Sport

Sport News 24/7 This week Sports Editor David de Winter and Richard de Winter reflect on successful Euro 2016 campaigns for the home nations, dicuss Kevin Pietersen's autobiography and debate Ben Flower's sending-off in the Super League Grand Final.  

Sport News 24/7 By Chris Brown @vivabrownie @TLE_Sport Springfield. The time is 4.30am. A clear, crisp, purple-black sky plays backdrop to a multitude of glistening stars arranged in their numerous constellations. The residents of the famous cartoon town sleep, unperturbed, save for two of its better known characters – Principal Skinner and Bart Simpson - who are conducting various exercises relating to amateur astronomy in the grounds outside the Springfield Elementary School. This is ‘Bart’s Comet’, an episode wedged firmly...

Sport News 24/7 By Stuart Buck @TLE_Sport The noise inside Gus Poyet’s head on Saturday afternoon must have been deafening. Forget about the actual noise in St. Mary’s, that was merely the fully justified cacophony of a set of supporters more than entitled to enjoy themselves; the number of questions buzzing within the Uruguayan’s brain would have drowned that out twice over. You can analyse all you like, but any 8-0 score line would leave one team looking fantastic and...

Sport News 24/7 By David de Winter – Sports Editor @davidjdewinter @TLE_Sport This weekend marks the début of the new European Rugby Champions Cup.  After intense negotiations the now-defunct Heineken Cup was panned and a new, improved version was approved.  Not much has changed; there are now only 20 teams in the competition vying for the 8 quarter final slots instead of last season’s 24.  This means fewer, if no easy games and intense competition from the off.  So who...

Sport News 24/7 By Ian Carroll @TLE_Sport Alan Pardew is still Newcastle United manager.  He’ll be Newcastle United manager, at St James’ Park, again this weekend against Leicester City who are managed by ex-United caretaker Nigel Pearson.  Luckily for Alan, Mr Pearson tends to spend a lot of his time sat in the stand, getting a good view of the game and able to make rational calls.  This is something Alan said he’d do himself after he was banned for...

Sport News 24/7 By Richard de Winter @TLE_Sport @rgdewinter As a football fan, one of the things you’ve got to be prepared for is disappointment. This may take the form of an underwhelming signing, a limp performance against hated rivals; it may take the form of an unfortunate defeat in the Champions’ League Semi-Final. At the end of the season, the overriding feeling for fans of most clubs will be one of disappointment, even if their club has had an...

Sport News 24/7 By Philip Benton @paolobento Sam Allardyce is not a bad football manager, he never has been. A quick glance at his CV and it’s no coincidence that his former clubs have fallen from grace since his departure, just ask any Bolton or Blackburn supporter. Which is why the two Daves’ decision to firstly appoint and secondly keep faith in Big Sam at West Ham is one well justified. The problem Big Sam (I wouldn’t say that to his face)...

Sport News 24/7 By David de Winter - Sports Editor @davidjdewinter @TLE_Sport The fallout from Kevin Pietersen’s imminent autobiography is unlike anything I have previously experienced. The absolute childishness and pettiness of ex-England cricketer Pietersen, the ECB, Graeme Swann and other players connected to the controversy is staggering. Accusations, name-calling, bullying – it has all the hallmarks of an argument in the school playground. The situation has got wildly out of hand. All this airing of dirty laundry in public...

Sport News 24/7 This week, Sport Editor David de Winter and Sport Columnist Richard de Winter review Europe's Ryder Cup victory, Liverpool and Manchester City's performances in the Champions League, and discuss England's qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.