Noren is Monty’s unlikely Ryder Cup pace-setter September 7, 2009 FINALLY, Colin Montgomerie can start putting his 2010 Ryder Cup plans into place. The European Masters in Switzerland at the weekend signalled the start of the qualifying for the event at Celtic Manor next summer, and already Monty has plenty to ponder. Relative unknown Swede Alexander Noren is the first to emerge following his fine [...]
United issue threat over Pogba claims September 7, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED have threatened to take legal action against Le Havre if they continue to make allegations over the transfer of 16-year-old starlet Paul Pogba. The French club have repeatedly claimed United threw money at Pogba’s family in order to entice him to Old Trafford. The claims come just days after Premier League rivals Chelsea [...]
Beckham eyes English return to fulfil dream September 7, 2009 DAVID BECKHAM has hinted he could make a return to the Premier League in order to fulfil his World Cup dream. The 34-year-old is still half way through a five-year contract with LA Galaxy but could be available on a loan deal when the Major League Soccer season finishes in March. Beckham enjoyed a successful [...]
Lampard: Capello will get it right September 7, 2009 ENGLAND midfielder Frank Lampard is convinced manager Fabio Capello will make the correct decision when naming Wayne Rooney’s strike partner for tomorrow night’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Croatia. With England needing a win to confirm their place in next summer’s finals, boss Capello has a welcome selection headache on his hands as Jermain Defoe [...]
Ponting puts Ashes revenge ahead of Twenty20 career September 7, 2009 AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting yesterday announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket in order to prolong his glittering career. The 34-year-old will remain as Australian Test and one-day skipper but has decided to step aside from the shorter form of the game in order to enhance his chances of returning to England to break his Ashes [...]
RUGBY UNION IN BRIEF September 7, 2009 Bath trio fail in ban appealsFORMER Bath co-captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett yesterday failed in their attempt to have their nine-month bans for missed drugs tests overturned. The pair were suspended for failing to undertake tests when Bath launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by a number of players. Both have since resigned [...]
City sweating on Tevez and Robinho for Arsenal clash September 7, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY could be without big-money buys Robinho and Carlos Tevez for Saturday’s crunch clash with Arsenal. Eastlands boss Mark Hughes had already resigned himself to losing winger Robinho, who picked up a thigh injury in Brazil’s World Cup qualifying victory with Argentina on Saturday night. But Hughes was then dealt a double blow when [...]
Kenny handed nine-month ban for failed drugs test September 7, 2009 REPUBLIC of Ireland international goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been handed a nine-month ban from all football after failing a drugs test. The Sheffield United shot-stopper was found to have traces of banned substance ephedrine present in his urine following a routine test after the match with Preston in May. Kenny, 31, was suspended by the [...]
Strauss hits out as sloppy England toil September 6, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss lamented his side’s poor batting display as Australia opened up a 2-0 lead in the second one-dayer of the seven-match series at Lord’s. Chasing 250 to win, England looked comfortable at 74-0, only for four top order wickets to fall for just 23 runs. Paul Collingwood tried his best to recover [...]
Redpath hails Robinson as Gloucester claim derby win September 6, 2009 GLOUCESTER chief Bryan Redpath hailed debutant Nicky Robinson after he put Bath to the sword in the west country derby at Kingsholm. Wales fly-half Robinson contributed 14 points in a convincing 24-5 victory as Redpath’s men made an impressive start to their Guinness Premiership campaign. “Nicky has got a reputation for being a calm and [...]