Turning FA Cup into a midweek competition is an experiment worth trying for sake of the England team – and it might help out clubs in Europe too February 16, 2016 There is no doubt in my mind that the FA Cup would suffer if mooted plans to move all ties to midweek and scrap replays in order to make room for a winter break do come to be implemented. Saturday afternoon FA Cup matches are still something special and doing away with them would risk [...]
Relegation-haunted Sunderland to reduce cost of season tickets February 16, 2016 Relegation-threatened Sunderland have followed the lead of fellow Premier League side West Ham by announcing reductions to season-ticket prices for the 2016-17 campaign. Adult season tickets at the Stadium of Light next term will start at £350, down by £20, and the move follows widespread supporter unrest at the growing cost of attending top-level matches in [...]
Cipriani unable to resist lure of old flame Wasps as fly-half confirms return to his first club February 16, 2016 England fly-half Danny Cipriani insists the lure of rekindling his former love affair with Wasps proved irresistible after yesterday confirming that he will re-join the club from Sale Sharks next season. Wasps fended off competition from Harlequins for the signature of Cipriani, who had a season to run on his existing deal at Sale but [...]
The FA Cup: Midweek games and no replays proposed for tournament by Premier League powers February 16, 2016 Football's oldest competition could be set for a major revamp to invigorate it for the modern era. Proposals to adopt a format similar to the League Cup, by moving games to midweek and scrapping replays altogether, have been discussed by Premier League representatives and the FA according to reports. The League Cup itself could also be [...]
Danny Cipriani set to leave Sale Sharks to rejoin Wasps after turning down offers from France February 16, 2016 Danny Cipriani will rejoin his first professional club, Wasps, next season, after six years playing in Australia and at Sale Sharks. The fly-half played 95 times for Wasps between 2006 and 2010, before leaving for Melbourne Rebels in the 2011-12 season. Read more: Cipriani should be picked for England, Sale boss argues According to reports, Cipriani turned [...]
England v Ireland Six Nations stats preview: Figures show Eddie Jones’ kicking jibe towards Joe Schmidt is misguided February 16, 2016 Eddie Jones has described visitors Ireland as a “risk averse” team that more often not than opts to concede possession ahead of his first match at Twickenham as England head coach. “They kick 70 per cent of their ball away,” said the Australian. “If they want to do that, good luck to them. It has [...]
Champions League: Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink warns Eden Hazard to forget possible Paris Saint-Germain move as teams prepare to meet again February 15, 2016 Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has urged Eden Hazard to forget any prospect of a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain and focus on proving he is fit again by helping to halt the in-form French champions. Hazard appeared to give his suitors fresh hope when he said it would “difficult to say no to PSG” in a [...]
FA Cup final tickets to be cut by £5 each as Football Association responds to growing fan unrest at match-day costs February 15, 2016 Football Association chiefs have cut ticket prices for this year’s FA Cup final and semi-finals amid supporter unrest at the growing cost of attending top-level matches. All tickets for the 21 May showpiece have been reduced by £5 while seats at the two semi-finals in April, which are also held at Wembley, have been cut [...]
Vaughn Taylor leaves a decade of choppy waters behind to finally catch wave of success again February 15, 2016 A seismic week in the golfing world it may not have been, but it did throw up a lovely story of a player putting more than a decade of struggle on off the course behind him with a long overdue win. That man was Vaughn Taylor, a former world top 40 player around the time of [...]
Ronnie O’Sullivan deliberately avoids 147 break because £10,000 prize was “too cheap” February 15, 2016 Maverick five-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has admitted to sabotaging his own chance at making a maximum break of 147 because the £10,000 prize on offer was too low. O’Sullivan grinned as he opted for the pink, rather than an achievable black, off the penultimate red ball as he coasted to a first-round victory at the [...]