The Premier League title

The Premier League title destination remains uncertain in an unpredictable season to date

 December 31, 2015   John Welsh

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At the halfway stage of the current Premier League season, it could be argued that both Leicester and Chelsea are occupying positions in the league table normally reserved for the each other in an unpredictable campaign to date. Arsenal are current leaders despite losing 2-0 at home to West Ham in their opening game of […]

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England won the First Test against South Africa

England win opening test as South African batting frailties are exposed

 December 30, 2015   John Welsh

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England won the First Test against South Africa by 241 runs in a match staged in Durban, but two poor batting displays by the hosts were primarily responsible for their defeat. In scoring 303 and 326 in their two innings’, it could certainly not be described as a vintage performance by the tourists with the […]

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Sprinter Sacre ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville

Cue Card and Sprinter Sacre erase the nightmares of their miserable 2013 Christmas

 December 29, 2015   John Welsh

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Just two years previously Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card were considered as prime contenders to win their respective races at the Kempton Park Christmas horse racing festival. Unfortunately the former failed to finish after being dismounted when suffering a heart problem while Cue Card was perceived as a non-stayer when overtaken by Silviniaco Conti in […]

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Juventus series A

Improving Juventus could yet deny their challengers when Serie A actions resumes in January

 December 24, 2015   John Welsh

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With a short winter break now being enjoyed by players in the Italian Serie A, a glance at the league table offers the prospect of very exciting few months of 2016 when action resumes during the first midweek of the New Year. No fewer than five teams are separated by four points as they aim […]

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2015 FIFA Club World Cup

Barcelona beat River Plate to confirm the UEFA superiority in FIFA Club World Cup

 December 21, 2015   John Welsh

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In beating River Plate 3-0 in the final of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, Barcelona completed their third victory in this annual tournament which was hosted by Japan this year. Having qualified for the competition as winners of the UEFA Champions League, Barca had already beaten Asian Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande […]

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Mourinho reign

Poor Premier League form and off-field unrest ends the Mourinho reign at Chelsea

 December 17, 2015   John Welsh

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It has been a strange Premier League season to date with Leicester leading the table prior to the weekend fixtures, and the Foxes maintained their position at the head of affairs by beating Chelsea 2-1 on Monday evening. Such is the current predicament of the Chelsea team that should they be beaten by Sunderland at […]

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua proves his heavyweight credentials but is he ready for a Tyson Fury bout ?

 December 14, 2015   John Welsh

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When Tyson Fury captured the majority of the headlines in World boxing just two weeks previously when outpointing Wladimir Klitschko to claim the IBO, IBF and WBA versions of the heavyweight title, it was viewed as a turning point in the sport as Eastern European domination of the division appeared to have ended. Another British […]

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PSV Champions League

PSV Eindhoven progress further in Champions League at the expense of big-spending Manchester United

 December 10, 2015   John Welsh

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When PSV Eindhoven won the Dutch Eredivisie last season by a 17 point margin from Ajax, it was perhaps only to be expected that their players would attract interest from Premier League clubs constantly seeking international talent. Newcastle acquired the services of Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for approximately £14 million and who had netted 14 […]

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McClarens Newcastle

McClaren’s Newcastle defy the odds by beating Klopp’s Liverpool

 December 8, 2015   John Welsh

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On two occasions when head coach of Wolfsburg, Steve McClaren faced a progressive Borussia Dortmund team managed by Jurgen Klopp, with 2-0 and 3-0 losses ensuing. The latter defeat in January 2011 was soon followed by another reversal at Hannover with McClaren subsequently dismissed from his role, while Klopp’s team clinched the Bundesliga title that […]

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Borussia Moenchengladbach

Borussia Monchengladbach thriving under Andre Schubert as defeat of Bayern Munich proves

 December 6, 2015   John Welsh

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Among the highlights of the weekend fixtures in the Bundesliga, there were two games involving the top four teams in the league table. At Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund claimed a dramatic victory via an added time winner scored by Shinji Kagawa after the home team had equalised from the penalty spot just two minutes earlier. The […]

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