No sooner had he helped to cut the ribbon for the official opening of the towering new Centre Court at the Foro Italico yesterday than Roger Federer became its first conspicuous victim.
For the first time in seven visits here since he assumed the world No 1 ranking, Federer was hurried from the scene at the BNL d’Italia Masters as Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis reannounced himself as a class act.
Only last month, British tennis was lamenting the progress of Lithuania as a force as the Balkan nation won a Davis Cup tie between the countries, a result that cost the captain, John Lloyd, his job, prompted a review of priorities at home and was cited as one of the reasons why Andy Murray’s game suddenly went Awol. The signs last night were that Murray’s recovery process has begun with a vengeance, an emphatic 6-2, 6-4 first-round victory over Andreas Seppi, of Italy, halting a run of three consecutive defeats.
Murray served with particular aplomb to secure his place in the third round; Gulbis produced a succession of bullet-like deliveries that peppered Federer’s defences. The 21-year-old — ranked outside the top 100 last September — has recovered his teenage poise, surged to No 40 and his 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory as thunder rumbled, will cause the Swiss to stop and think about what he must do on clay to add to his 16-strong grand slam title collection when he starts the defence of his French Open crown in 3½ weeks.
If anyone can do it, Federer can. He is the master of compartmentalising defeats, steadying the ship and turning on the grace and style when it really matters, in best-of-five-set occasions. It was clear from watching him practise that the Swiss was loose and apparently unconcerned that he was shanking so many routine shots. Although he sped through the first set, the minute Gulbis sharpened his range-finder, he took great delight in imposing his game on the world’s best.
Gulbis needed seven match points to secure victory, six being squandered in the tenth game with a mixture of outrageously brave serving and monstrous mis-hits. “I was shaking, it was a terrible feeling,” Gulbis said.
But Federer’s serve had been hit and miss throughout the final set and he conceded the advantage Gulbis had given him right back to his opponent. The Latvian then served out to love.
“You cannot be 100 per cent all the time,” Federer said. “Sometimes it takes a loss like this to wake up and shake your mind. It can be that things are too simple, and days like this make you realise how difficult it is to dominate the tour. I didn’t feel safe at any time today, my game wasn’t up to its normal standard. Of course Roland Garros is in the back of my mind but I have two tournaments to get the wins I need. And I’m still in the doubles.”
Once you heard the first “C’mon” from Murray in the opening game against Seppi, there was a sense that his focus, so woolly in Monte Carlo the week before last, had returned. The movement was good, the serve clinical, the double-handed backhand had verve, his whole demeanour was enhanced. A good evening’s work.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Racecourses glimpse the benefit of free enterprise
Alan Lee says that free entry at nine racecourses, this week, challenges the entrenched belief that racing is an extortionate day out
The best ideas can be both simple and daring. Twenty-overs cricket restored innocence and spontaneity to a game suffering from lazy preconceptions that it could last forever and still end in stalemate. Free entry at nine racecourses, this week, challenges the entrenched belief that racing is an extortionate day out.
On early indications, free racing is working in just the way Twenty20 has done - by attracting a previously reluctant audience. This will not only shame those who scorned the initiative as worthless sham, it could also bring an overdue rethink on pricing policies, both in racing and other sports.
Sedgefield shut its gates last night, the little Co Durham track full to its 5,000 capacity for a meeting that drew 600 paying spectators in 2009. Mighty Ascot still has ample space today but is expecting 12,000, a 300 per cent increase on last year. Goodwood, Saturday's free fixture, is already a sell-out.
These are uplifting figures for the Racing For Change (RFC) group, which negotiated the barriers of timid pragmatism in securing enough willing courses to comprise a week of free meetings. Yet the overwhelming response asks more questions than it answers.
Jill Williamson, general manager at Sedgefield, confirms that the bumper crowd yesterday was “nearly all people new to racing - and we're turning plenty more away”. The theme is similar elsewhere. Surely, the something-for-nothing tendency cannot account for so many thousands?
The vast majority must have some interest in racing, even if it has been dormant for a generation or amounts to nothing more than idle curiosity. So the challenge is how to win them back again.
On Monday, I went to Towcester, where free entry was nothing new. The course pioneered the idea six years ago, when the place was a building site and it hardly seemed fair to charge. It was such a success that it continued when the new stand was complete.
Only its two biggest days - Boxing Day and Easter Sunday - now command an entry fee. This quiet Monday card drew 3,400 - 28 per cent up through the RFC marketing. True, Towcester is not like other courses. Independent in every sense, it has neither clogging committees nor demanding shareholders - and Lord Hesketh, its owner, is a self-confessed maverick. Yet there is nothing fanciful or philanthropic about throwing the gates open. The business plan is proven.
Kevin Ackerman, the young and enterprising general manager, explained: “This used to be a loveably run-down place and our locals had stopped coming. By getting people through the door, we can showcase the new facilities. You'll always get the odd freeloader trying to smuggle in a packed lunch but most people are happy to spend once they are inside.
“It has other spin-offs. Not everything is free here and I call it tiered racing. Some may come back to use the restaurants, or book a VIP box as a treat - we have a very good corporate product. Or they might think of us as a wedding venue.”
Final payments on the new stand and stabling are about to be made but Towcester still expects to return a profit of £400,000 this year. Understandably, Ackerman now wonders why other tracks - especially in the netherland of all-weather racing - do not follow its lead.
Sedgefield, certainly, are thinking of more free days. “We're targeting families,” Mrs Williamson said. “If we don't get younger people coming, the sport will disappear.” Even at Ascot, where decimal odds in the betting ring will also be trialled today, there is a sense of wonder about the take-up for free racing.
Up to yesterday morning, 8,500 tickets had gone out and Ascot will not charge any walk-up customers today. Charles Barnett, the chief executive, has a throat infection and little voice. But he still managed to croak two words. “Quite amazing.”
Source:The Times
The best ideas can be both simple and daring. Twenty-overs cricket restored innocence and spontaneity to a game suffering from lazy preconceptions that it could last forever and still end in stalemate. Free entry at nine racecourses, this week, challenges the entrenched belief that racing is an extortionate day out.
On early indications, free racing is working in just the way Twenty20 has done - by attracting a previously reluctant audience. This will not only shame those who scorned the initiative as worthless sham, it could also bring an overdue rethink on pricing policies, both in racing and other sports.
Sedgefield shut its gates last night, the little Co Durham track full to its 5,000 capacity for a meeting that drew 600 paying spectators in 2009. Mighty Ascot still has ample space today but is expecting 12,000, a 300 per cent increase on last year. Goodwood, Saturday's free fixture, is already a sell-out.
These are uplifting figures for the Racing For Change (RFC) group, which negotiated the barriers of timid pragmatism in securing enough willing courses to comprise a week of free meetings. Yet the overwhelming response asks more questions than it answers.
Jill Williamson, general manager at Sedgefield, confirms that the bumper crowd yesterday was “nearly all people new to racing - and we're turning plenty more away”. The theme is similar elsewhere. Surely, the something-for-nothing tendency cannot account for so many thousands?
The vast majority must have some interest in racing, even if it has been dormant for a generation or amounts to nothing more than idle curiosity. So the challenge is how to win them back again.
On Monday, I went to Towcester, where free entry was nothing new. The course pioneered the idea six years ago, when the place was a building site and it hardly seemed fair to charge. It was such a success that it continued when the new stand was complete.
Only its two biggest days - Boxing Day and Easter Sunday - now command an entry fee. This quiet Monday card drew 3,400 - 28 per cent up through the RFC marketing. True, Towcester is not like other courses. Independent in every sense, it has neither clogging committees nor demanding shareholders - and Lord Hesketh, its owner, is a self-confessed maverick. Yet there is nothing fanciful or philanthropic about throwing the gates open. The business plan is proven.
Kevin Ackerman, the young and enterprising general manager, explained: “This used to be a loveably run-down place and our locals had stopped coming. By getting people through the door, we can showcase the new facilities. You'll always get the odd freeloader trying to smuggle in a packed lunch but most people are happy to spend once they are inside.
“It has other spin-offs. Not everything is free here and I call it tiered racing. Some may come back to use the restaurants, or book a VIP box as a treat - we have a very good corporate product. Or they might think of us as a wedding venue.”
