Ronaldinho set for Gremio January 4, 2011 FOOTBALL: Ronaldinho is set to snub Blackburn and complete a transfer to his former club Gremio. The 30-year-old Brazil World Cup winner had been offered £20m over three years by Rovers’ Indian owners to join the Ewood Park club, but he is believed to have opted to return to the club at which he started [...]
Henson in Wales training camp January 4, 2011 RUGBY UNION: Wales centre Gavin Henson has stepped up his fight to win back a place in the national side in time for the Six Nations. The Saracens star, who last played for his country in 2009, joined an expanded squad of more than 40 players for a pre-tournament conditioning assessment in Glamorgan. Meanwhile, Wales [...]
Monet’s Garden critically ill January 4, 2011 HORSE RACING: Nicky Richards-trained chaser Monet’s Garden was fighting for his life last night after being forced into retirement by a foot infection. The gelding registered the last of his 17 wins at Aintree in October, when he triumphed in the Old Roan Chase for a third time.
No Aussie would get in England side January 3, 2011 OUR cricket columnist, former England batsman and Warwickshire chairman Andy Lloyd, has been poring over all the Ashes action. Here he dissects what he’s learned from the play so far. RISKS The most fearsome obstacle standing between England and a victory in the final Ashes Test that would earn them a 3-1 series victory is [...]
Murray and Robson fail to revive Hopman heroics January 3, 2011 BRITISH pair Andy Murray and Laura Robson face an uphill battle to emulate last year’s Hopman Cup run after losing their opening group clash against Italy. Murray and Robson reached the final in Perth 12 months ago but went down 2-1 yesterday after losing the deciding mixed doubles to Potito Starace and French Open champion [...]
Bruma: It’s the players not Carlo who should take all of the blame January 3, 2011 CHELSEA defender Jeffrey Bruma insists he and his fellow teammates must take responsibility for their failure to kill off Aston Villa on Sunday. The 19-year-old made his full Premier League debut in the eventful 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, who travel to Wolves tomorrow, trail Manchester United by six points having played a [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 3, 2011 Isner survives Mahut rematch TENNIS: American John Isner secured victory in two sets against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the Hopman Cup, as the pair met for the first time since last year’s epic first-round Wimbledon clash. It took over 11 hours for the pair to be separated on that occasion, but here the giant American [...]
NINE GAMES Beckham’s Spurs switch set to be a short one January 3, 2011 FORMER England captain David Beckham has edged closer to a sensational loan move to Spurs – but his return to English football looks likely to be limited to just nine games. Beckham’s camp insist any short-term deal would have to fall in line with the start of the Major League Soccer season, which begins on [...]
Window of opportunity December 22, 2010 ARSENAL Budget: £25-30m, hypothetically, but not expected to be stretched Areas of weakness: A leaky defence is sorely missing Thomas Vermaelen, and with his return date still unknown the clamour is growing for Arsene Wenger to sign another centre-back Targets: Everton defender Phil Jagielka, the subject of a failed bid in the summer, and highly-rated [...]
Pietersen advocates seasonal sledging December 22, 2010 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen claims he won’t be holding back on the verbals, despite his attempts at sledging backfiring in the third Ashes Test. Pietersen and James Anderson attempted to get under the skin of the previously wayward Mitchell Johnson in Perth, but the Aussie paceman responded with a devastating spell of hostile swing bowling [...]