Sport

« October 2008 | Main | December 2008 »

F1 gossip column...Your view

Forceblog_2It's time for the second half of this week's gossip, brought to you by our man on the inside.

In the latest round of rumours, our F1 expert exposes a fresh twist in the Force India camp one and also reveals that Renault could be involved in the scrap for the title next season.

Read more on these stories, plus all the other latest rumours, by clicking here and don't forget to leave your comments in the boxes below.


Football's biggest divers...Your views

RooneyblogWayne Rooney was the latest big name footballer to admit to taking a dive after his tumbling effort during last night's Champions league clash against Villarreal.

Off the back of this, we’ve decided to pick out ten of the most infamous divers in the game which you can view for by clicking here.

Do you agree with our list? Would you like to name and shame anybody we’ve missed out? Send us your comments using the boxes below.


Flying high despite ups and downs

Afternoon everyone, were you starting to think I'd won the Scoop6?

A mixed day on Saturday with Souffleur grabbing a very respectable second place (advised at 14/1 - but returning 25/1), but Kauto Star (advsied at 2/5) unseating at the last to cost us £50 and wiping out any profit for the day.

Personally I believe Kauto Star now rates an very good betting proposition for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (4/1 generally, but as big as 5/1 in places).

History is littered with horses which put in a bad race during the season on their way to Gold Cup glory - See More Business and Looks Like Trouble are two for starters.

Also, I've got to question how the bookies can cut Binocular a point or more for the Champion Hurdle (4/1 generally) after winning at 1/9 at Haydock!! Okay so Crack Away Jack was beaten, but come on - please.

AirforceoneFinally, my closing message - Get on early ahead of Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup - Air Force One is the one for me, I'll have £50 each-way at 6/1 on the Charlie Mann-trained runner.

All-time record: Bets 86; Winners 26; Losers 59; Non-runners 1; Profit £815.43.


 

Premier League's greatest goals - your views

Henry2In the latest instalment of our Premier League 'best and worst' series, we've picked our ten best top-flight goals.

Cheeky chips, thirty-yard net-busters and that lob from the halfway line all feature in our selection, which you can view by clicking here.

Have we missed any out? Which goals should have made it and which ones don't you rate? Send us your comments using the boxes below.


From the Touchlines: Danny gets the drop

Dannycipriani200251108Danny Cipriani has carried the can for England's underachievements in the November Tests to date, with Toby Flood brought in to replace the Wasps fly-half to face New Zealand.

On the surface, it might seem harsh that Cipriani has effectively been made the scapegoat. After all, he had done plenty of things right at times in the last two matches, particularly in the defeat against Australia. But it sends out exactly the right message from new boss Martin Johnson.

By dropping the wonderkid, Johnson is effectively saying that no one is exempt from the chop should they fail to deliver the highest standards that he sets for himself and his players.

Cipriani will be disappointed but it might be just what he needs to lift him back to the sort of form he showed last season. And sure enough he'll be back and end up being England's long-term answer at fly-half. It's now up to him how he responds.

Do you agree with Martin Johnson's decision to drop Danny Cipriani? How do you think England will fare against New Zealand? We want to hear your views.


England slump to series defeat

KpJust what is the matter with England in the one-day cricket arena?
Their 19-run defeat against India in Bangalore saw them lose the seven-match series, and edge closer to what would be a humiliating 7-0 whitewash.
OK, they managed to win a series against South Africa in the summer but it came against a side who had just clinched the Test series and looked to be ready for home.
But in India it's been the same old story for England who have struggled for too long in this form of the game.
Why, when the leading nations batsmen make the most of the fielding restrictions in the powerplays do the players seem to freeze like rabbits in the headlights, unable to find the gaps, judge the quick single or make twos into threes?
In Owais Shah, Freddie Flintoff and Pietersen England have some superb strikers of the ball but tactically they rarely seem to get it right.
It's surely time to sit down once and for all and try to come up with a gameplan aimed at making England competitive at the next World Cup in 2011, instead of drifting along as they are.

What did you make of England's ODI series defeat? Is a series whitewash in the offing? What would you change? Share you views below.


Where now for England?

Boks2 Where now for Martin Johnson and England after their thrashing by South Africa?
Defeat by Australia last week was difficult enough to swallow, but a 42-6 drubbing at Twickenham by the Springboks should really set the alarm bells ringing.
The scoreline is the heaviest in England's history at Twickenham and begs the question where has it all gone wrong since they lifted the World Cup in 2003?
There was no shortage of endeavour from the boys in white against the Boks but when the visitors had the ball in hand they excited, when England had it it was ponderous in the extreme.
The skill levels of southern hempisphere teams seems light years ahead at times and England won't compete again at the highest level until they put that right. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

What did you make of England's heaviest-ever Twickenham defeat? What changes would you make? Share your views below.


Kauto Star to shine again

Good afternoon all. Kauto Star is aiming to complete a hat-trick in Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock (2.15pm) and it's hard to see past the 2007 Gold Cup winner.

He faces just five rivals in the Grade One contest and only Exotic Dancer will provide any sort of competition. However, you can expect the same result as their previous seven meetings with Paul Nicholls' racehorse triumphing. I'll have a £50 win at 2/5.

Star_3

I'm also backing a return to form for Souffleur, successful in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season, in the "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle (Haydock 1.05pm) and will be having £10 each-way at the current price of 14/1.

Good luck with all your betting over the weekend.


How to lose friends and alienate people

Williamgallas200211108Everyone loves a bit of drama and life at Arsenal seems to be turning into its very own soap opera, judging by captain William Gallas' latest rant.

The Gunners skipper accused his players of not being warriors and singled out one player - rumoured in the tabloids to be Robin van Persie - as being universally disliked by and abusive to his team-mates. On top of that, he revealed a half-time fall-out between van Persie and Theo Walcott in the 4-4 epic against Tottenham earlier this season.

His outburst is hardly likely to instill confidence among his players in their captain while Arsene Wenger is said to be fuming, particularly as he tries to correct the inconsistent performances of his team-mates in the Premier League.

But what was the point of Gallas' outburst, apart from to try to offload some of the blame he's been burdened with when things have gone wrong this season? In fact, there's quite a lot. His sensational outburst coincidentally happened the day before the publication of his autobiography in his native France. So, while he might be docked two weeks wages for what he said - about £180,000 - the ensuing furore will ensure he cashes in on resulting book sales.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd will all be loving this little bit of north London in-fighting, as Gallas-gate looks set to drag on and on. All we can say is what was he thinking, the fool?!

What did you make of Gallas' outburst and should Arsene Wenger sack him as captain? We want to hear your views.


England's future XI... your views

Dannywelbeck150x200paInspired by the recent unearthing of a crop of promising young English talent, Orange has selected an England team of the future.

The dazzling exploits of Arsenal's kids in the Carling Cup, plus Michael Mancienne's England call-up and the wonder goal by Manchester United's 17-year-old Danny Welbeck against Stoke have brought England's stars of the future into sharp focus.

Check out our new-breed England XI right here, vote on the promise of each player and then give us your views below. Which up-and-coming talent have we left out?