Final payments on the new stand and stabling are about to be made but Towcester still expects to return a profit of £400,000 this year. Understandably, Ackerman now wonders why other tracks - especially in the netherland of all-weather racing - do not follow its lead.
Sedgefield, certainly, are thinking of more free days. “We're targeting families,” Mrs Williamson said. “If we don't get younger people coming, the sport will disappear.” Even at Ascot, where decimal odds in the betting ring will also be trialled today, there is a sense of wonder about the take-up for free racing.
Up to yesterday morning, 8,500 tickets had gone out and Ascot will not charge any walk-up customers today. Charles Barnett, the chief executive, has a throat infection and little voice. But he still managed to croak two words. “Quite amazing.”
Source:The Times
Open galleries will be free to have their say about Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods has always described St Andrews as one of his favourite places in the world of golf, yet he can expect no special treatment when he attempts in July to add to the two Open Championships he has won there.
Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, which organises and runs the Open, said yesterday that although spectators will be expected to show respect to the players, they were entitled to express their views.
There has been speculation that Woods might be heckled after revelations about his private life, and Dawson admitted there was little he could do to prevent it. “We’re not a police state,” he said. “People can say what they like.”
Woods has yet to confirm that he will help to celebrate the championship’s 150th year, but it is difficult, now that he has returned to the game after five months away, to think of the oldest of the majors going ahead without him.
While the R&A is keen not to be heavy-handed over security, Dawson pointed out that bad behaviour of spectators would not be tolerated. “If they start putting players off, we’ll have something to say about it,” he said at St Andrews. “They are asked to stop and if they don’t, they are asked to leave.”
Asked if he expected a negative reaction to Woods, whose extra-marital affairs have battered his public image, Dawson took heart from what happened at the Masters three weeks ago. “I don’t think I do, although I could be badly wrong,” he said. “The Augusta fans are people just like everybody else and I think there was genuine relief that Tiger was back. I think the reaction to him was measured. It wasn’t enthusiastic but it wasn’t hugely negative, either. I expect something similar here.
“I remain the biggest fan of his golf game that there could possibly be. I’m just very sad at what has happened and I’m sure that he is, too. I don’t know anybody who saw this coming. It was a great shock to all of us in golf. Let’s hope he returns a stronger person.”
Unlike Billy Payne, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, who criticised Woods, Dawson is not going to express disapproval in public. However, as one of the guardians of the game, he remarked that Woods’s on-course behaviour needs cleaning up. “It had deteriorated,” he said. “No one who has a care for the etiquette of the game could be happy with that and I’m sure Tiger, when he looks at the pictures, isn’t happy with it.
“I thought Billy’s comments were measured and well crafted. He had the disadvantage of being [Tiger’s] first event back.
“The Masters had a major problem in having no idea what to expect. If the Open had been his first back, we’d have been scratching our heads.”
As yet prize money has not been set for this year’s championship and will be dependent, among other things, on the prevailing exchange rates nearer the time. Stewart Cink, the 2009 champion, won £750,000 and Dawson said that the prospect of a £1 million first prize was on the horizon, “but not this year”.
Source:The Times
Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, which organises and runs the Open, said yesterday that although spectators will be expected to show respect to the players, they were entitled to express their views.
There has been speculation that Woods might be heckled after revelations about his private life, and Dawson admitted there was little he could do to prevent it. “We’re not a police state,” he said. “People can say what they like.”
Woods has yet to confirm that he will help to celebrate the championship’s 150th year, but it is difficult, now that he has returned to the game after five months away, to think of the oldest of the majors going ahead without him.
While the R&A is keen not to be heavy-handed over security, Dawson pointed out that bad behaviour of spectators would not be tolerated. “If they start putting players off, we’ll have something to say about it,” he said at St Andrews. “They are asked to stop and if they don’t, they are asked to leave.”
Asked if he expected a negative reaction to Woods, whose extra-marital affairs have battered his public image, Dawson took heart from what happened at the Masters three weeks ago. “I don’t think I do, although I could be badly wrong,” he said. “The Augusta fans are people just like everybody else and I think there was genuine relief that Tiger was back. I think the reaction to him was measured. It wasn’t enthusiastic but it wasn’t hugely negative, either. I expect something similar here.
“I remain the biggest fan of his golf game that there could possibly be. I’m just very sad at what has happened and I’m sure that he is, too. I don’t know anybody who saw this coming. It was a great shock to all of us in golf. Let’s hope he returns a stronger person.”
Unlike Billy Payne, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, who criticised Woods, Dawson is not going to express disapproval in public. However, as one of the guardians of the game, he remarked that Woods’s on-course behaviour needs cleaning up. “It had deteriorated,” he said. “No one who has a care for the etiquette of the game could be happy with that and I’m sure Tiger, when he looks at the pictures, isn’t happy with it.
“I thought Billy’s comments were measured and well crafted. He had the disadvantage of being [Tiger’s] first event back.
“The Masters had a major problem in having no idea what to expect. If the Open had been his first back, we’d have been scratching our heads.”
As yet prize money has not been set for this year’s championship and will be dependent, among other things, on the prevailing exchange rates nearer the time. Stewart Cink, the 2009 champion, won £750,000 and Dawson said that the prospect of a £1 million first prize was on the horizon, “but not this year”.
Source:The Times
Wheels falling off for Michael Schumacher
MERCEDES are preparing an extensively modified car for Michael Schumacher to drive at the Spanish Grand Prix in two weeks’ time. This could make or break Schumacher’s so far ill-starred comeback. If the new car doesn’t deliver the characteristics Schumacher says he needs to be competitive, serious doubts will be raised over him seeing out his three-year contract.
After a woeful 10th place in the Chinese Grand Prix, Schumacher reiterated that his car does not let him drive in his natural way. Team boss Ross Brawn explained further: “Our car does not have enough front downforce. New regulations have made the front tyres narrower, which means you need to generate more downforce at the front than before. Michael needs to be able to lean heavily on the front of the car to make his driving style work.”
The modified car is thought to feature a significantly longer wheelbase, allowing the front wheels to be sited further forward in relation to the cockpit. This will speed the airflow along the car, in effect pulling the air over the front wing faster and increasing the downwards thrust upon the front tyres.
Schumacher needs a car that changes direction sharply, which has so far proved elusive with the Mercedes. His attempt at creating that artificially has worsened his problems, if the observations of a former F1 technical director are accurate: “Michael always liked a car with a positive turn-in. He was at his fastest with no understeer. If a car inherently understeers then you can only get it balanced by artificially degrading the rear grip. This means less overall grip and Michael’s car in Shanghai had visibly awful traction, making me suspect that he has screwed up the rear just to try and get it to turn in.”
Whatever the car’s limitations, Schumacher has clearly adapted less well than his teammate Nico Rosberg, who is 17 years younger and has soundly beaten him in all four races so far.
Perhaps the most telling moment came when Lewis Hamilton drove around Schumacher’s outside through the fast turn eight, a move almost unthinkable in the German’s prime.
But it’s probably significant that Schumacher seems to be pinning his hopes on changing the car rather than finding more from himself. He says working on the development of the car is “fun for me”. It will be fun only if the process proves fruitful. His display in the new car in Barcelona may determine if that process ever reaches fruition.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
After a woeful 10th place in the Chinese Grand Prix, Schumacher reiterated that his car does not let him drive in his natural way. Team boss Ross Brawn explained further: “Our car does not have enough front downforce. New regulations have made the front tyres narrower, which means you need to generate more downforce at the front than before. Michael needs to be able to lean heavily on the front of the car to make his driving style work.”
The modified car is thought to feature a significantly longer wheelbase, allowing the front wheels to be sited further forward in relation to the cockpit. This will speed the airflow along the car, in effect pulling the air over the front wing faster and increasing the downwards thrust upon the front tyres.
Schumacher needs a car that changes direction sharply, which has so far proved elusive with the Mercedes. His attempt at creating that artificially has worsened his problems, if the observations of a former F1 technical director are accurate: “Michael always liked a car with a positive turn-in. He was at his fastest with no understeer. If a car inherently understeers then you can only get it balanced by artificially degrading the rear grip. This means less overall grip and Michael’s car in Shanghai had visibly awful traction, making me suspect that he has screwed up the rear just to try and get it to turn in.”
