Thursday, July 31, 2008

CAN SPURS BREAK INTO THE TOP FOUR?

Justin Edinburgh, the former Tottenham defender, believes that new signing David Bentley's prediction that the north London club can finish in the top four has lumped more pressure on the players.

The 38-year-old, who made over 200 appearances for the club from 1990, the season after they last achieved a top four finish, thinks it will take much longer for Juande Ramos's team to leapfrog Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

"We can do anything we want, anything we put our minds to," £17m Bentley said on Thursday morning. When asked whether Spurs could finish in the top four he answered: "It's all there for us - if we're all up for it, it's quite possible."

But Edinburgh countered: "People seem to want us to run before we can walk. I was at White Hart Lane for 10 years, so I know what the expectation can be like. It's difficult for the players and it's a big ask for anyone to break into the top four overnight.

"I would love it if Spurs managed it, and perhaps in time it is achievable, but we really need to add three or four big names to our squad. The first team squad of 18-20 needs to be much stronger if Spurs are going to break into that top four."

This time last year erstwhile Spurs manager Martin Jol splashed £43m on new faces, and high hopes of a top four finish proved woefully exaggerated as they finished 11th, only managing to move out of the relegation zone after 11 games.

"Last year when there was so much expected of Jol's team, they did not deal with the pressure particularly well," continued Edinburgh. "Now we have lost Robbie Keane [to Liverpool], our equal top scorer. If Dimitar Berbatov is not at the club next season, then we will have to find two new players who can score 40 goals.

"Also the new signings are going to take time to settle - maybe even a season. There are exciting times ahead but I think top four this season will be too much of a tough ask."

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LUQUE HITS OUT AT NEWCASTLE

Albert Luque, the former £10m Newcastle United flop, has hit out at his former club, saying that he felt alienated and was treated bitterly.

The 30-year-old forward, now on the books of Ajax Amsterdam, was signed in 2005 by Graeme Souness, but spent an injury-ravaged two years at St James’s Park. And after Souness was replaced by Glenn Roeder, the 16-cap Spaniard lost his place in the pecking order.

“They were two very sickening years and showed me the bitter side of football,” Luque, recently named the second worst signing of the Premier League, behind Andriy Shevchenko, said.

“Until then everything had been positive in my career, with magnificent years at Mallorca and Deportivo. I played in a World Cup, at the European Championship and arrived at Newcastle in my prime.

“At the time it was a good transfer for me and for Deportivo - I felt it was the right time to leave Spain. But I did not adapt to England and Newcastle. I was very unhappy on and off the pitch.

“Things were bad for me at Newcastle and I had to find a way out. Soon after arriving, they changed the coach, no one else spoke Spanish, and I had injuries. It is a city that helps little when things go wrong for you.”

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RONALDO: I WILL SIGN FOR MADRID NEXT WEEK

Cristiano Ronaldo has been quoted in Spain claiming he will finalise a move to Real Madrid next week.

Ronaldo, 23, is currently sidelined following an ankle operation, but is reportedly on his way for showdown talks with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson next Tuesday.

"It will be fixed next week," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in the Spanish newspaper AS.

Ronaldo, the report claimed, added: "I will go to Manchester and I will say that my only desire is to play at Real Madrid and that the decision is non-negotiable."

Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, was also reported to have been in contact with Real Madrid this week to reiterate his client's aspirations to join the Spanish giants and determination to leave United.

And there is good news for whoever he plays for, as his rehabilitation is going well enough that he is expected to be fully fit by September.

Ronaldo is continuing with his strict recovery plan, which includes morning and afternoon sessions, with his physiotherapist, Antonio Gaspar.

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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

DROGBA WANTS TO MOVE TO BARCA - TOURE

Didier Drogba has been dropped in it by Ivorian team-mate Yaya Toure, who has revealed how keen the Chelsea striker has been to quit London for Barcelona.

Toure, brother of Arsenal defender Kolo, insists that Drogba has been in regular contact with him about a move to Barcelona for the past year.

