Why Roman Abramovich and Chelsea will not be able to spend their way out of trouble December 17, 2015 There was a period when Chelsea had an obvious solution to the kind of loss in form which has so blighted them this season – Roman Abramovich's cheque book. Not so anymore. Chelsea will not be able to simply spend their way to salvation following a catastrophic start to the season which sees them teetering [...]
Early selection hint allows prospective Test debutant Alex Hales to prepare mentally and roll with punches December 16, 2015 The tour may not have started well for opener Alex Hales, but England head coach Trevor Bayliss has indicated that he is almost certain to make his Test debut, alongside skipper Alastair Cook at the top of the order, in the first Test against South Africa in Durban, which starts on Boxing Day. When I [...]
Joe Root interview: Heir apparent keen to remain jester of England team December 16, 2015 He may boast increasing batting prowess and rising status within the dressing room, but England vice-captain Joe Root is determined to prevent the burden of responsibility dimming his endearing joie de vivre. Whether it be his mask-wearing mimicking of Bob Willis, a cheeky mock salute to welcome Ben Stokes’ century or schoolboy sniggering at skipper [...]
Carlo Ancelotti adds to Chelsea managerial uncertainty as Italian appears ready to replace Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich December 16, 2015 Chelsea look set to spare manager Jose Mourinho the axe before Saturday’s match against Sunderland as the list of potential replacements for the under-fire Portuguese appears to dwindle. Mourinho took training as usual yesterday despite growing uncertainty over his position following Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester, a result that left the struggling champions one point [...]
Over 70m tickets sold to UK sport events in 2015 thanks to Rugby World Cup boost December 16, 2015 More than 70m tickets to sports events in the UK were sold in 2015, representing a five per cent increase on last year, according to research from Deloitte's Sports Business Group. Only in 2012, when 75m tickets were sold as London hosted the Olympic Games, has the UK recorded higher sports attendances in a calendar [...]
Alberto Contador interview: El Pistolero sets sights on Chris Froome and aims for Tour de France victory in his final season December 16, 2015 It seems like an incomplete comeback. On paper, Alberto Contador is the best grand tour rider of his generation. The Spaniard has won seven, including two Tours de France. Those numbers jump to nine and three if, as Contador does, you count the titles he was stripped of after failing a drug test. Yet El [...]
Hales and Cook flop to heighten England’s opener worries December 15, 2015 All-rounder Ben Stokes reiterated the pivotal importance of England counteracting the new ball if they are to enjoy success against No1-ranked Test side South Africa this winter after an early wobble in yesterday’s warm-up clash. England finished day one of their opening tour match against a South African Invitational XI on 470-5 as Stokes eased fears [...]
Bristol hit out as England go for former skipper Steve Borthwick December 15, 2015 Head coach Eddie Jones’ premiership as England boss descended into an unseemly club versus country row only weeks into his tenure after a tug-of-war over former skipper Steve Borthwick broke out yesterday. The Rugby Football Union[RFU] released a statement confirming Borthwick, who worked under Jones with Japan before joining Bristol as their forwards coach following [...]
Fifa crisis: Sepp Blatter compares investigation into controversial £1.3m payment to the Inquisition December 15, 2015 Embattled Fifa president Sepp Blatter has compared the internal investigation that threatens to bring an abrupt end to his 17 years as the head of football’s world governing body to the Inquisition. Blatter’s remarks come as he prepares to appear before Hans-Joachim Eckert, the head of the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa’s ethics committee who could [...]
Jose Mourinho is not the only one to blame for Chelsea’s crisis but looks to be on borrowed time December 15, 2015 It's surreal – possibly the most surreal fall from grace I can remember witnessing in football – but the aim for Chelsea and their under-fire manager Jose Mourinho now has to be survival. They have gone from champions to relegation candidates in a matter of months and their performance level is unrecognisable from last season’s [...]