Whatever the car’s limitations, Schumacher has clearly adapted less well than his teammate Nico Rosberg, who is 17 years younger and has soundly beaten him in all four races so far.
Perhaps the most telling moment came when Lewis Hamilton drove around Schumacher’s outside through the fast turn eight, a move almost unthinkable in the German’s prime.
But it’s probably significant that Schumacher seems to be pinning his hopes on changing the car rather than finding more from himself. He says working on the development of the car is “fun for me”. It will be fun only if the process proves fruitful. His display in the new car in Barcelona may determine if that process ever reaches fruition.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Neil Carter undermines Hampshire with fine spell of swing bowling
Edgbaston (first day of four: Hampshire won toss): Warwickshire, with nine first innings wickets in hand, are 238 runs behind Hampshire
It is not easy to concentrate amid the cacophony of drills, diggers and cement mixers laying the foundation for the £30m redevelopment of the pavilion end at Edgbaston but Michael Carberry, England’s newest opener, and Sean Ervine, the former Zimbabwe all-rounder, got their heads down to lift Hampshire to a total of 283 against Warwickshire.
Carberry, who had scored a double-century, two hundreds and four fifties in his eight previous championship matches against Warwickshire, again showed his liking for their bowling but when he was out for 74 Hampshire were in trouble at 120 for five.
Warwickshire picked two spinners in Imran Tahir, formerly of Hampshire, and Ant Botha but it was Neil Carter who undermined Hampshire with his left arm swing and went on to finish with four for 59 in 23 demanding overs.
Carter had Jimmy Adams caught behind and claimed Chris Benham and James Vince lbw before Darren Maddy, playing his first championship match for a year, picked up the wicket of Neil McKenzie when he was caught at slip.
Carberry, who made his England debut in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong in March, looked the part, scoring his runs off 127 balls with 11 fours and a six, but then he pulled a long hop from Chris Woakes to mid on and left the field shaking his head in annoyance.
Another wicket then and Warwickshire would have been right on top in this contest between two sides who have both lost their first two matches but they simply did not bowl well enough as Ervine joined Nic Pothas in a sixth wicket stand of 83 in 20 overs.
Pothas had scored 47 when he was brilliantly caught at slip by Rikki Clarke off Jonathan Trott and Ervine went on to make 70 before he gave Clarke a more straightforward catch off Imran Tahir.
Kabir Ali and James Tomlinson gave Ervine some support and when Warwickshire went in with 13 overs remaining Kabir soon claimed Westwood for a duck.
Maddy, who had not played since the corresponding game last season because of knee trouble and a nasty facial injury suffered in pre-season practice in South Africa, stood firm, however, and Ian Bell looked in good touch to take Warwickshire to 45 for one by the close.
Hampshire: First InningsM A Carberry c Westwood b Woakes 74J H K Adams c Ambrose b Carter 4C C Benham lbw b Carter 8N D McKenzie c Trott b Maddy 13J M Vince lbw b Carter 6*†N Pothas c Clarke b Trott 15S M Ervine c Clarke b Tahir 70K Ali c Ambrose b Carter 16J A Tomlinson c Tahir b Woakes 29D R Briggs b Tahir 0D A Griffiths not out 0Extras (b 4, lb 10, nb 2) 16Total (80.5 overs) 283
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-18, 3-61, 4-84, 5-120, 6-203, 7-238, 8-273, 9-273.
Bowling: Woakes 16.5-4-60-2; Carter 23-6-59-4; Maddy 17-3-53-1; Clarke 6-0-32-0; Trott 8-1-29-1, Tahir 8-0-23-2; Botha 2-0-13-0.
Warwickshire: First Innings*I J Westwood lbw b Ali 0D L Maddy not out 21I R Bell not out 17Extras 0Total (1 wkt, 13 overs) 45
I J L Trott, J O Troughton, †T R Ambrose, R Clarke, C R Woakes, N M Carter, A G Botha and Imran Tahir to bat.
Fall of wicket: 1-2.
Bowling: Ali 5-3-9-1; Tomlinson 5-1-15-0; Ervine 1-0-5-0; Griffiths 1-0-7-0; McKenzie 1-0-2-0.
Umpires: M R Benson and P J Hartley.
Source:The Times
It is not easy to concentrate amid the cacophony of drills, diggers and cement mixers laying the foundation for the £30m redevelopment of the pavilion end at Edgbaston but Michael Carberry, England’s newest opener, and Sean Ervine, the former Zimbabwe all-rounder, got their heads down to lift Hampshire to a total of 283 against Warwickshire.
Carberry, who had scored a double-century, two hundreds and four fifties in his eight previous championship matches against Warwickshire, again showed his liking for their bowling but when he was out for 74 Hampshire were in trouble at 120 for five.
Warwickshire picked two spinners in Imran Tahir, formerly of Hampshire, and Ant Botha but it was Neil Carter who undermined Hampshire with his left arm swing and went on to finish with four for 59 in 23 demanding overs.
Carter had Jimmy Adams caught behind and claimed Chris Benham and James Vince lbw before Darren Maddy, playing his first championship match for a year, picked up the wicket of Neil McKenzie when he was caught at slip.
Carberry, who made his England debut in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong in March, looked the part, scoring his runs off 127 balls with 11 fours and a six, but then he pulled a long hop from Chris Woakes to mid on and left the field shaking his head in annoyance.
Another wicket then and Warwickshire would have been right on top in this contest between two sides who have both lost their first two matches but they simply did not bowl well enough as Ervine joined Nic Pothas in a sixth wicket stand of 83 in 20 overs.
Pothas had scored 47 when he was brilliantly caught at slip by Rikki Clarke off Jonathan Trott and Ervine went on to make 70 before he gave Clarke a more straightforward catch off Imran Tahir.
Kabir Ali and James Tomlinson gave Ervine some support and when Warwickshire went in with 13 overs remaining Kabir soon claimed Westwood for a duck.
Maddy, who had not played since the corresponding game last season because of knee trouble and a nasty facial injury suffered in pre-season practice in South Africa, stood firm, however, and Ian Bell looked in good touch to take Warwickshire to 45 for one by the close.
Hampshire: First InningsM A Carberry c Westwood b Woakes 74J H K Adams c Ambrose b Carter 4C C Benham lbw b Carter 8N D McKenzie c Trott b Maddy 13J M Vince lbw b Carter 6*†N Pothas c Clarke b Trott 15S M Ervine c Clarke b Tahir 70K Ali c Ambrose b Carter 16J A Tomlinson c Tahir b Woakes 29D R Briggs b Tahir 0D A Griffiths not out 0Extras (b 4, lb 10, nb 2) 16Total (80.5 overs) 283
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-18, 3-61, 4-84, 5-120, 6-203, 7-238, 8-273, 9-273.
Bowling: Woakes 16.5-4-60-2; Carter 23-6-59-4; Maddy 17-3-53-1; Clarke 6-0-32-0; Trott 8-1-29-1, Tahir 8-0-23-2; Botha 2-0-13-0.
Warwickshire: First Innings*I J Westwood lbw b Ali 0D L Maddy not out 21I R Bell not out 17Extras 0Total (1 wkt, 13 overs) 45
I J L Trott, J O Troughton, †T R Ambrose, R Clarke, C R Woakes, N M Carter, A G Botha and Imran Tahir to bat.
Fall of wicket: 1-2.
Bowling: Ali 5-3-9-1; Tomlinson 5-1-15-0; Ervine 1-0-5-0; Griffiths 1-0-7-0; McKenzie 1-0-2-0.
Umpires: M R Benson and P J Hartley.
Source:The Times
Manchester City can bring in Marton Fulop after talks over Joe Hart collapse
Manchester City conceded defeat last night in their battle to re-sign Joe Hart after the club refused to bow to Birmingham City’s attempts to cash in on their rival’s desperate bid to resolve their goalkeeping crisis.
City will bring in Marton Fulop from Sunderland on a temporary basis this morning after being granted special dispensation by the Premier League to sign the Hungarian in the wake of an injury crisis that had left the club with only one fit senior goalkeeper.
With Shay Given expected to have an operation in London today on a dislocated shoulder that has ruled the Ireland goalkeeper out of City’s final three matches of the season, the club’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League may rest on Fulop after their efforts to recall Hart from his season-long loan at Birmingham collapsed at the end of a day of negotiations.