Drogba's future at Chelsea striker has long been in question, especially since Jose Mourinho left the club last year.

But just as the speculation was slowing down Toure has revealed: "I have not spoken to Drogba for a couple of weeks, but when we have talked in the past year he has always told me that he wants to come to Barca."

That could lead to an all-African strike force with Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o, who is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs.

Toure added: "Eto'o is a good person with a great character, who works and helps very much. We all want him to stay with us. If he remains, we will have a good campaign.

"Eto'o is in a very difficult situation because it is not easy to have four or five years at a club and then to leave the team.

"But he is a very positive person. In Scotland he played two pre-season matches and demonstrated a very positive mentality."

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Saturday, July 26, 2008

SHAH INSPIRES CRUSADERS TO TWENTY20 GLORY

Middlesex Crusaders were crowned Twenty20 kings after narrowly defeating reigning champions Kent Spitfires in a scintillating and record-breaking game late on Saturday night at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl that went right down to the last ball.

A near-capacity 20,000 spectators witnessed Owais Shah’s quick fire 75, helping his team to 187, which proved just too much for Kent who, after ending with two dot balls, agonisingly finished three runs short. Cool bowling performances in the middle period from spinners Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik, gleaning three top order wickets in as many overs, halted the Spitfires’ charge, but Justin Kemp’s powerful hitting almost won them the game.

After collecting the £42,000 prize money in the sixth final, there could be more riches to come for Middlesex, with millions on offer in Allen Stanford’s Super Series in Antigua and the Champions League. Judging by this entertainment they deserve ever penny.

“It was far from plain sailing, especially in that last over,” said man-of-the-match Shah. “Justin Kemp played really well and they had a really good start with the openers. We had our formula, and we must credit the spinners and Tyrone Henderson, who bowled the last over.

“It would be great to go on and win the Stanford Twenty20, and with all the money that is being pumped into cricket, it’s very exciting.”

Crusaders’ captain Ed Joyce won the toss and elected to bat, encouraged by his team’s impressive semi-final run-chase that toppled favourites Durham Dynamos. But in the third over Yasir Arafat struck, cart-wheeling opener Billy Godleman’s leg stump.

That brought in South African dangerman Henderson, who had smashed an unbeaten 59 from only 21 deliveries in the semi-final. He continued where he left off, crashing 43 off 33.

Joyce made 23 before Spitfires’ wicketkeeper Geraint Jones took a neat catch off Simon Cook’s bowling. And Henderson, dropped on nine, followed him to the pavilion after driving to captain Rob Key, making the score 83-3 off 9.2 overs.

Then England one-day player Shah became chief aggressor, booming 75, including five maximums, in only 35 balls. When he was bowled by Ryan McLaren with three overs remaining, the Crusaders had raced to 169-4. Middlesex ended on 187-6 – the highest total in a final, bettering Leicester’s 177 in 2006.

Spitfire’s openers, Key – who hit 52 runs in 30 balls – and Joe Denly (31) zoomed to 89 after 8.4 before the skipper was caught behind by Ben Scott off spinner Kartik and panic set in. The following over Udal, who ended with 1-21 from his four overs, had Denly snapped up in the deep by Godleman, and then Arafat (1) was run out off a no-ball.

Kemp steadied the Spitfire’s innings with 49, after being dropped by Joyce on 24. With five overs remaining both teams had scored 136-3, setting up a nail-biting finish. Darren Stevens crashed 33 off 23 before Dirk Nannes had him caught by Joyce, with just nine Balls remaining. Off the last over, bowled by Henderson, Kent needed 16 to win, and after two Kemp boundaries and Dawid Malan’s panicked overthrows, they needed six from three balls. But two dot balls later, and the pink-shirted Crusaders were jumping in celebration.

After lifting the Twenty20 trophy Joyce said: “It was a fantastic game, we had a good time, played some decent cricket and earned the rewards. When they needed 16 off the last over, I thought that with Tyrone bowling Kent wouldn’t get them. But Kempy had other plans.It’s a brilliant feeling to have won, and now we can look forward to Antigua.”

