You can shout at Rob Shepherd by joining his online forum from midday every Sunday. Tell him what you think of his verdict by adding your comments below.
| Sport - Main index |
Andy sixth in the world after Cincinnati triumph
MURRAY THE MASTER
ANDY MURRAY is celebrating his first Masters Series title after victory over Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati on Sunday.
The British No 1 produced a stunning performance to overcome the Serb 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in a thrilling final in Ohio.
BLACKPOOL striker Ben Burgess will this season give News of the World readers an exclusive insight into life at one of the country's less glamorous clubs. The Seasiders are famous as the club which gave us legendary winger Sir Stanley Matthews but not even their most ardent fan would claim they are still in the big-time. Ben, 26, is about to start his third season at the club, after spells at Blackburn (where he played three games as an 18-year-old for Graeme Souness), Northern Spirit in Sydney, Brentford, Stockport, Oldham and Hull. Newly married to Kate, he lives in Lytham, drives a BMW, loves playing Pro Evo on the PlayStation and is doing a journalism degree at Staffordshire University. Here he reveals the delights of seeing players on trial.
TRIAL OF STRENGTH FOR ALL OF US
YOU meet some funny people at this time of the year because so many clubs have players on trial.
At Blackpool a couple of seasons ago, we had one guy turn up with a Geordie accent listed both Middlesbrough (believably) and Real Betis (interestingly) among his previous clubs.
NotW columnist Pietersen is England skipper
CAPTAIN K.P
News of the World columnist Kevin Pietersen is the new captain of Test and one-day sides at Lord's it has been confirmed.
Pietersen takes over from Michael Vaughan who chucked the towel in on Sunday.
Tyre trouble sees Hamilton finish fifth
LEWIS FALTERS
LEWIS Hamilton came a disappointing fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix after tyre trouble dashed his promising pole position start.
The British racing sensation now has a five-point lead in the title race over reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen after Heikki Kovalainen took the top podium place.
"My mind has told me to pack it in"
VAUGHAN QUITS
MICHAEL Vaughan has said a tearful farewell to the England Test captaincy.
Vaughan brought his own future into question after yesterday's five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston gave the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.
Southampton: New boss aims for minor miracle
POOR AIMS TO STRIKE IT RICH
JAN POORTVLIET was probably about as recogniseable in Southampton as Rupert Lowe is in the Bronx.
But the 52-year-old former Holland defender has been set the task of steadying Southampton.
Injured for 1,445 days, Kieron's crocked again
DYER STRAITS
By CLIFF HAYES and LUKE NICOLI
KIERON DYER’S long-awaited comeback lies in tatters after his horror injury jinx struck AGAIN.
West Ham’s England midfielder is said to be “devastated” after suffering a stress fracture of the SAME right leg he broke at the start of last season.
MATT POTTS DEAL
STOKE are giving Dominic Matteo a new one-year deal after he proved his fitness.
The former Liverpool defender, 34, missed a large chunk of the 2007-08 season with a foot injury but has sailed through the Potters' pre-season with no problems.
Collingwood shows Pietersen how to do it
FOR PIET'S SAKE, KEVIN
By RICHIE BENAUD, the voice of cricket
PAUL COLLINGWOOD provided one of finest examples of a Test batsman wanting to be on the field at the end of an innings.
In contrast, Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal on Friday at Edgbaston was bizarre.
Spurs won't gel in time to worry teams at the top
JUAN'S BIG FOUR FREEZE
by ROB SHEPERD
SPURS were hailed as the best equipped team to challenge the Big Four after they beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup final.
Then, after a week of parties and laps of honours, they got the sun beds out.
Sheffield Wednesday: Laws can only stand still
OWLS OF DESPAIR
THE Owls’ rise to the Championship three seasons ago was meant to herald a push for the Premier League.
Instead they have stood still.
Nottingham Forest: Crowd to lift Calderwood's team
COLIN: IT'S FAN-TASTIC
by AIDAN MAGEE
IT may only have been a small step — but time will tell how significant it will prove.
Forest returned to the Championship after a three-year absence by securing automatic promotion by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season.
Racing's drink culture will put off punters
STOP BOOZE BRAWLERS
ONE huge part of Flat racing’s appeal is to offer a summer’s day out in pleasant and secure surroundings.
But yet again we are troubled by booze-fuelled violence and the rancid atmosphere generated by groups of bevvied-up blokes who think they are amusing, appealing and attractive when merely pathetic and revolting.
Pressure is on Reds to end 18 years of heartache
RAFA NEEDS TO CHALLENGE
by CHRIS BASCOMBE
“NO EXCUSES. We must challenge for the title this year.”
The above statement, uttered by a Liverpool legend as frustrated as the fans by the club’s Premier League drought, could have been plastered on the Anfield dressing room wall for the past 18 years.
Cardiff: McCormack can keep Bluebirds flying high
ROSS IS CUT-PRICE HERO
THE cut-price capture of striker Ross McCormack is the one piece of good news in a summer which saw Cardiff City bitterly regret the marksmen that got away.
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones paid £120,000 compensation for the out-of-contract Motherwell striker who is valued at £1million-plus and regarded as one of Scottish football’s most exciting young talents.
Hammers will resist Spurs bid for Ashton
ASHTON TUG-OF-WAR
By ROB SHEPHERD
WEST HAM will resist a bid from Spurs for striker Dean Ashton.
The Hammers are bracing themselves for an £18million offer.
You can shout at Rob Shepherd by joining his online forum on Sunday from midday. He'll be discussing all the weekend's big talking points and you can tell him what you think of Emmanuel Adebayor's decision to stay at Arsenal.
ADEBAYOR IS DOUGH-LIGHTFUL
AT last it seems some sanity is about to prevail from this summer of madness.
Emmanuel Adebayor is poised to end the brinksmanship at Arsenal, sign a new deal and so end all talk of a move to Barcelona.
The Guvnor's ready to raise the strandard
INCE CAN CUT IT
by CHRIS BASCOMBE
ON accepting the Blackburn job, Paul Ince played down notions he may be perceived as a test case for young, gifted, black English managers.
But few appointments have been welcomed so much for their symbolism in Premier League history.
Doncaster Rovers: Chairman gets them on the mend
RYAN'S TOUGHEST PATIENT
PLASTIC surgeon John Ryan discovered his most desperate patient of all time when he took control of Doncaster Rovers 10 years ago.
With the club relegated to the Conference and their old Belle Vue stadium almost burnt down, thanks to an arson attempt by a previous owner, the Rovers fans could be forgiven for feeling suspicious of their new benefactor.
