Ferguson rejects plans to strengthen in January to ease defensive crisis December 21, 2009 SIR ALEX FERGUSON has ruled out the possibility of delving into the transfer market to ease Manchester United’s defensive crisis. Ferguson saw his United side slump to a fifth defeat of the campaign at Fulham on Saturday – one more that than the whole of last season. It left them four points behind Chelsea at [...]
World Player Messi hails a perfect year for Barca December 21, 2009 LIONEL MESSI spoke of his “perfect year” after being named the Fifa World Player of the Year last night. The brilliant Argentine winger, 22, beat team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, plus last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, to the award in Zurich, which was voted by each national team coach and captain. Messi, 22, [...]
I’ll do it my way, Trott warns Smith December 21, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Jonathan Trott has brushed aside criticism from South Africa captain Graeme Smith over his laboured batting style. South African-born Trott played his part in England batting out for a draw in the first Test in Pretoria on Sunday with an invaluable 69 in only his second Test match. But his slow preparation at [...]
Crazy hour mustn’t haunt us December 21, 2009 BAR that last “crazy” hour, as Andrew Strauss described it, England played some fantastic cricket in the first Test at Centurion over the weekend and have every reason to be encouraged ahead of the second Test in Durban, on Boxing Day. In many ways, it had an air of the Ashes about it, didn’t it? [...]
Dupuy to appeal ‘anti-French’ six-month eye-gouging ban December 21, 2009 STADE FRANCAIS scrum-half Julien Dupuy has appealed against his 24-week ban for eye-gouging. Dupuy was cited for his attack on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris during Stade’s 23-13 Heineken Cup defeat at Ravenhill on 12 December. The six-month ban would rule Dupuy out of France’s entire Six Nations campaign, which starts in February. Furious Stade president [...]
Quins get shirty for charity December 21, 2009 HARLEQUINS and England duo David Strettle and Ugo Monye show Caprice a thing or two about modelling as they parade the club’s new HopeHIV Charity shirts. The Quins will be wearing the shirts at Big Game 2 when they take on London rivals Wasps in front of an expected full-house at Twickenham on 27 December. [...]
Wigan and Bolton must wait December 21, 2009 FOOTBALL: No new date has yet been set for last night’s scheduled Premier League clash between Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers which was postponed on health and safety grounds. The DW Stadium pitch was playable but the freezing conditions made areas around the stadium unsafe for fans.
England set up Egypt date December 21, 2009 FOOTBALL: Fabio Capello will begin his World Cup preparations with a match against reigning African Cup of Nations champions Egypt on 3 March. The Wembley friendly will give Capello’s men the chance to size up a similar challenge to group opponents Algeria, who England have never met. Algeria beat Egypt to the World Cup finals [...]
McCoy: Star looks unbeatable December 21, 2009 RACING: Champion jockey Tony McCoy believes Kauto Star will be “impossible to beat” in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Paul Nicholls’ brilliant nine-year-old is seeking a fourth successive victory in the Festive highlight and McCoy has no doubt as to the outcome. “As we all know, Kauto Star is going [...]
Tendulkar leads India again December 21, 2009 CRICKET: Sachin Tendulkar smashed a brilliant unbeaten 96 to help India to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international in Cuttack. Sri Lanka were cruising at 165-1 at one stage but Ravindra Jadeja’s 4-32 led the fightback as they collapsed to 239. Tendulkar smashed 13 fours off 104 balls to lead [...]