No, what is there to regret after that? I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome… B was Alexis, to see how badly he was injured…
I trust that you will teach me all the moral lessons over the next three weeks and I can accept that. But I’ve been in the game long enough to give it the right weight…
I can try to push you and when [I do] you will see what my [pushes are really like]. It was a little one…
The Mirror goes overbaord:
Oh, puh-lease. We all loved it, including one former Daily Mirroe editor.
More!
Posted: 6th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
All True Sports Fans Wanted Arsenal Boss Wenger To Lamp Chelsea’s Prattish Jose Mourinho
SO. There was Arsene Wenger promising to do what so many managers, football fans and people who enjoy sport without the insessant charmless gamesmanship demand: lamp Jose Mourinho.
Sadly, like Arsenal, Wenger promised much but fell short on the Stamford Bridge touchline.
But good to see the niggling, spoilt bellend Mourinho looking unsettled.
He really is the face of the Premier League, the embodiment of all the greed, preening, self-aggrandizing and vanity it stands for.
When the football bubble pops and English football returns to what it once was, Anorak will rejoice. Until then, come on AFC Bournemouth. In the lower leagues, the sport lives on.
(Vine: Artekkers)
Posted: 5th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Arsenal Buy World Cup Reject And Winner Julian Draxler Twice
TRANSFER Balls: The Mirror has news of Arsenal and Julian Draxler:
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
This is an “exclusive”.
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Posted: 5th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Chelsea Balls: Thibaut Courtois, Topless Stunna Jeny Sanchez And An Old Story ‘Exclusive’
THE Sun has a kiss ‘n’ tells. News is that Chelsea’s new goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois “cheated on his long-term girlfriend with a £4-an-hour tapas bar waitress he met on the internet, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.”
The Sun says it is an “EXCLUSIVE”.
The tapas bar waitress is Jeny Sanchez, 25.
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Chelsea And Arsenal In ‘Fabregas On The Brain’ Shocker
CHESLEA v Arsenal in the Premier League. And the Sun is, as ever, looking for controversy. The headline screams:
You’ve got Cesc on the brain – Hazard in Fab taunt to Wenger
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Posted: 5th, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Balls: Brendan Rodgers Forgets Why He Bought Mario Balotelli
WHY did Brendan Rodgers sign Mario Balotelli for Liverpool?
On Ausut 25, the Liverpool manger told one and all:
“All my life, I have given players an opportunity. Balotelli is 24 years of age, and has become a father now. He knows he has responsibility, not only to himself but to this great club. We will treat him no differently. He is part of our team. The business was very good for us.”
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Manchester United Will Sign Radamel Falcao As Soon As Manchester City Let Him Go
At least it means he’ll buy a new shirt every year
CAN it be true that Manchester United have agreed to keep Radamel Falcao at the club – and that the player has accepted a weekly wage of £250,000, plus add ons?
And United will pay Monaco a tranfer fee of £43.5m?
The Press is full of news that the deal has been done. The Express reports:
Radamel Falcao has agreed personal terms over a £43.5m permanent transfer to Old Trafford. The Colombian striker is on a season-long loan deal from Monaco but he is keen to complete a full-time switch. United have agreed to pay Falcao £250,000-a-week plus add ons in a £43.5m deal.
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Posted: 3rd, October 2014 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment (1)
Transfer Balls: Edinson Cavani Joins Arsenal But Wanted Heavenly Manchester United
TRANSFER Balls: The Guardian looks at Arsenal and a top player and wonders aloud:
Football transfer rumours: Arsenal to end Edinson Cavani’s PSG hell?
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Posted: 2nd, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Chelsea Balls: Manchester City Made John Terry Cry
CHELSEA captain John Terry cries when he doesn’t win. Other footballers have cried, of course. But Terry is such a divisive character. His tears invite a reaction. And most football fans will point and laugh. He says:
“I was in tears over the Premier League last season, over throwing it away and not winning it, behind closed doors. It’s emotions, that is what I play for week-in, week-out.”
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Transfer Balls: Arsenal ‘Sell’ Higuain To Liverpool
TRANSFER Balls: a look at rumours and drivel reported as fact by the mainstream media. Today the Mirror wonders if Gonzalo Higuain is heading to Liverpool.
As ever with the Mirror, it’s a question of sport:
In the old days, when journalists reported fact, the Mirror would ahve been expected to provied answers. But now it simply garners hits by creating questions witha football team element.
The story is:
Gunning for Gonzalo – Liverpool are weighing up a £30million bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to the Express.
The Mirror doesn’t bother to check the varacity of the Express’ quotidian Balls. It provides no link to allow readers to check the Express, which reports:
Argentina international Higuain is reportedly unsettled at the Serie A side as the pressure mounts on Rafa Benitez following a poor run of form, and Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring the ex-Real Madrid forward to Anfield in a deal worth over £30million.
Number of reports linked and named: nil.
Number of words from Brendan Rodgers: nil.
To put the tinm lid on the balls, the Mirror notes:
Arsenal had previously shown an interest in Higuain but are unlikely to make a bid after the signing of Danny Welbeck.
Or as the Sun put it:
Higuain plays for Napoli.
Such are the facts.
Posted: 1st, October 2014 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment (1)
Arsenal Balls: About That Arteta ‘Exclusive’
TRANSFER Balls: The Mirror has an Arsenal “EXCLUSIVE”.
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Chelsea Balls On Twitter: Filipe Luis Flashes A ‘Crows Cum-Shot Agonisingly Across The Face’
THE Offical Chealse FC Twitter account was tracking the Blues’ Champions’ League match at Porto. One tweet containted a glaring error:
Neat Chelsea play in and around the Sporting box concludes with Filipe Luis flashing a crows-cum shot agonisingly across the face
Did you see the error?
Yep: No apostrophe on ‘crows’.
Posted: 30th, September 2014 | In: Chelsea, Sports | Comment
