Moyes insists best is yet to come

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

DAVID Moyes has hit back at a suggestion from Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini that Manchester United's best days are a thing of the past ahead of Tuesday's derby.

United manager Moyes' men and Pellegrini's Premier League title-chasers meet later in the 167th Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Victory for City would see them move to within three points of leaders Chelsea, with a game in hand.

But faltering champions United, in their first season since Moyes replaced the retired Alex Ferguson, British football's most successful manager, are already 12 points adrift of City.

Not only do United have no realistic chance of retaining their title, their chances of finishing in the top four and so qualifying for next season's Champions League now appear remote, with their best chance winning this term's tournament — a tough job given their quarter-final opponents are defending European champions Bayern Munich.

Last month City boss Pellegrini, whose side have already won the League Cup this term, said: "If you consider this season, there is just one club in Manchester and it is ours.

"But you cannot forget what United has done in previous years."

The Chilean's words touched a nerve with Moyes, who on the eve of the derby, responded by saying: "Well Manchester United had lots and lots of seasons of domination.

"I don't think if I was a manager I would have turned round and necessarily said that we were the only club in Manchester because football does change, it goes in cycles," the Scot added.

City's manager Manuel Pellegrini says his team is the only club in Manchester this season. Source: AP

United's biggest problem in terms of league form has been the fact they've won just once — a 1-0 victory over Arsenal — against the top nine so far this season, with a recent 3-0 defeat by archrivals Liverpool still fresh in the memory.

"They have definitely hurt," Moyes said.

"They have hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations myself — that I was coming to the winning football club."

The former Everton manager added: "I've got a winning mentality and that's what I wanted to do, so I'm disappointed with myself and I'm disappointed that we've been unable to do that.

"But it has not been for the want of trying, that's for sure.

"We want to try and perform better in the bigger games than what we have done."

Meanwhile Moyes said he'd disciplined Chris Smalling after the United defender was pictured out in Manchester in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Manchester Evening News published pictures of Smalling which it said showed the defender singing in the streets at 3.15am.

Smalling, 24, had stayed behind while the squad travelled to London for their Saturday match against West Ham because of a hamstring injury.

"I've dealt with it and I've spoken to Chris," Moyes said.

"That would be as much as I would want to say on it."

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kent: A Knight who’s full of chivalry

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

WHAT sort of young man is Alex McKinnon?

We don't know a lot about him. We know he turned 22 last month, that he injured his foot last year which caused him to miss a handful of games midway through the season right after things started going well — following his representative debut for Country.

We know that the quietness in the Knights dressing room after Monday's game, in which McKinnon fractured his C4 and C5 vertebrae, went beyond defeat.

Everybody sat there, heads down, locked in silence.

Alex McKinnon falls awkwardly in clash against the Storm. Scans reveal he has fractured his vertebrae. Source: FoxSports

McKinnon is still in hospital this morning, and will be for some time. Doctors cannot determine the extent of damage to his spinal cord until the swelling around his neck goes down in the next few days, possibly weeks.

In Newcastle yesterday the Knights were under instructions not to talk about McKinnon. They will be again today and tomorrow. Nobody wants to risk mistaken information, and possibly harmful information, being leaked when the matter is so serious.

So what sort of young man is Alex McKinnon?

Like many young footballers he has a Twitter account but, unlike many young footballers, he fails to comment about the inane activities — "brekky with the boys this morning. ham and eggs #cholesterol #skinfolds" — of daily life.

He posted his last Tweet a month ago, a retweet from actor and former wrestler Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock: "Realized over the years that success doesn't change a person ... it only magnifies who've (sic) they've been their entire life."

With that small glimpse, we see McKinnon is unlike most footballers, a man willing to entertain a world where football ends.

This morning you hope he realises that if success doesn't change a person, neither does injury.

McKinnon's previous Tweet, before the ponderings of The Rock, was a thank you to his girlfriend for his birthday present, a skydiving voucher.

Before that it was another re­tweet. On January 28, he wrote: "Repost; usually just scroll past these posts, but this is something that has to be heard. Sometimes we don't realise how good we've got it."

