The dream moves of transfer deadline day?
The final day of the summer transfer market is set to be as frantic as ever. I have a few friends who are football agents and I know that on this day they don’t sleep, they don’t eat, and they don’t exist outside of any conversation that doesn’t involve transfers.
Like always, I expect a few big deals to be concluded on Wednesday. Some big clubs still have money to spend and managers are still hoping to convince their owners to splash the cash. Below you will find a list of ten deals I would like to see happen on Wednesday. Some you could say are a case of wishful thinking, but others could happen in the final hours of the market.
Luka Modric moves from Tottenham to Chelsea The Blues have courted the Croatian midfielder all summer long and he would definitely be a great addition to a side that desperately needs some creativity. Juan Mata was a good signing, but Modric would add a different dimension to Chelsea’s midfield. They would automatically become more dynamic and less predictable with him in the team. I know Andre Villas-Boas really rates Modric highly and he will try to convince Roman Abramovich to open the purse strings to bring him over to Stamford Bridge. Tottenham have resisted so far in allowing their star midfielder to leave but they don’t want a grumpy Modric in the dressing room all season long.
Likelihood of happening – 9/10
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Is it time to change false-start rules?
Take a trip with me in my imaginary time machine, back to an era of circus entertainment. Listen to the moustachioed ring master bellow, “Roll Up, roll up. Come and see the fastest man on earth. So quick, he’s known as the ‘Lightning Bolt’ - speedier than anyone in history. Roll up, roll up.”
The crowds swarm to see the star attraction, abuzz with excitement. What will this freak of human sprinting do? How fast can the Lightning Bolt strike this time, they wonder.
The ring master cracks his whip; our hero sets off, then, oh dear: “Sorry folks, our star attraction started a fraction of one second too early. The race is off.” FULL POST
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Posted by Filed under: Athletics |
20 years of Schumacher: Is his legacy on the line?
It's a little-known fact that Michael Schumacher got his big break in Formula One because another driver had been jailed for 2 months.
In 1991, Jordan driver Bertrand Gachot was locked up for assaulting a London taxi-driver, forcing him to miss four races including his home one at Spa. Schumie stepped in to the cock-pit and the rest, as they say, is history.
With the sponsor 7-Up displayed prominently and prophetically on his nose-cone, Schumacher qualified for his first F1 race in 7th position. Clutch problems meant he retired on his first lap, but he impressed so much that he was immediately snapped up by Flavio Briatore and the Benetton Ford team, who coincidentally were sponsored by Mild Seven, where he won the first of his record seven drivers' championships. FULL POST
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Posted by Filed under: Motorsport |
Is Wozniacki feeling the weight of world number one?
A number one ranking can be a blessing and a curse, just ask Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina.
It is right that praise follows an athlete who has reached the summit of their sport, but it can become a burden if this feat has been acheived without claiming a grand slam.
To the layman it makes no sense. To the critic it undermines the credibility of the rank. Since Wozniacki of Denmark became the WTA Tour’s top-ranked player, it is a question mark that has hung over her career. FULL POST
Why are Spanish footballers on strike?
Given the widespread notion that all footballers in Europe are multi-millionaire, Ferrari-owning playboys you would be forgiven for thinking that many of the players in Spain's La Liga were acting in a spoilt manner by striking for money.
If you did, I wouldn’t blame you - the postponement of the first day of fixtures for one of the world's finest leagues is enough to warrant strong emotion - but it would be a misplaced opinion.
The downing-of-tools in Spain has nothing to do with the rich and famous soccer stars of Real Madrid and Barcelona. FULL POST
Can anybody stop Djokovic and Williams at the U.S. Open?
There are two weeks to go until the final major of the year begins and already we have two huge favorites. You simply cannot look past Novak Djokovic on the men’s side and Serena Williams on the women’s.
The Serb’s run this year been absolutely astonishing. Victory at the Rogers Cup in Montreal was his ninth title of 2011 and his fifth at an ATP Tour Masters 1000 - a record - which means he has now won 53 out of his 54 matches - with that lone loss coming to 16-time grand slam winner Roger Federer in the semifinal of the French Open.
Not too long ago it was Rafa Nadal and Swiss Federer who dominated men’s tennis and Novak was a bit of an afterthought, but how things have changed. FULL POST
What now for Arsenal and Fabregas?
As Cesc Fabregas was unveiled at the Camp Nou on Monday, ending one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent memory, two new stories were born and neither currently has an obvious ending.
First, the tale of "Fabregas: The Barcelona Star?" and second the epic legend of "Arsene Wenger's quest for Glory." FULL POST
Big kick-off: Who will win Europe's top leagues?
It’s that time of year again! The new football season is upon us and below you will find my predictions on what will happen in Europe’s top four leagues over the next 10 months. One thing is for sure. There should be plenty of dramatic twists and turns in England, Germany, Italy and Spain. FULL POST
Will Arsene Wenger end Arsenal's transfer 'insanity'?
Doing the same thing and expecting a different result – this is one of the definitions of insanity.
Someone should tell Arsene Wenger because for some reason the Arsenal manager continues to follow a flawed masterplan. A masterplan which has now failed to yield any trophies in six years.
I really feel sorry for Arsenal fans. So much promise and so much style, yet there is so little substance, so little silverware.