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TWENTY20 SEMI-FINAL ROUND-UP

Graham Napier was unable to repeat his record-breaking heroics for Essex Eagles as his team were downed by defending champions Kent Spitfires in the first semi-final at the Rose Bowl.

The 28-year-old had re-written the Twenty20 record books by walloping an unbeaten 152 – including 16 sixes – in only 58 deliveries against Sussex last month.

But Spitfires’ skipper Rob Key gunned Napier down for only three, catching the No3 off Simon Cook’s bowling, as Essex chased their total of 173.

Key had earlier won the toss, opting to bat and, with Joe Denly, put on an impressive 58 before he was bowled by Danish Kaneria for 20. Denly top-scored with 36 off 27 balls. Darren Stevens (29), Azhar Mahmood (24) and Martin van Jaarsveld (16) all chipped in to leave Essex needing 174 to win.

In response Ravi Bopara, who earned figures of 3-36, hit 29 while opening partner and captain Mark Pettini reached 54 before being run out. With Napier dismissed cheaply, the Eagles struggled to keep up with the required run-rate, and finished 14 runs short on 159 for nine.

In the second-semi final Middlesex Crusaders cruised to the final after a superb bowling performance limited Durham Dynamos to only 138 for six in their 20 overs. Despite runs from Test stars Shivnarine Chanderpaul (48 from 47 balls) and Paul Collingwood (35 off 31), spin twins Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik bowled brilliantly in the middle overs to tie Durham down. Udal, 39, and Indian left-armer Kartik conceded only 36 runs from their eight overs.

Durham’s Steve Harmison, recalled to the Test squad earlier on Saturday, cranked his pace to 92 mph but finished with disappointing figures of 0-47 off 3.4 overs. He was hit for two consecutive sixes by Tyron Henderson, who clobbered an unbeaten 59 from only 21 balls – including seven sixes – as the Crusaders, helped by captain Ed Joyce’s 41, reached the Dynamos’ score with 4.2 overs and eight wickets to spare.

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HARMISON RECALLED FOR THIRD TEST

Steve Harmison, the Durham fast bowler, has been handed the chance to revive his international career having been named in England’s 13-man squad for the crucial third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Geoff Miller, head of England’s national selectors, challenged the 29-year-old to bowl well enough to save England’s series - they are trailing 1-0 with two Tests remaining - and reclaim his long-term position in the team.

Harmison, who has 212 Test wickets at an average of 31.39, had been dropped in March after bowling 1-121 in England’s defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton. But the 6ft 4in quick bowler has since impressed for his county, approaching something like his 2004 venomous best. With 41 wickets in nine first-class games at an average of 22.82, he is the leading wicket-taker in the domestic game, and proved too hard for Miller to overlook again.

“Steve has been bowling well for Durham this season,” Miller said. “He is now doing what he wasn’t doing in New Zealand. But he has come back, really worked hard and started performing like we know he can perform.

“His inclusion in the Test squad gives us another option in terms of our bowling attack. I hope it’s a rebirth of his England career. If he bowls well and does the job we ask him to do then it could well be.”

Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood are also recalled at the expense of Chris Tremlett and Darren Pattinson, a surprise late replacement for the injured Sidebottom at Headingley.

England’s selectors had been criticised for picking the Nottinghamshire seam bowler for the second Test, which was lost by 10 wickets. Captain Michael Vaughan conceded that the selection of Pattinson, who earned figures of 2-96, was “confused”. But Miller was quick to defend his selection, though admitting it was “a bit left field“.

“I can see why there might have been confusion,” he said, “because it went away from our normal procedure and consistency. But we had watched Darren over the season and he had out-bowled everybody else. He merited his place in that squad and then we needed him because of the injury to Ryan. It was a bit left field, yes, but we still think it was the right decision.”