And while the repost was unexpected from a footballer, you might be now coming to expect it from Alex McKinnon.

X-Ray image of the C4 and C5 vertebrae in the spine. Source: FoxSports

It was a quote, and it said: "I will post and repost this till the cows come home. Kids with special needs are not weird or odd or sick. They only want what everyone else wants ... to be accepted!! Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this in honour of all children who were made in a unique way. Let's see who has a strong heart."

Let's see who has a strong heart.

Coaches are always looking for good players, it's the way it is. And it's no secret the good ones go looking for something beyond talent. Beyond size and speed and skill.

They go looking for heart.

That's why the dressing room was so quiet on Monday night.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Every injury like McKinnon has suffered is a tragedy, but not everybody has the ability to reach in and touch the heart of teammates like Alex McKinnon.

It is uncommon, and went beyond the pain for a fallen mate. There are one or two in every club.

Before Christmas he retweeted a photo of twin babies in a hospital incubator in their first week of life.

"Each were in their respective incubators and one was not expected to live," the caption reads.

"A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two threw her arm over her sister in an endearing embrace. The smaller baby's heart stabilized and temperature rose to normal."

It's there on his Twitter page, the modern fingerprint of a footballer we know so little about, the photo of the child in hospital with a protective arm around her. It is a metaphor for something this morning.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hodges to miss Origin opener

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

JUSTIN Hodges says he could miss the State of Origin opener as he faces up to two more months on the sidelines.

Hodges has resumed full training, but teammate Sam Thaiday concedes the veteran Broncos centre will not be making a shock return against the Dragons on Friday night.

The best-case scenario would see Hodges declared fit for Brisbane's Round 7 clash with Newcastle on April 18, giving him ample time to prove his fitness for Origin I.

However, he could be sidelined until Round 10, which would give him one game to convince Queensland selectors to roll the dice for the series opener on May 28.

The 31-year-old had hoped to make it back into Brisbane's starting side before Round 4, but is wary of rupturing his Achilles tendon for the third time in his career.

Justin Hodges during a Broncos training session. Source: News Limited

"I am still a month or two away," Hodges said.

"I don't think it's necessary to rush and get back early. I want to try and get it right so I can finish the whole season.

"When (the achilles tear) happened my main focus was getting the recovery right and getting on the field.

"The boys are going good without me so hopefully they can keep winning and I'll come back when I feel it's ready.''

Thaiday said the sight of Hodges stretching out comfortably at training was not a true barometer of his progress.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Hodgo is training pretty well but you go behind doors and he's still icing up," Thaiday said.

"He's still slow and steady. We don't want to rush him, he's a huge part of our team and a huge X-factor for us.

"We'd rather have him back 100 per cent than 80 or 90. I'm sure the coach or physio staff won't push him too hard. He has the final say on when he will be back.''

Despite his lengthy list of injuries, Hodges is confident the Broncos will table an extended deal in the coming weeks and months.

"(Contract talks are) left up to my manager. My main focus is getting the leg right and getting on the field.

"I've never worried about contracts. If I'm out there playing the best football can, it always takes care of itself.''

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

McLean stood down for McKinnon tackle

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

MELBOURNE Storm forward Jordan McLean has been stood down by the NRL and sent straight to the judiciary for the tackle that left Newcastle's Alex McKinnon with a broken neck.

McKinnon remains in the Alfred hospital after he landed on his head following a three-man tackle by Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and McLean during Monday night's clash at AAMI Park.

The Knights last night revealed scans have confirmed a "devastating spinal injury" that could take up to two years to recover from.

The Knights confirmed The club said McKinnon had a C4 and C5 vertebrae fracture, but his spinal cord was not severed.

"Alex remains in hospital in intensive care and may require further surgery to stabilise his spine," the Knights said in statement.

"He has movement in his right arm and the uncertainty remains in regeneration, with a variable prognosis.".

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The NRL match review committee referred the incident to the judiciary but would not hear the case immediately out of respect to McKinnon and his family. A date has not been set.

"Jordan will be stood down from this week's match in Perth (against Canterbury) and until the matter is heard in line with the NRL's rules," NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said.

"However, Storm have the right under the rules to seek leave from the NRL judiciary chairman for Jordan to play."

