England player ratings September 3, 2014 Joe Hart 7 Produced a superb one-handed save shortly after half time to keep out Blackburn forward Josh King’s header Jack Wilshere 6 Sharp in possession with neat movement. Supported England’s attacks well, particularly first half John Stones 7 Composed in defence on his first England start and delivered searching right-wing crosses Jordan Henderson 6 [...]
Cricket Comment: Ditch Cook, but it won’t cure one-day misery September 3, 2014 WEDNESDAY was a sad day. In probably the most one-sided one-day international between top teams that I’ve ever seen, England were not just beaten but annihilated by India by nine wickets. It was embarrassing. A fresh low point in an already dreadful series has led to more pressure on Alastair Cook who, once again, faces [...]
Welbeck out to prove class September 3, 2014 HITMAN Danny Welbeck believes his deadline day transfer to Arsenal will see him escape the shackles of an indifferent goalscoring record. The 23-year-old netted 29 goals in 142 appearances for former club Manchester United and has received criticism for a lack of natural finishing ability. But after the Gunners splashed out £16m to sign the [...]
Goal king back to stoke Palace September 3, 2014 FORMER England striker Andrew Johnson aims to help establish Crystal Palace as a Premier League force after returning to Selhurst Park for a second stint yesterday. The 33-year-old, who scored 85 goals in 160 games for the Eagles between 2002 and 2006, has signed a short-term deal which will tie him to the club until [...]
Tykes close to county glory September 3, 2014 SKIPPER Andrew Gale will miss the final two games of the season for champions-elect Yorkshire after an altercation with Lancashire batsman Ashwell Prince during this week’s Roses match at Old Trafford. The 30-year-old, who was also punished for dissent in the reverse fixture in May, was reported by the match umpires for “using language or [...]
McGinley bolsters his backroom September 3, 2014 CAPTAIN Paul McGinley believes the knowledge base at his disposal will prove invaluable when Europe bid to retain the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles this month after naming Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal as vice-captains. The experienced triumvirate have clocked up 17 Ryder Cup appearances between them and join City A.M. columnist [...]
Golf Comment: This is as strong a Europe side as we’ve ever seen September 2, 2014 TO HAVE a Scot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles is a great asset as the crowd will love it, and Stephen Gallacher’s selection as one of captain Paul McGinley’s three wildcard picks is certainly a wonderful story, but let’s be clear: he has thoroughly earned his place in the side and sentiment didn’t [...]
US Ryder Cup 12 finalised September 2, 2014 UNITED States captain Tom Watson last night announced Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson as his wildcard picks, completing his line-up for this month’s Ryder Cup showdown with their European rivals at Gleneagles. Watson has never tasted defeat in the Ryder Cup either as a player or captain, having been involved five times between 1977 [...]
Skipper hope for axed Luke September 2, 2014 EUROPE captain Paul McGinley insists England’s Luke Donald has a Ryder Cup future despite leaving the former world No1 out of his team to face the United States this month. McGinley yesterday named Stephen Gallacher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood as his three wildcards, at the expense of Donald, who has been on the winning [...]
Indian nightmare continues but Cook refuses to quit as skipper September 2, 2014 BEWILDERED skipper Alastair Cook hinted at a cull of England’s under-performers should his side continue to show a lack of fight, but dismissed any suggestion of resigning after India wrapped up the one-day series with a thumping nine-wicket victory at Edgbaston yesterday. Lifeless England were brutally crushed as opener Ajinkya Rahane scored his maiden century [...]