Sidebottom, an international revelation since his comeback last season, looks likely to start if he regains full fitness. Miller continued: “Ryan has been progressing well with his back injury over the past week and we're confident he'll be fit for selection but obviously he'll be monitored closely in the lead up to next Wednesday. “

For 32-year-old all-rounder Collingwood, dropped for the last Test, the recall provides him with a chance to bolter England’s scoring, after they managed only 203 compared to South Africa’s 522 in the first innings at Headingley.

Miller added: “Paul was unlucky to miss out on a place in the team for the second Test match but this decision was based on a number of factors. He has shown what a true professional he is by returning to Durham over the past week and playing well for his county.”

England squad: Michael Vaughan (capt), Tim Ambrose (wk), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

BURROW SPARK GIVES LEEDS EXTRA FIREPOWER

Rob Burrow inspired Leeds Rhinos to a 37-24 win over the Catalans Dragons, ending their record winning streak in Perpignan on a sticky evening. It was the hottest ticket in Super League - the attendance is the best the French side have had at this stadium - and the travelling Rhinos fans had the sunburn to prove it. Down 24-16 with only 20 minutes remaining, Leeds made the most of the cooler conditions and scored four unanswered tries to coast to victory.

Scrum-half Burrow helped Leeds open the scoring when his sumptuous chip found Lee Smith, who touched down under the posts. Three minutes later the Catalans hit back through winger Cyril Stacul in the right corner. Stand-off Thomas Bosc converted.

The 24-year-old had a boot in his team's second try, too, as his up-and-under was horribly spilled five metres from his own line by Leeds winger Ryan Hall, whose bittersweet game was just beginning. Charging prop Olivier Elima scooped up the ball and touched down for the fourth time this season. The Catalans went further ahead with 15 minutes of the half remaining, as centre Sebastian Raguin wriggled free from three would-be tacklers to score. Bosc repeated his kicking heroics, this time from the left, to take his team to 18-6.

Hall made amends for his earlier howler when Danny McGuire's cross-field kick caught out Raguin and dropped favourably for the 20-year-old. Captain Kevin Sinfield was unable to convert from the right and the Catalans took an eight-point advantage into the break.

Leeds began the second half as they had the first - with the excellent Burrow laying on a converted score under the sticks after four minutes. The England star shrugged off a challenge before playing in McGuire for a simple try. Hall then upped the pressure on his own team again, needlessly knocking on 30 metres from his line. The Catalans used the extra set to good effect, as Elima bounced three tackles to crash over for his second try of the game.

But Burrow was not in any mood to let the French run away with it. After another jinking run, a pass inside again found McGuire, who dived over. Although Sinfield screwed his goal kick wide for a second miss, he made up for it after 58 minutes with a scissors move that bisected the Catalans defence and allowed Ali Lauitiiti to breeze in for a converted score to take them to 26-24.

Two scores in the last six minutes - a 90-metre dash from Super League's leading scorer Scott Donald, who took his tally to 24, and a converted score in the right corner by Hall - and a Sinfield drop goal put an end to the contest. The result places reigning champions Leeds on equal points with St Helens, who they play in the Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Stade Gilbert Brutus 9,880

CATALANS DRAGONS: Greenshields; Stacul, Wilson, Raguin, Pelo; Bosc, McGuire (capt); Chan, Gorrell, Elima, Croker, Mounis, Carlaw
Subs used Guisset, Casty, Quintilla, Touxagas

Tries: Stacul, Elima 2, Raguin
Goals: Bosc 4

LEEDS: Smith; Hall, Toopi, Senior, Donald; McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Ellis, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield (capt)
Subs used: Lauitiiti, Scruton, Kirke, Ablett

Tries: Lauitiiti, Donald, McGuire 2, Hall 2, Smith
Goals: Sinfield 4
Drop: Sinfield

Referee: I Smith

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Saturday, July 12, 2008

DRAGONS EDGE OUT HARLEQUINS WITH LAST GASP TRY IN DOWNPOUR

The Catalan Dragons recorded their seventh straight victory by narrowly defeating Harlequins 32-26 on an unseasonably inclement evening at Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan – the first downpour in five months, according to anoraked local reporters. After a brave second-half comeback by Quins, 14-0 down at the break, the result had been in doubt right down to the final hooter. Had visiting captain Rob Purdham not missed three attempts at goal, it could have dampened the French side’s play-off beano. But, as lighting forked in the sky, Clint Greenshield’s last minute try proved a fitting end to an incredible game.

