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.
Nice guy Bruce can keep Wigan afloat
STEVE'S SO SHIP SHAPE
IF League placings were determined by the integrity of their manager, Wigan would be Champions League contenders this season.
In an era where managerial spin has reached epidemic levels, Steve Bruce shines as one of the remaining few who never sees a game through the rose-tinted spectacles handed out on UEFA coaching courses.
Transfer drought has brought Goodison Blues
MOYES HAS LOW HOPES
by CHRIS BASCOMBE
EVERTON fans have been living in fear of David Moyes uttering the fateful phrase: “I’ve taken this club as far as I can.”
With Moyes’ contract saga dragging on longer than a Merseyside stadium project, spending plans the subject of ambiguity and a thin squad being trimmed before it was extended, few would have blamed the Scot for contemplating a move at the end of last season.
WELCOME to Your Score Fanzone - the greatest place on the web to say what YOU think about YOUR team.
We're setting up a new, exclusive blog area on our website, where dedicated fans of every Premier League will be giving their opinions on their teams - and you'll have the chance to add your views as well.
Everton boss Moyes eyes £3m swoop for Man Utd star
GET FLETCHER!
By DAVID HARRISON
EVERTON boss David Moyes plans to swoop for Manchester United midfield star Darren Fletcher.
Moyes is keen to exploit the player’s uncertain situation at Old Trafford and has been lining up a £3million bid for the Scotland international.
Tigers are walking into the lions' den
IT'S NO FUN FOR BROWN
HULL CITY go into their difficult debut season at top level backed by considerable weight of John Prescott.
The chunky local MP — recognised as one of the least successful bulimics in history — is right behind them.
Barnsley: Davey will struggle to match last season
NOT SO SIMPLE, SIMON
SIMON DAVEY showed that beating Liverpool and Chelsea in the FA Cup is still not an impossible task for a Championship club these days.
However, beating the likes of Coventry and Norwich proved a whole lot more problematic.
But he may need a whole lot Moore
TONY HAS LUKE ON HIS SIDE
by AIDAN MAGEE
TONY MOWBRAY knows West Brom have been up and down between the top two divisions like a loose woman's underwear in the last few years.
On two occasions earlier in the decade the Baggies became perhaps the ultimate yo-yo club as they fought their way out of the Championship only to soon find themselves back there.
Crystal Palace: Manager looks good for play-offs
WARNOCK IS SMILES BETTER
By AIDAN MAGEE
NEIL WARNOCK is happier in London than he ever thought he would be.
The Yorkshiremen spent 20 years of managerial career living up to the flat-cap stereotype by moaning about everything in the capital from traffic problems to exorbitant house prices.
New Spurs ace scared by Eduardo horror tackle
MODRIC INJURY TERROR
By AIDAN MAGEE
LUKA MODRIC admits the horror injury suffered by compatriot Eduardo made him think long and hard about coming to the Premier League.
The slightly-built Croat- ian played for Dinamo Zagreb on the day the Arsenal striker sustained a sickening compound fracture at Birmingham.
LEAGUE TWO COUNTDOWN
HERE'S our guide to the new season in League Two, along with our prediction for where your team will finish. Just scroll down to find your team and then let us know what you think of our verdict.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
ACCRINGTON STANLEY’S fame came from being named in a milk advert but since their return to the big time, their dreams have turned sour.
Finishing 17th last season was a good indicator of the lack of quality boss John Coleman has in his squad.
Blues may scoop all honours with Big Phil
SCOLARI TO BE FOURSOME
by ROB BEASLEY
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI should be the most hated man across the country this season, barracked at every ground in the land for the colossal damage he has inflicted on English football.
Not even Joey Barton has created such mayhem in our national game.
Keegan faces another season among the dead men
TOON BARMY
by SIMON RUSHWORTH
TALK about a summer of Toon and gloom for Newcastle’s downbeat fans.
Backed by a billionaire owner, managed by the Messiah and boasting a stadium to die for it’s no surprise that Newcastle supporters expect better.
SIMON JORDAN APOLOGY
ON 20 July we carried an interview with Crystal Palace Chairman, Simon Jordan.
We wrongly stated in the article that Mr Jordan was planning to sell the club to the ‘highest bidder’.
City boss Hughes wants Blackburn's Santa
ROQUE FIGHT
By DAVID HARRISON
MARK HUGHES faces a fierce fight with his former club Blackburn to sign striker Roque Santa Cruz.
The Manchester City boss is willing to make a double-your-money £12million bid for the Paraguayan international who cost him £6m from Bayern Munich last summer.
