Football’s last chance saloon: The tournament where unemployed players duke it out for a contract September 11, 2015 The lemon-coloured corridors of the Leiden Holiday Inn are dotted with men in matching tracksuits, slouching on lobby couches, flicking through smartphones or making frantic phone calls. They’re unemployed footballers, here in the small Dutch city half an hour south of Amsterdam to compete in the Fifpro summer tournament and find work for the [...]
Reviews: Irrational Man, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Song From Far Away, The Visit September 11, 2015 FILM Irrational Man By James Luxford RATING ★★★☆☆ A disaffected older man given a new lease of life by an affair with a young woman? A murder that eats away at the protagonist? If a Woody Allen exploration of the moralities of sex and death seems familiar, it’s because he’s been here many times before. Often [...]
Outcast Tuilagi: I did not assault police officers September 11, 2015 ENGLAND centre Manu Tuilagi insists he was harshly treated following the incident which saw him convicted for assaulting two police officers in May. The 24-year-old was suspended until January by England head coach Stuart Lancaster after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, assault by beating and causing criminal damage by Leicester Magistrates. “My [...]
Rashid basks in England’s clear one-day system September 11, 2015 LEG-SPINNER Adil Rashid insists the strategy of the current one-day side is much more defined than was previously the case as England bid to level the series against world champions Australia at Headingley today. Rashid made his one-day international debut in 2009 against Ireland in Belfast but was absent from the England picture for nearly [...]
Arsene Wenger: I didn’t mislead Arsenal fans anyone of Danny Welbeck injury September 11, 2015 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was forced to deny lying about the severity of forward Danny Welbeck’s injury after being criticised for failing to bolster the club’s striking department before the close of the transfer window. Welbeck is set to be on the sidelines for several months after undergoing surgery on the knee problem which forced [...]
David De Gea set for new Manchester United deal September 10, 2015 Goalkeeper David de Gea’s long-term future could lie at Manchester United after the Old Trafford club yesterday opened talks over a new contract with the Spaniard. Former Atletico stopper De Gea saw a proposed £29m move to Real Madrid collapse on transfer deadline day after the two clubs failed to complete the necessary paperwork in [...]
Roger Feder’s tactic is disrespectful, insists Boris Becker September 10, 2015 Six-time grand slam winner Boris Becker insists US Open semi-finalist Roger Federer’s disdain for his opponent’s serve would not have been tolerated in previous eras. Federer’s tactic of advancing towards the net as his rival serves was in evidence on Wednesday night as he dispatched France’s Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the [...]
Hearn: Boxing can be second biggest sport September 10, 2015 A LITTLE over a year after staging the biggest fight in British boxing history, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has not downsized the scale of his ambition. “In six years, I think we can make this the No2 sport in the country,” Hearn told City A.M. “We’ve made [UK] boxing trendy again,” says Hearn, reflecting on [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Steve Hansen demands New Zealand ditch their arrogance September 10, 2015 New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen believes his side have ditched an arrogant attitude which has blighted previous World Cups as they prepare to defend their crown when the tournament gets underway next week. Since taking charge of world champions New Zealand in 2012, Hansen has overseen 42 victories from 47 Test matches, having lost [...]
Mayweather v Berto: Slow ticket sales, falling pay-per-view revenue and anti-doping headlines – why Floyd’s final fight won’t be a fairy tale September 10, 2015 Arguably the greatest, certainly the richest and one of the most divisive boxers of all time could step into the ring for the final time on Saturday night, yet no glorious farewell is expected when Floyd Mayweather Jr. meets Andre Berto at the MGM Grand on Saturday night. Read more: Floyd Mayweather retains status as Forbes' [...]