Having achieved their first objective of cementing their place in September’s play-offs for the first time last Sunday after overcoming Hull FC, the French clubs’ objectives have been modified. Such is their confidence, in only their third season, they now believe they can hunt down Super League leaders St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, who, with four rounds of the normal season to play, have a solitary point advantage.

For Brian McDermott’s Harlequins, who brought over torrential rain from London, things don’t look so rosy. This poor first half showing followed a 54-0 whipping at home to league-leaders St Helens last Saturday, and was their fifth defeat in the last six outings. But after a steely second-half performance McDermott will be heartened, and hopeful of catching Bradford Bulls, who currently occupy sixth place.

Despite conditions that produced comic slides and puddling that Worcestershire’s cricketers would empathise with, Mick Potter’s team, powered by a ferocious forward pack, managed to play bright rugby league. Captain Casey McGuire slipped through a Harlequins tackle on the line to open the scoring after 11 minutes. French scrum-half Thomas Bosc added the extra two points before converting a penalty conceded by the frustrated visitors, starved of possession, ten minutes later.

To underline their first half domination, prop Alex Chan, who leaves the French side at the end of the year, powered over for a converted try after 23 minutes. At 14-0 down at the break, Quins were already wishing they were on the plane back to London Stansted. But former marine McDermott attempted to shake Quins from their lethargy during the interval, and it very nearly worked.

Two minutes after the restart they had pulled a converted score back when Henry Paul’s grubber kick stopped in the water before Scott Hill dived on the ball. Four minutes later Bosc’s pass was intercepted by centre Tony Clubb who raced 70 metres. They then got their noses in front as Rikki Sheriffe touched down after McGuire failed in his attempt to knock the ball dead. Quins skipper Rob Purdham missed his first goal, but his side lead 16-14 with half an hour remaining.

Then Catalans’ full-back and leading scorer Greenshilds, slipped in by Bosc, crashed over for his 14th Super League try after 58 minutes before Chad Randall immediately hit back for the London side. Purdham again fluffed his kick to set up a knife-edge final 20 minutes with the score tied at 20-all.

Olivier Elima thought he had won it for the home side when he slid over with seven minutes remaining, but Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook dropped on a kick with three minutes left. Then, with the final throw of the dice, Bosc skied a kick that Greenshield’s managed to collect and score with, to send the colourful Catalan supports into raptures of delight.

Potter’s club had shocked traditionalists by reaching the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley last August, but in achieving the play-offs they have finally silenced those who criticised the experiment to afford them Super League status. On this performance, full of character, and with this great run, it would surprise no one if they returned for Wembley this year, this time for the Grand Final. If they can inflict defeat on Leeds next week and Wigan Warriors a fortnight later, there is every chance that they will be top of the tree going into September, and gain a favourable draw en route to Super League success.

Catalans: Clint Greenshields, Justin Murphy, John Wilson, Sebastien Raguin, Younes Khattabi, Adam Mogg, Thomas Bosc, Alex Chan, Casey McGuire (captain), Olivier Elima, Jason Croker, Gregory Mounis, Dane Carlaw
Interchange: Jerome Guisset, Remi Casty, Florian Quintilla, Julien Touxagas

Tries: McGuire, Chan, Greenshields 2, Elima
Goals: Bosc 6 (6)

Harlequins: Rikki Sheriffe, Jon Wells, Tony Clubb, David Howell, Will Sharp, Scott Hill, Danny Orr, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Chad Randall, Danny Ward, Robert Purdham (captain), Michael Worrincy, Henry Paul

Interchange: Daniel Heckenberg, Jon Grayshon, Dave Tootill, Dwayne Barker

Tries: Hill, Clubb, Sheriffe, Randall, McCarthy-Scarsbrook
Goals: Purdham 3 (6)

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