City had offered to waive the £460,000 loan fee owed to them by Birmingham for Hart, pay the England goalkeeper’s £30,000-a-week wages and settle any agents’ fees.
But with Birmingham understood to have been demanding a compensation package that could ultimately have totalled close to £3 million, City pulled the plug after hours of talks between Garry Cook, their chief executive, and Peter Pannu, the Midlands club’s vice-president.
In addition to City’s proposals, Birmingham are believed to have asked for a further £1.5 million to compensate for the prospect, without Hart, of the club dropping down the table, another £500,000 if City finished fourth and a percentage of any lost season-ticket revenue culminating from a lower than expected league finish. Each Premier League place is worth £750,000.
“I understand their [City’s] predicament,” Pannu said. “But if we let Joe go then we lose two positions in the Premier League, we lose £1.5 million in merit money.”
Although City had been given the green light by the Premier League to pursue Hart, in addition to Fulop, the organisation appeared to perform an about-turn by saying they would not have sanctioned the goalkeeper’s return to the club even if a compromise had been reached with Birmingham.
The Premier League later appeared to soften its stance, although City had no desire to meet Birmingham’s demands. In a statement last night, City said: “The club have been in contact throughout the day with both Birmingham City and Sunderland with regards to bringing either Joe Hart or Marton Fulop to the team on an emergency basis. Agreement has not been reached with Birmingham, but we anticipate that Marton Fulop will join us in training [today].”
Fulop, 26, has not played a first team match since January 16, when Sunderland were beaten 7-2 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but is expected to start City’s game at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. Gunnar Nielsen, the Faeroe Isles international, was City’s only fit senior goalkeeper after injuries to Stuart Taylor and David González.
Source:The Times
City will bring in Marton Fulop from Sunderland on a temporary basis this morning after being granted special dispensation by the Premier League to sign the Hungarian in the wake of an injury crisis that had left the club with only one fit senior goalkeeper.
With Shay Given expected to have an operation in London today on a dislocated shoulder that has ruled the Ireland goalkeeper out of City’s final three matches of the season, the club’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League may rest on Fulop after their efforts to recall Hart from his season-long loan at Birmingham collapsed at the end of a day of negotiations.
City had offered to waive the £460,000 loan fee owed to them by Birmingham for Hart, pay the England goalkeeper’s £30,000-a-week wages and settle any agents’ fees.
But with Birmingham understood to have been demanding a compensation package that could ultimately have totalled close to £3 million, City pulled the plug after hours of talks between Garry Cook, their chief executive, and Peter Pannu, the Midlands club’s vice-president.
In addition to City’s proposals, Birmingham are believed to have asked for a further £1.5 million to compensate for the prospect, without Hart, of the club dropping down the table, another £500,000 if City finished fourth and a percentage of any lost season-ticket revenue culminating from a lower than expected league finish. Each Premier League place is worth £750,000.
“I understand their [City’s] predicament,” Pannu said. “But if we let Joe go then we lose two positions in the Premier League, we lose £1.5 million in merit money.”
Although City had been given the green light by the Premier League to pursue Hart, in addition to Fulop, the organisation appeared to perform an about-turn by saying they would not have sanctioned the goalkeeper’s return to the club even if a compromise had been reached with Birmingham.
The Premier League later appeared to soften its stance, although City had no desire to meet Birmingham’s demands. In a statement last night, City said: “The club have been in contact throughout the day with both Birmingham City and Sunderland with regards to bringing either Joe Hart or Marton Fulop to the team on an emergency basis. Agreement has not been reached with Birmingham, but we anticipate that Marton Fulop will join us in training [today].”
Fulop, 26, has not played a first team match since January 16, when Sunderland were beaten 7-2 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but is expected to start City’s game at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. Gunnar Nielsen, the Faeroe Isles international, was City’s only fit senior goalkeeper after injuries to Stuart Taylor and David González.
Source:The Times
Portsmouth farce should have been prevented, says Michel Platini
Michel Platini, the Uefa president, declared last night that the Premier League’s spirit of “liberalism” was to blame for Portsmouth’s descent towards financial oblivion.
In an interview with The Times, Platini rejected persistent accusations of Anglophobia, tipping Fabio Capello’s team as one of three favourites to win the World Cup and dismissing theories of a power shift away from England in the Champions League.
But he condemned the situation at Portsmouth, who have become the first Premier League club to go into administration and still face the threat of liquidation unless they can satisfy their creditors, who include Revenue & Customs.
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, has said that Portsmouth’s problems “can only be down to rank bad management” under a succession of owners, but Platini believes that greater financial regulation would have prevented a situation whereby excessive spending allowed them to run up debts that stand at more than £100 million by building an FA Cup-winning squad that they could not afford.
“I’m not in favour of the big liberalism of what has happened with the English clubs,” Platini said. “I’m not an expert of finance, but it was easy to understand that clubs like Portsmouth would be in big danger of going bankrupt and going down. We have to protect them. Why was this club winning [the FA Cup in 2008] with losses of £50 million?
“When I was younger, I remember seeing people with no money buy Ferraris — and then, because of the Ferrari, they would get the best girls! That’s not correct, but it’s what has happened in football: you don’t have the money to buy the players, but you get the players and in the end you cheat and win the competition. That’s not correct.”
The Premier League introduced tighter financial regulations this season — partly in response to Portsmouth’s situation — that, according to Scudamore, have “reduced the risk of a repeat situation down to the absolute minimum”.
Platini has welcomed that as a step in the right direction, but it is a long way short of his “Financial Fair Play” initiative — a scheme that Scudamore expects the leading Premier League clubs to oppose “if it comes to an absolute regulation of their income”.
In response to Platini’s comments, a Premier League spokesman said last night: “Had we been able to introduce our financial criteria a year earlier, that would have certainly helped ease the problems faced by Portsmouth. The new rules, which we believe will help clubs operate in a more sustainable manner, combined with further regulations to be introduced this summer, should prevent another club in the Premier League reaching the point where their very existence is threatened.
“Having said that, regulation is not a cure-all. There are numerous examples of clubs in leagues deemed to be more heavily regulated than the Premier League that have got into difficulties.”
It was also reported last night that the League is considering a radical change to transfer rules to force all clubs to pay fees within a year of the signing rather than in instalments over the length of a player’s contract.
Platini plans to introduce the “Financial Fair Play” regulations for clubs involved in Uefa competition in time for the 2012-13 season, which will restrict owners such as Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City to a maximum €45 million (about £40 million) investment on players over an initial three-year period. That sum will be reduced to €30 million over the three years from 2015 to 2018, ending what Platini calls “financial doping”.
Source:The Times
In an interview with The Times, Platini rejected persistent accusations of Anglophobia, tipping Fabio Capello’s team as one of three favourites to win the World Cup and dismissing theories of a power shift away from England in the Champions League.
But he condemned the situation at Portsmouth, who have become the first Premier League club to go into administration and still face the threat of liquidation unless they can satisfy their creditors, who include Revenue & Customs.
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, has said that Portsmouth’s problems “can only be down to rank bad management” under a succession of owners, but Platini believes that greater financial regulation would have prevented a situation whereby excessive spending allowed them to run up debts that stand at more than £100 million by building an FA Cup-winning squad that they could not afford.
“I’m not in favour of the big liberalism of what has happened with the English clubs,” Platini said. “I’m not an expert of finance, but it was easy to understand that clubs like Portsmouth would be in big danger of going bankrupt and going down. We have to protect them. Why was this club winning [the FA Cup in 2008] with losses of £50 million?
“When I was younger, I remember seeing people with no money buy Ferraris — and then, because of the Ferrari, they would get the best girls! That’s not correct, but it’s what has happened in football: you don’t have the money to buy the players, but you get the players and in the end you cheat and win the competition. That’s not correct.”
The Premier League introduced tighter financial regulations this season — partly in response to Portsmouth’s situation — that, according to Scudamore, have “reduced the risk of a repeat situation down to the absolute minimum”.
Platini has welcomed that as a step in the right direction, but it is a long way short of his “Financial Fair Play” initiative — a scheme that Scudamore expects the leading Premier League clubs to oppose “if it comes to an absolute regulation of their income”.
