Champions to round off league campaign in style May 19, 2011 THE Premier League season comes to an end on Sunday and there are still some scores to be settled at the bottom of the table. However, MANCHESTER UNITED were crowned champions at Blackburn last weekend and they thoroughly deserve their 19th league title. It couldn’t be described as a vintage United team, but they have [...]
Leinster too strong for Mallinder’s Saints May 19, 2011 LEINSTER vs NORTHAMPTON TOMORROW – 5PM, SKY SPORTS FEW, other than perhaps the most partisan Frenchman, would argue that the two most deserving sides will meet in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Final. That story is told by the judges’ selections for the European Player of the Year: Leinster’s Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa and [...]
West Ham need Premier League boss, says Venables May 18, 2011 FORMER England boss Terry Venables has urged West Ham to choose a manager with Premier League experience to fill the vacancy at Upton Park, despite their drop into the Championship. The Hammers hope to recruit a permanent replacement for Avram Grant, who was sacked after Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Wigan confirmed their relegation, by the [...]
Dallaglio cheered that RFU flip-flop has not deterred Woodward from job May 18, 2011 FORMER England captain Lawrence Dallaglio believes it is “positive news for English rugby” that Sir Clive Woodward has not ruled himself out of the race to become performance director, despite the Rugby Football Union’s handling of the recruitment process. The RFU have been criticised for last week’s flip-flopping, in which they drastically downgraded the role [...]
Holloway: Premier League want Blackpool relegated May 18, 2011 BLACKPOOL manager Ian Holloway has accused the Premier League of insulting his team and wanting them relegated. The Tangerines go into Sunday’s final fixture of the campaign at Manchester United desperately hoping for a result that could hoist them out of the bottom three. But Holloway has been angered by suggestions United could be fined [...]
Coe pleads with protesters not to spoil Olympic Torch’s relay route May 18, 2011 THE OLYMPIC Torch will undertake an 8,000 mile journey in the relay preceding the London Games with organisers calling on protest groups not to disrupt its passage after announcing the route yesterday. The Olympic Flame will arrive from Greece on 18 May next year and the relay will commence in Land’s End and continue for [...]
Onions relishing the chance to shed his forgotten man tag with England’s Lions May 18, 2011 INTERNATIONAL cricket is a merciless, unforgiving environment that stands still for no one, and nowhere is that better illustrated than the career of Graham Onions. England’s forgotten man will take his most significant step yet towards reclaiming his Test place today when he turns out for the Lions in a four-day tour match against Sri [...]
Play me or I’m off: Sturridge issues Chelsea ultimatum May 18, 2011 CHELSEA striker Daniel Sturridge has warned his employers he will be forced to seek a new club unless he is guaranteed first team football next season. The 21-year-old’s chances have been limited at Stamford Bridge following his shock switch from Manchester City two years ago, but he has proven his top flight pedigree this term [...]
Leicester’s Tuilagi banned from Saracens showdown May 18, 2011 LEICESTER centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the Premiership final on Saturday week against Saracens after he was handed a five-week ban for striking Northampton’s England winger Chris Ashton. A push from Ashton, which provoked Tuilagi’s attack, meant his initial suspension of 10 weeks was halved. His offence, which left Ashton requiring stitches above his left [...]
PASS THE PORTO: FALCAO STRIKE SECURES EUROPA LEAGUE VICTORY May 18, 2011 PORTO manager Andre Villas-Boas followed one of his illustrious predecessors, Jose Mourinho, in leading Porto to glory with a 1-0 victory over Braga in the Europa League final in Dublin. A header from Colombia striker Falcao, his 38th goal of a prolific season, just before the end of the first half was enough to give [...]