Melbourne named McLean for its clash with the Bulldogs and last night hadn't decided whether to appeal the NRL's ruling.

McLean, 22, used his private Facebook account to post a message of support for McKinnon.

Jordan McLean - in the number 16 jersey - has been stood down for his role in this tackle. Source: FoxSports

"Best wishes go out to Alex McKinnon I genuinely hope your (sic) all right and have a safe recovery," McLean wrote.

It's understood McLean and the Bromwich brothers will speak with the club's welfare officer about the incident.

Several rugby league pundits defended McLean and his fellow tacklers, including Penrith general manager Phil Gould, who said he ­believed there was no malice in the tackle. "I just see it as an unfortunate accident," he said. "I hope there's no charge and the hysteria over the injury doesn't influence the ruling here."

Knights coach Wayne Bennett said it will be several days until the full extent of McKinnon's injury is known.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Unfortunately these things happen but not too often, thank Christ," he said.

"We won't know for a number of days, maybe weeks.

"He's in the right place and we've done all we can for him."

McKinnon was lifted off the ground and turned but appeared to duck his head in the tackle, which made it the first point of contact with the ground.

This was pointed out by skipper Cameron Smith when the tackle was placed on report by referee Gerard Sutton.

Storm centre Will Chambers said he believed the tackle was purely accidental.

"Obviously you don't go out to do those sort of things," he said.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

McKinnon should focus on life: Ross

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BEN Ross is planning to contact hospitalised Newcastle Knights forward Alex McKinnon with a simple message: 'focus on life, not footy'.

If anyone can understand the depth of pain, confusion and uncertainty which has consumed McKinnon's past 48 hours, it's Ross.

The former Cronulla Sharks prop was sidelined from the NRL for two years after breaking his neck in the opening round of the 2009 season.

Doctors told Ross he may never walk again, let alone play football. But step-by-step, day-by-day, he regained his strength to produce one of sport's truly inspiring comebacks when he returned in the NRL for South Sydney.

Ben Ross is stretchered from field with a suspected neck injury. Source: News Limited

He retired last year having played 173 first-grade games.

Now working for the Men of League Foundation, Ross was re-acquainted with memories of his own recovery when learning yesterday of the spinal injuries suffered by McKinnon, which have placed the young Newcastle forward's career on hold.

"It's hard, he wouldn't know where his career is at right now,'' Ross said.

"He'd be wondering what they're going to do. How they're going to go about things. All these things rush through your head.

"Of course, you want to play footy again and he'd want to know the outcome, but they won't know until after the operation, which is the scary thing.

Ben Ross is tackled during a clash between the Rabbitohs and NSW Cup side Newtown, in a NRL trial. Source: News Limited

"You just have to have faith in the surgeons and the medical staff, which I'm sure he's in the best hands.''

Ross said thoughts of playing rugby league again, for the time being, should be the furthest thing from McKinnon's mind.

"I remember I said to the doctors before the operation, 'Will I ever be able to play again?' And he said; 'We'll see if you can walk first.'

"That was when I knew I had to get my priorities straight. Recovering was the first thing I had to do and so I focused on ticking that box.

Alex McKinnon falls awkwardly in clash against the Storm. Scans reveal he has fractured his vertebrae. Source: FoxSports

"I'd like to speak to Alex when the time is right, just to tell him he can pull through this.''

Knights officials and doctors have declared it is too premature to discuss what the future may hold for McKinnon.

McKinnon would be aware of Ross' story, so too Queensland's Gorden Tallis and Penrith prop Sam McKendry, who both managed to return to the playing field from neck injuries.

But at 22, McKinnon seemingly has his life in front of him, which as Ross suggested, is more important than football.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

‘Any slip could ruin Barca’s season’

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BARCELONA boss Gerardo Martino believes it is his side's own fault that they aren't in a more comfortable position in La Liga despite beating Real Madrid twice this season.

Lionel Messi inspired the Catalans to a famous 4-3 away at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night as he notched his second hat-trick in as many games.

Victory brought Martino's men back into the title race as they now trail leaders Atletico Madrid and Real by just one point with nine games remaining.