In response to Platini’s comments, a Premier League spokesman said last night: “Had we been able to introduce our financial criteria a year earlier, that would have certainly helped ease the problems faced by Portsmouth. The new rules, which we believe will help clubs operate in a more sustainable manner, combined with further regulations to be introduced this summer, should prevent another club in the Premier League reaching the point where their very existence is threatened.
“Having said that, regulation is not a cure-all. There are numerous examples of clubs in leagues deemed to be more heavily regulated than the Premier League that have got into difficulties.”
It was also reported last night that the League is considering a radical change to transfer rules to force all clubs to pay fees within a year of the signing rather than in instalments over the length of a player’s contract.
Platini plans to introduce the “Financial Fair Play” regulations for clubs involved in Uefa competition in time for the 2012-13 season, which will restrict owners such as Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City to a maximum €45 million (about £40 million) investment on players over an initial three-year period. That sum will be reduced to €30 million over the three years from 2015 to 2018, ending what Platini calls “financial doping”.
Source:The Times
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Out The Black looks primed for Scottish National glory
Philip Hobbs has his team in fine fettle and his 12-year-old, quoted at 33-1, looks a good bet to win Ayr marathon.
Philip Hobbs has his team firing on all cylinders and the Somerset trainer can win the Coral Scottish Grand National (3.20) at Ayr today with Out The Black.
Hobbs is going to miss out on training 100 winners in a season for the first time in a decade but he has enjoyed 29 successes since the start of March and Out The Black, quoted at 33-1 by Paddy Power, is equipped to keep him riding high.
At first glance, the tip warrants being an outsider — his 29 rivals are all younger and he has not run since November — but he has got few miles on the clock for a 12-year-old and can go well when fresh. Moreover, he has his optimum conditions and is able to race off the same mark as when a fine third to Hello Bud in this race last year. His latest effort, when a close fifth to Any Currency over an inadequate three miles at Ascot, suggests that he has not declined in the interim.
Hobbs has a useful “second string” in Chiaro, but bigger threats may be Mobaasher, not seen to best advantage behind Poker De Sivola at Cheltenham last month, and Dom D’Orgeval, who has been in fine form this spring.
Best bet on the card is Gloucester, who can win the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.45). Nothing was travelling better than him two out in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham a month ago but he faded to finish sixth — the combination of the stiff finish and not having run since September finding him out. This much speedier test should suit him better.
There is no shortage of quality at Newbury, with Canford Cliffs and Arcano, leading hopes for the 2,000 Guineas, crossing swords for a second time in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes (3.40).
Arcano came out on top when they met in the Prix Morny at Deauville last year but the suspicion is that Canford Cliffs, who had previously won the Coventry Stakes in scintillating style at Royal Ascot, was not at his best that day. With his stable in fabulous form, he can turn the tables.
It will be a surprise if the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (3.05) has a bearing on the 1,000 Guineas but Misheer, who thrashed Habaayib in the Cherry Hinton before finishing in front of Lady Of The Desert and Puff in the Cheveley Park, has obvious form claims.
Manifest, who might have found the ground too quick when disappointing at Newmarket in October, is worth noting in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (2.00), while Huzzah looks a live outsider for the Berry Bros & Rudd Magnum Spring Cup (2.35). He is 6lb lower than when runner-up in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year and his below-par return in the Lincoln is easily excused as he was slow away from a poor draw.
Philip Hobbs has his team firing on all cylinders and the Somerset trainer can win the Coral Scottish Grand National (3.20) at Ayr today with Out The Black.
Hobbs is going to miss out on training 100 winners in a season for the first time in a decade but he has enjoyed 29 successes since the start of March and Out The Black, quoted at 33-1 by Paddy Power, is equipped to keep him riding high.
At first glance, the tip warrants being an outsider — his 29 rivals are all younger and he has not run since November — but he has got few miles on the clock for a 12-year-old and can go well when fresh. Moreover, he has his optimum conditions and is able to race off the same mark as when a fine third to Hello Bud in this race last year. His latest effort, when a close fifth to Any Currency over an inadequate three miles at Ascot, suggests that he has not declined in the interim.
Hobbs has a useful “second string” in Chiaro, but bigger threats may be Mobaasher, not seen to best advantage behind Poker De Sivola at Cheltenham last month, and Dom D’Orgeval, who has been in fine form this spring.
Best bet on the card is Gloucester, who can win the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.45). Nothing was travelling better than him two out in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham a month ago but he faded to finish sixth — the combination of the stiff finish and not having run since September finding him out. This much speedier test should suit him better.
There is no shortage of quality at Newbury, with Canford Cliffs and Arcano, leading hopes for the 2,000 Guineas, crossing swords for a second time in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes (3.40).
Arcano came out on top when they met in the Prix Morny at Deauville last year but the suspicion is that Canford Cliffs, who had previously won the Coventry Stakes in scintillating style at Royal Ascot, was not at his best that day. With his stable in fabulous form, he can turn the tables.
It will be a surprise if the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (3.05) has a bearing on the 1,000 Guineas but Misheer, who thrashed Habaayib in the Cherry Hinton before finishing in front of Lady Of The Desert and Puff in the Cheveley Park, has obvious form claims.
Manifest, who might have found the ground too quick when disappointing at Newmarket in October, is worth noting in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (2.00), while Huzzah looks a live outsider for the Berry Bros & Rudd Magnum Spring Cup (2.35). He is 6lb lower than when runner-up in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year and his below-par return in the Lincoln is easily excused as he was slow away from a poor draw.
No sign of Lee Westwood on Phil Mickelson Channel
I have been in the United States for a week and I had a feeling yesterday morning that I was sent back to the UK to do something special.
You see, God allowed me to sneak home from Las Vegas moments before the Icelandic volcano blew. Why did I make it back? Was I supposed to invade the leaders’ debate in Manchester, perhaps, demanding better grass at Wembley?
Sated with the knowledge by yesterday afternoon that I am neither special nor chosen, just lucky, I stayed at home. But I’d like to share some observations from the other side of the pond, a letter from America, if you will.
Sadly I didn’t see the BBC coverage of the Masters, I watched the Golf Channel in the US, or the Mickelson Channel, as I rechristened it. But we should all feel lucky we have the BBC, Sky, ITV, Five or whatever other channel you choose to view your sport in this country.
As I watched the Golf Channel, I asked myself, ‘Is this bad or just different?’ Then I realised it was neither, it was just biased. “I didn’t realise golf was so tribal,” my sister said as I became more vocally enraged at the lack of Lee Westwood coverage.
“It isn’t normally,” I said. We were in her home and I got the feeling that this was the first time golf had been on her TV. At the very least I expected to see live every tee shot by the leader, Westwood. But, at one point it appeared that the director only showed Westwood because occasionally he walked into shot when they were focusing on Phil Mickelson.
I saw Mickelson’s recovery shot on the 13th a grand total of 20 times. I know it was good but come on, guys, swap one of those replays for one look at Ian Poulter. With the exception of toilet breaks and lunch, I watched the whole day and didn’t see Poulter once. Don’t tell him, he’d be gutted.
Midway through the final round, they did a “get to know the player” feature on Westwood. An image of him popped up and we were told about this man who “grew up in Worksop, England, and still has a farm there, which he has made a putting green on”. And that was it. Time to get back to Mickelson.
Was I emotional because my heart was breaking for Westwood as another major slipped away or because I was not watching the final round at Augusta at all; I was watching a History Channel biopic of Phil Mickelson.
Such is the power of editorial content that it was some time late on Monday afternoon when I realised that I didn’t dislike Mickelson at all. Mickelson was the antidote for a section of the American public to the embarrassment and shame heaped on them by Tiger Woods, but he didn’t ask to be that. His victory was confirmation for all God-fearing folk that good always triumphs over evil.
Sport on American TV is not interested in being international or unbiased, it’s all about unashamed American dominance. I know we are a tiny island in comparison, but the fact that we do allow ourselves to enjoy events we don’t always win makes us all richer sports voyeurs.
That one of the Champions League semi-finals will be shown free to air without a British team taking place is proof and it’s a match that should still bring in five million viewers on ITV.
