Fabio Capello: Chelsea slump is down to Jose Mourinho’s habit of ruining his players October 6, 2015 Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is paying the price for habitually “ruining” his players in the first 18 months of his tenure, according to former England coach Fabio Capello. Blues chiefs this week took the unusual step of issuing a public vote of confidence in Mourinho, who has led the team to just eight points from [...]
Jurgen Klopp can restore Liverpool to the top four but a Premier League title challenge is beyond him with this squad October 6, 2015 I was a little surprised by Liverpool’s decision to sack Brendan Rodgers but, as the dust begins to settle and the club prepare to appoint his replacement, he can harbour few complaints. None of the numbers show his reign in a very flattering light. Yes, he had to contend with the unavoidable loss of start [...]
Rugby World Cup v Football World Cup: Why do the two sports attract such different brands? October 6, 2015 Risk Everything, All in or Nothing, The Game Before the Game. Sound familiar? This was just some of the powerful, high-energy language used by sponsors of the Fifa World Cup 2014. Leave your families, sell your soul, risk your lives. This language was aggressive, fearless and came from the biggest and most recognized names [...]
Rugby World Cup v Football World Cup: Why do the two sports attract such different brands? October 6, 2015 Risk Everything, All in or Nothing, The Game Before the Game. Sound familiar? This was just some of the powerful, high-energy language used by sponsors of the Fifa World Cup 2014. Leave your families, sell your soul, risk your lives. This language was aggressive, fearless and came from the biggest and most recognized names [...]
Ryder Cup 2016 should be goal for rising star Thorbjorn Olesen October 6, 2015 It was two years ago at the Seve Trophy in Paris that I recall being impressed by a young Danish player who helped Continental Europe narrowly beat the Great Britain and Ireland team that I was captaining. Thorbjorn Olesen, then 23, was athletic and had a good swing, as well as something in the way [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Andy Farrell denies having an excessive influence and defends Stuart Lancaster October 6, 2015 England defence coach Andy Farrell has denied having a disproportionate influence over team selection in the wake of his side’s humiliating poolstage exit at the World Cup. It has been suggested that Farrell championed the cause of rugby league convert Sam Burgess against the wishes of players, while his objectivity has been questioned in relation [...]
Liverpool make Jurgen Klopp contact to replace Brendan Rodgers October 5, 2015 Liverpool have moved quickly to replace the sacked Brendan Rodgers by sounding out former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp about the managerial vacancy at Anfield. Klopp is currently out of work after resigning from Dortmund in May, having led the German club to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final against Bayern Munich in [...]
Golf Comment: Ryder Cup debut should be goal for Olesen October 5, 2015 IT WAS two years ago at the Seve Trophy in Paris that I recall being impressed by a young Danish player who helped Continental Europe beat the Great Britain and Ireland team that I was captaining. Thorbjorn Olesen, then 23, was athletic and had a good swing, as well as something in his demeanour that [...]
Chelsea give Jose Mourinho vote of confidence – but won’t hand manager extra cash for January transfer spree October 5, 2015 Chelsea have publicly backed under-fire manager Jose Mourinho to turn around their troubled start to the season but have warned that he will have to do so without a spending spree in January. Mourinho has found his future scrutinised just months after leading the Blues to the Premier League title, having begun their defence by [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Joe Schmidt’s Ireland seal quarter-final place with narrow victory as Argentina close in on last eight October 5, 2015 Relieved Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admitted that his side made life difficult for themselves despite sealing their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 16-9 victory over Italy at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. Centre Keith Earls dotted down to set a new national record of eight World Cup tries although Ireland were pegged [...]