However, there is something we need to embrace. Having watched a few hours of “countdown to the NFL draft” shows, I am working on a Premier League “draft”. This is taking time so in the short term we need to incorporate a “watching day”, a bit like an open day when a house is being sold. Prospective buyers view a player jumping, running, catching, throwing, all of it filmed or shown live depending on how exciting a prospect the player is. Then five experts give opinions as to how that player has performed.
If you are going to get hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, it’s the least you should expect. While we’re at it, can we have all mysterious “late fitness tests” and “medicals” filmed, too? I have asked many a player to explain late fitness tests and get varying responses from “a wiggle of the knee” to “running 50 metres”. Show it live and end the mystery.
One more thing: Chad Ochocinco, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, who is on Dancing with the Stars. Ochocinco changed his surname legally from Johnson to reflect the “85” he wears on his shirt. Can you imagine Ryan Giggs becoming Ryan Unouno? Mr 85 has more charisma than your average chat-show host and is built like a Greek God. If you can think of a Premier League player who’d come close, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Strictly Come Dancing production staff.
You see, God allowed me to sneak home from Las Vegas moments before the Icelandic volcano blew. Why did I make it back? Was I supposed to invade the leaders’ debate in Manchester, perhaps, demanding better grass at Wembley?
Sated with the knowledge by yesterday afternoon that I am neither special nor chosen, just lucky, I stayed at home. But I’d like to share some observations from the other side of the pond, a letter from America, if you will.
Sadly I didn’t see the BBC coverage of the Masters, I watched the Golf Channel in the US, or the Mickelson Channel, as I rechristened it. But we should all feel lucky we have the BBC, Sky, ITV, Five or whatever other channel you choose to view your sport in this country.
As I watched the Golf Channel, I asked myself, ‘Is this bad or just different?’ Then I realised it was neither, it was just biased. “I didn’t realise golf was so tribal,” my sister said as I became more vocally enraged at the lack of Lee Westwood coverage.
“It isn’t normally,” I said. We were in her home and I got the feeling that this was the first time golf had been on her TV. At the very least I expected to see live every tee shot by the leader, Westwood. But, at one point it appeared that the director only showed Westwood because occasionally he walked into shot when they were focusing on Phil Mickelson.
I saw Mickelson’s recovery shot on the 13th a grand total of 20 times. I know it was good but come on, guys, swap one of those replays for one look at Ian Poulter. With the exception of toilet breaks and lunch, I watched the whole day and didn’t see Poulter once. Don’t tell him, he’d be gutted.
Midway through the final round, they did a “get to know the player” feature on Westwood. An image of him popped up and we were told about this man who “grew up in Worksop, England, and still has a farm there, which he has made a putting green on”. And that was it. Time to get back to Mickelson.
Was I emotional because my heart was breaking for Westwood as another major slipped away or because I was not watching the final round at Augusta at all; I was watching a History Channel biopic of Phil Mickelson.
Such is the power of editorial content that it was some time late on Monday afternoon when I realised that I didn’t dislike Mickelson at all. Mickelson was the antidote for a section of the American public to the embarrassment and shame heaped on them by Tiger Woods, but he didn’t ask to be that. His victory was confirmation for all God-fearing folk that good always triumphs over evil.
Sport on American TV is not interested in being international or unbiased, it’s all about unashamed American dominance. I know we are a tiny island in comparison, but the fact that we do allow ourselves to enjoy events we don’t always win makes us all richer sports voyeurs.
That one of the Champions League semi-finals will be shown free to air without a British team taking place is proof and it’s a match that should still bring in five million viewers on ITV.
However, there is something we need to embrace. Having watched a few hours of “countdown to the NFL draft” shows, I am working on a Premier League “draft”. This is taking time so in the short term we need to incorporate a “watching day”, a bit like an open day when a house is being sold. Prospective buyers view a player jumping, running, catching, throwing, all of it filmed or shown live depending on how exciting a prospect the player is. Then five experts give opinions as to how that player has performed.
If you are going to get hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, it’s the least you should expect. While we’re at it, can we have all mysterious “late fitness tests” and “medicals” filmed, too? I have asked many a player to explain late fitness tests and get varying responses from “a wiggle of the knee” to “running 50 metres”. Show it live and end the mystery.
One more thing: Chad Ochocinco, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, who is on Dancing with the Stars. Ochocinco changed his surname legally from Johnson to reflect the “85” he wears on his shirt. Can you imagine Ryan Giggs becoming Ryan Unouno? Mr 85 has more charisma than your average chat-show host and is built like a Greek God. If you can think of a Premier League player who’d come close, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Strictly Come Dancing production staff.
Success of Red Bull in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying ends conspiracy theories
THE RESOUNDING way in which Red Bull wrapped up the front row for today’s Chinese Grand Prix — despite a new technical ruling — finally brought an end to conspiracy theories that the team had previously been using a secret system of ride height control to enhance their cars’ aerodynamics.
Between the previous race in Malaysia and this one, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement to the teams outlining that any devices or systems that altered the set-up of the cars between qualifying and race were illegal. Red Bull’s rivals believed the team had been using such a system before its ban and that the new ruling would clip their wings. Red Bull insisted they had no such device. Before the clarification McLaren had been developing a system of ride height control, which was due to have been fitted to the cars of Lewis Hamilton, inset, and Jenson Button for today’s race.
The Red Bull RB6 has set pole position for all four races of the season so far. Although it was affected by reliability issues in the opening two races, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber delivered the team an impressive 1-2 in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. Fears that the RB6 might dominate the season seem realistic, especially now that the new ruling seems to have left Red Bull’s advantage unaffected.
An F1 car’s aerodynamic performance is enhanced the lower to the ground the car can run. As the carefully sculpted underbody runs close to the ground, so it creates low-pressure areas that essentially suck the car down to the track’s surface, increasing its cornering and braking grip. Therefore, teams set the suspensions to run the car as low as possible. For this season cars are allowed to qualify with enough fuel on board just to complete the qualifying laps. Before the race the fuel load required to complete the distance — typically about 150kg — is then pumped into the tanks. This pushes the car closer to the ground and so allowance has to be made for this when setting the ride height for qualifying, as no changes are allowed to be made to the suspension set-up in between qualifying and race. A system that automatically compensated for fuel loads and kept the ride height at its minimum on low fuel loads and on high loads would give a performance advantage in qualifying estimated by engineers at about half a second per lap.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, said of the China qualifying result: “I think this just confirms that we have a very quick car and that it’s nothing to do with any supposed trick ride height control. We have not got and have never had such a system.”
The rumours began when it was noted the car apparently scraped its floor along the ground during qualifying for the opening race in Bahrain. If it was doing that before 150kg of fuel was added, reasoned the rivals, there must be a compensating system. Red Bull insist the low ride height was caused by nothing more than under-pressured tyres.
The team have been cheekily delighting in the confusion sowed by the rumours. “I’m just glad we’ve been able to lose the others some nights’ sleep,” said Webber. “All that time chasing that means time they’ve lost chasing what they should have been.”
Vettel talked with a smile about a lever in his cockpit “that the team tell me to move up and down — I don’t know what it does, but it seems to work”.
FIA scrutineers have inspected the car and declared themselves completely satisfied with its legality. So the race is now on among rivals of the the Milton Keynes-based team to catch up.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Between the previous race in Malaysia and this one, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement to the teams outlining that any devices or systems that altered the set-up of the cars between qualifying and race were illegal. Red Bull’s rivals believed the team had been using such a system before its ban and that the new ruling would clip their wings. Red Bull insisted they had no such device. Before the clarification McLaren had been developing a system of ride height control, which was due to have been fitted to the cars of Lewis Hamilton, inset, and Jenson Button for today’s race.
The Red Bull RB6 has set pole position for all four races of the season so far. Although it was affected by reliability issues in the opening two races, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber delivered the team an impressive 1-2 in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. Fears that the RB6 might dominate the season seem realistic, especially now that the new ruling seems to have left Red Bull’s advantage unaffected.
An F1 car’s aerodynamic performance is enhanced the lower to the ground the car can run. As the carefully sculpted underbody runs close to the ground, so it creates low-pressure areas that essentially suck the car down to the track’s surface, increasing its cornering and braking grip. Therefore, teams set the suspensions to run the car as low as possible. For this season cars are allowed to qualify with enough fuel on board just to complete the qualifying laps. Before the race the fuel load required to complete the distance — typically about 150kg — is then pumped into the tanks. This pushes the car closer to the ground and so allowance has to be made for this when setting the ride height for qualifying, as no changes are allowed to be made to the suspension set-up in between qualifying and race. A system that automatically compensated for fuel loads and kept the ride height at its minimum on low fuel loads and on high loads would give a performance advantage in qualifying estimated by engineers at about half a second per lap.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, said of the China qualifying result: “I think this just confirms that we have a very quick car and that it’s nothing to do with any supposed trick ride height control. We have not got and have never had such a system.”
The rumours began when it was noted the car apparently scraped its floor along the ground during qualifying for the opening race in Bahrain. If it was doing that before 150kg of fuel was added, reasoned the rivals, there must be a compensating system. Red Bull insist the low ride height was caused by nothing more than under-pressured tyres.
The team have been cheekily delighting in the confusion sowed by the rumours. “I’m just glad we’ve been able to lose the others some nights’ sleep,” said Webber. “All that time chasing that means time they’ve lost chasing what they should have been.”
Vettel talked with a smile about a lever in his cockpit “that the team tell me to move up and down — I don’t know what it does, but it seems to work”.
FIA scrutineers have inspected the car and declared themselves completely satisfied with its legality. So the race is now on among rivals of the the Milton Keynes-based team to catch up.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Glamorgan in sight of historic victory at Lord’s
Lord’s (second day of four): Glamorgan, with four second-innings wickets in hand, are 274 runs ahead of Middlesex
Glamorgan are well-placed to secure their first championship victory at Lord’s since 1954 after 17 wickets fell on the day. David Harrison bowled excellently on a sporting pitch to claim his first five-wicket haul for four years, getting strong support from James Allenby, who took four for 29, as Middlesex were bundled out for 160. Andrew Strauss top-scored with 44, timing the ball well until he chopped on, trying to force Allenby off the back foot.
After declining to enforce the follow-on, Glamorgan soon lost Mark Cosgrove retired hurt when the Australian was hit on the head by a Steve Finn bouncer. But, after reaching 57 without loss, the Welsh county fell to 117 for six to give Middlesex a glimmer of hope.
After Harrison had taken two quick wickets, Scott Newman being held in the slips and Sam Robson yorked, Strauss played several vintage strokes. Having driven James Harris imperiously through extra cover for four, he later played the shot of the innings, an exquisitely timed clip off his legs off the same bowler that beat the fielder on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Strauss got out, however, to one of a number of loose shots from batsmen on both sides.
Middlesex’s callow middle order looked ill-equipped for what was a testing examination on a greenish pitch that offered regular seam movement and good carry. After Dawid Malan was bowled by a beauty from Allenby that came back down the slope, Adam London played across a full-length ball to be castled by Harrison. John Simpson looked untroubled until he was leg-before trying to sweep Dean Cosker, the only batsman so far in the match to fall to a spinner.
Cosgrove almost suffered the ignominy of a pair at Lord’s, but a fast-travelling edge at catchable height off Finn eluded the slip cordon. Finn was a handful with his bounce and hostility, returning later to claim the important wicket of Allenby, leg-efore.
Mike Powell made his second important contribution of the match before chopping on, as Middlesex’s bowlers at last found the right length for this seamer-friendly pitch. They were too short in the Glamorgan first innings, which still looks like being the key part of the match unless Middlesex’s fragile batting line-up can atone in the second innings.
Glamorgan: First Innings†M A Wallace not out 79H T Waters c Robson b Finn 5Extras (lb 13, w 1, nb 6) 20Total (97.2 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-84, 3-105, 4-131, 5-147, 6-258, 7-274, 8-291, 9-300.
Bowling: Murtagh 24-7-57-2; Finn 22.2-5-69-2; O’Brien 20-2-59-2; Berg 17-4-59-3; Udal 10-2-33-0; Malan 4-0-25-1.
Second InningsG P Rees c Malan b Berg 20M J Cosgrove retired hurt 17M J Powell b Murtagh 47B J Wright lbw b O’Brien 4*J W M Dalrymple c Malan b Berg 0J Allenby lbw b Finn 15†M A Wallace not out 12J A R Harris lbw b Murtagh 2D A Cosker not out 0Extras (lb 2) 2Total (6 wkts, 40 overs) 119
H T Waters and D S Harrison to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-72, 3-73, 4-101, 5-107, 6-117.
Bowling: Murtagh 11-2-31-2; Finn 12-2-27-1; O’Brien 9-1-24-1; Berg 8-1-35-2.
Middlesex: First InningsS A Newman c Cosgrove b Harrison 7A J Strauss b Allenby 44S D Robson lbw b Harrison 0D J Malan b Allenby 17A B London b Harrison 6†J A Simpson lbw b Cosker 32G K Berg lbw b Harrison 14*S D Udal lbw b Allenby 15T J Murtagh c Cosgrove b Allenby 13I E O’Brien c Wallace b Harrison 0S T Finn not out 0Extras (lb 12) 12Total (51.2 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-21, 3-71, 4-72, 5-80, 6-103, 7-141, 8-153, 9-160.
Bowling: Harris 7-1-21-0; Harrison 18-2-62-5; Waters 10-1-28-0; Allenby 13.2-3-29-4; Cosker 3-1-8-1.
Umpires: R J Bailey and S A Garratt.
Source:The Times
Glamorgan are well-placed to secure their first championship victory at Lord’s since 1954 after 17 wickets fell on the day. David Harrison bowled excellently on a sporting pitch to claim his first five-wicket haul for four years, getting strong support from James Allenby, who took four for 29, as Middlesex were bundled out for 160. Andrew Strauss top-scored with 44, timing the ball well until he chopped on, trying to force Allenby off the back foot.
After declining to enforce the follow-on, Glamorgan soon lost Mark Cosgrove retired hurt when the Australian was hit on the head by a Steve Finn bouncer. But, after reaching 57 without loss, the Welsh county fell to 117 for six to give Middlesex a glimmer of hope.
After Harrison had taken two quick wickets, Scott Newman being held in the slips and Sam Robson yorked, Strauss played several vintage strokes. Having driven James Harris imperiously through extra cover for four, he later played the shot of the innings, an exquisitely timed clip off his legs off the same bowler that beat the fielder on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Strauss got out, however, to one of a number of loose shots from batsmen on both sides.
Middlesex’s callow middle order looked ill-equipped for what was a testing examination on a greenish pitch that offered regular seam movement and good carry. After Dawid Malan was bowled by a beauty from Allenby that came back down the slope, Adam London played across a full-length ball to be castled by Harrison. John Simpson looked untroubled until he was leg-before trying to sweep Dean Cosker, the only batsman so far in the match to fall to a spinner.
Cosgrove almost suffered the ignominy of a pair at Lord’s, but a fast-travelling edge at catchable height off Finn eluded the slip cordon. Finn was a handful with his bounce and hostility, returning later to claim the important wicket of Allenby, leg-efore.
Mike Powell made his second important contribution of the match before chopping on, as Middlesex’s bowlers at last found the right length for this seamer-friendly pitch. They were too short in the Glamorgan first innings, which still looks like being the key part of the match unless Middlesex’s fragile batting line-up can atone in the second innings.
Glamorgan: First Innings†M A Wallace not out 79H T Waters c Robson b Finn 5Extras (lb 13, w 1, nb 6) 20Total (97.2 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-84, 3-105, 4-131, 5-147, 6-258, 7-274, 8-291, 9-300.
Bowling: Murtagh 24-7-57-2; Finn 22.2-5-69-2; O’Brien 20-2-59-2; Berg 17-4-59-3; Udal 10-2-33-0; Malan 4-0-25-1.
Second InningsG P Rees c Malan b Berg 20M J Cosgrove retired hurt 17M J Powell b Murtagh 47B J Wright lbw b O’Brien 4*J W M Dalrymple c Malan b Berg 0J Allenby lbw b Finn 15†M A Wallace not out 12J A R Harris lbw b Murtagh 2D A Cosker not out 0Extras (lb 2) 2Total (6 wkts, 40 overs) 119
H T Waters and D S Harrison to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-72, 3-73, 4-101, 5-107, 6-117.
Bowling: Murtagh 11-2-31-2; Finn 12-2-27-1; O’Brien 9-1-24-1; Berg 8-1-35-2.
Middlesex: First InningsS A Newman c Cosgrove b Harrison 7A J Strauss b Allenby 44S D Robson lbw b Harrison 0D J Malan b Allenby 17A B London b Harrison 6†J A Simpson lbw b Cosker 32G K Berg lbw b Harrison 14*S D Udal lbw b Allenby 15T J Murtagh c Cosgrove b Allenby 13I E O’Brien c Wallace b Harrison 0S T Finn not out 0Extras (lb 12) 12Total (51.2 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-21, 3-71, 4-72, 5-80, 6-103, 7-141, 8-153, 9-160.
Bowling: Harris 7-1-21-0; Harrison 18-2-62-5; Waters 10-1-28-0; Allenby 13.2-3-29-4; Cosker 3-1-8-1.
Umpires: R J Bailey and S A Garratt.
Source:The Times
Paul Scholes's late goal keeps title race alive
Paul Scholes' last-gasp goal stunned Manchester City as Manchester United caused their neighbours more injury-time heartbreak at Eastlands.
After Michael Owen's winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford in September, there were just 20 seconds of the three additional minutes left this time around as Scholes rose unchallenged to head home Patrice Evra's left-wing cross from 10 yards and take United to within a point of leaders Chelsea ahead of their game at Spurs.
It was an amazing finish to a game that seemed destined to end goalless.
For Scholes, who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday, it was his 149th Red Devils' goal and the perfect way to retain the outside title hopes United still cherish, although with just three games to go, Chelsea remain favourites.
Yet again after a meeting with the team they are so desperate to usurp, City must lift themselves off the floor after suffering the most shattering of blows, still believing a Champions League place can be theirs. The defeat left them just a point ahead of Spurs ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
After his appearance against Bayern Munich 10 days ago, it was hardly a surprise that Wayne Rooney should declare himself fit after just a single day's training.
But the prospective PFA player-of-the-year looked ill at ease, repeated rants at referee Martin Atkinson and a petulant kick at Nigel de Jong belied his mood.
Rooney appeared tentative, he declined to set up Ryan Giggs when he had the chance to do so, and there was no real conviction behind his only decent opportunity of the opening period, when Antonio Valencia forced the ball into the area.
Having beaten Kolo Toure with a deft piece of skill, the goal opened up for striker, who had scored 34 times before his unfortunate ankle injury.
He dragged the effort wide though, which only increased his frustration, his contribution eventually brought to an end 15 minutes from time when he was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney's attack on De Jong might have been revenge for a thunderous challenge from the Dutchman on Patrice Evra, which set the tone for an opening period high on energy but low on goalmouth incident.
A bulldog of a midfielder, De Jong gave United little time to settle on the ball, and though the visitors had plenty of possession, much of their passing was of a sideways variety. Only Antonio Valencia looked as though he could cause the Blues significant problems.
Having escaped a penalty-box handball that went unseen by Atkinson and, apparently, the entire United team, returning full-back Wayne Bridge was undone by the Ecuador man just before the break.
Valencia squeezed a cross through to the near post where Giggs was alert enough to make contact, but lacked the power to beat Shay Given with a low flick.
Against his old club, Carlos Tevez curled an early free-kick towards the top corner only for Edwin van der Sar to make an excellent save.
It turned out to be the sum total of first-half efforts on goal from Roberto Mancini's men, a fizzing low cross from Craig Bellamy not much to enthuse about considering his team had scored 11 times in their last two outings.
The was no discernable improvement - either in the overall quality or Rooney's temper - in the opening minutes of the second-half.
It did Rooney no credit at all that when he was kicked by Vincent Kompany, he rolled around in apparent agony then jumped to his feet and ran off without a problem once the yellow card had been brandished.
The problem for United was that with their bulwark at less than full throttle and Valencia their only source of pace, they were reliant on guile alone to open City up.
City had more speed and a flowing move, started by Emmanuel Adebayor and inevitably involving Tevez, ended when Craig Bellamy crashed a shot into the side-netting.
Shortly afterwards, the Blues had a penalty appeal turned down.
Gareth Barry could be accused of making too much of minimal contact by Gary Neville. There was certainly contact though, and not with the ball on Neville's part.
The crowd were still digesting that incident when Giggs got on the end of a long ball beyond the City defence and would have been clean through if he had not been confronted immediately by Given, whose goal was threatened by Berbatov with a deft header shortly afterwards.
It then took the interventions of Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher to ensure a goalmouth scramble caused by Van der Sar's ill-advised charge to meet a cross did not ended in disaster for the visitors.
This flurry of activity gave the impression of a game finally heading somewhere. It took Scholes to find the map.
Source:The Times
After Michael Owen's winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford in September, there were just 20 seconds of the three additional minutes left this time around as Scholes rose unchallenged to head home Patrice Evra's left-wing cross from 10 yards and take United to within a point of leaders Chelsea ahead of their game at Spurs.
It was an amazing finish to a game that seemed destined to end goalless.
For Scholes, who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday, it was his 149th Red Devils' goal and the perfect way to retain the outside title hopes United still cherish, although with just three games to go, Chelsea remain favourites.
Yet again after a meeting with the team they are so desperate to usurp, City must lift themselves off the floor after suffering the most shattering of blows, still believing a Champions League place can be theirs. The defeat left them just a point ahead of Spurs ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
After his appearance against Bayern Munich 10 days ago, it was hardly a surprise that Wayne Rooney should declare himself fit after just a single day's training.
But the prospective PFA player-of-the-year looked ill at ease, repeated rants at referee Martin Atkinson and a petulant kick at Nigel de Jong belied his mood.
Rooney appeared tentative, he declined to set up Ryan Giggs when he had the chance to do so, and there was no real conviction behind his only decent opportunity of the opening period, when Antonio Valencia forced the ball into the area.
Having beaten Kolo Toure with a deft piece of skill, the goal opened up for striker, who had scored 34 times before his unfortunate ankle injury.
He dragged the effort wide though, which only increased his frustration, his contribution eventually brought to an end 15 minutes from time when he was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney's attack on De Jong might have been revenge for a thunderous challenge from the Dutchman on Patrice Evra, which set the tone for an opening period high on energy but low on goalmouth incident.
A bulldog of a midfielder, De Jong gave United little time to settle on the ball, and though the visitors had plenty of possession, much of their passing was of a sideways variety. Only Antonio Valencia looked as though he could cause the Blues significant problems.
Having escaped a penalty-box handball that went unseen by Atkinson and, apparently, the entire United team, returning full-back Wayne Bridge was undone by the Ecuador man just before the break.
Valencia squeezed a cross through to the near post where Giggs was alert enough to make contact, but lacked the power to beat Shay Given with a low flick.
Against his old club, Carlos Tevez curled an early free-kick towards the top corner only for Edwin van der Sar to make an excellent save.
It turned out to be the sum total of first-half efforts on goal from Roberto Mancini's men, a fizzing low cross from Craig Bellamy not much to enthuse about considering his team had scored 11 times in their last two outings.
The was no discernable improvement - either in the overall quality or Rooney's temper - in the opening minutes of the second-half.
It did Rooney no credit at all that when he was kicked by Vincent Kompany, he rolled around in apparent agony then jumped to his feet and ran off without a problem once the yellow card had been brandished.
The problem for United was that with their bulwark at less than full throttle and Valencia their only source of pace, they were reliant on guile alone to open City up.
City had more speed and a flowing move, started by Emmanuel Adebayor and inevitably involving Tevez, ended when Craig Bellamy crashed a shot into the side-netting.
Shortly afterwards, the Blues had a penalty appeal turned down.
Gareth Barry could be accused of making too much of minimal contact by Gary Neville. There was certainly contact though, and not with the ball on Neville's part.
The crowd were still digesting that incident when Giggs got on the end of a long ball beyond the City defence and would have been clean through if he had not been confronted immediately by Given, whose goal was threatened by Berbatov with a deft header shortly afterwards.
It then took the interventions of Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher to ensure a goalmouth scramble caused by Van der Sar's ill-advised charge to meet a cross did not ended in disaster for the visitors.
This flurry of activity gave the impression of a game finally heading somewhere. It took Scholes to find the map.
Source:The Times
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