However, the Argentine warned that his side can suffer no slip-ups of the kind they have suffered at Real Sociedad and Valladolid in recent weeks if they are to retain their title, starting with Celta Vigo's visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

"Last weekend has allowed us to get back in the league. Now we have to continue playing well against Celta and what remains of the league season. We cannot make a mistakes," he said on Tuesday.

"Our wish is to perform at a high level and to have similar individual performances to those we had on Sunday.

"The competitions are entering their final stage and if we don't maintain that level it will endanger our chances of winning any titles.

"Generally, we need to be consistent. That is why we are not in a different position today, above all in the league. If we had maintained consistency in our performances and results, we would be in a much better position."

Martino has left Xavi out of his 18-man squad for the game against Celta with the Catalan derby away to Espanyol and a return to Champions League action against Atletico Madrid next week in mind.

Pedro Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and Marc Bartra are also likely to feature after being left on the bench at the Bernabeu.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Minichiello: I’m reborn, baby

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

YOU'D think by now Anthony Minichiello would have had enough of lacing on his boots for another rugby league year - but coming into his 15th NRL season the 33-year-old Roosters skipper reckons this is the most excited he has ever been ahead of a new season.

And it's all because of his new baby girl Azura.

The NRL biggest stars will come together tonight to officially kick-off the game's 107th season and the likeable Minichiello has been asked to be the headline act.

After nearly having his career cut short because of a series of terrible injuries, the 2005 Golden Boot winner has won the admiration of everyone in the game because of the courage he has shown to fight his way back to the top.

TAKE PART IN OUR SUPERCOACH CHALLENGE!

It all culminated in him captaining the Roosters to last year's grand final triumph, and after representing Italy at the Rugby League World Cup, he returned home to what he calls "the best prize of all.

"Every season gets much tougher and the players get stronger and the teams get better but this is the most I have ever looked forward to a season," Minichiello said.

"To now get to play in front of my little daughter each week has made me look forward to this like never before.

"2013 was pretty special, there is no doubt about that.

"And to finish it off with a little daughter is the best prize of all."

Anthony Minichiello (R) celebrates at the World Club Challenge. Source: Getty Images

Little Azura got to watch her first game of footy last Saturday night when Minichiello led the Roosters to a crushing win over Wigan in the World Club Challenge.

"I went and held her straight after the game and it was a special moment for my family and I," he said.

"She was dressed up in a little Roosters' jersey and it was just a great night."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Minichiello first signed with the Roosters 18 years ago as a 16-year-old before his first grade debut in 2000.

Since then he has made 275 appearances for the Bondi club and won two premierships along the way.

On top of that he played 11 State of Origins for NSW, 18 Tests for Australia and three Tests for Italy.

Now he will have the chance to try and lead the Roosters to back to back premierships for the first time since Brisbane in 1992-93 and 1997-98.

08.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

V8 boss and the twilight zone

James Warburton: "I am confident that Adelaide will give us the best test yet." Source: Adam Armstrong / News Corp Australia

THE Clipsal 500 this weekend will provide a further acid test for the long-term future of V8 Supercars' bold plan for twilight racing.

With the season set to launch to life in Adelaide with the first ever twilight season opener, the dusk finishing time will be firmly placed under the spot-light.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton is pushing ahead with plans to race into the twilight as an important growth platform for the sport.

The Sydney 500 last December delivered 30 per cent more viewers as Warburton's experiment paid immediate dividends. But the later start and finish failed to have any positive impact on the Sydney Olympic Park crowd.

Warburton is pushing ahead with the concept in a bid to increase the sport's TV appeal.

"Whether that (the TV ratings increase) is replicated this Saturday night, where twin 125km races will end at 8.30pm on the east coast, is critical to doing more dusk fixtures in 2015,'' Warburton said.

"It was certainly a good first step in Sydney and I am confident that Adelaide will give us the best test yet."

He also said racing in total darkness is still firmly in his plan.

"I haven't and won't give up on lights," Warburton said. "People tell me it is not possible, but that continues to motivate me, there has to be a way."

The Clipsal 500 starts the V8 Supercars season. Last year it hosted more than 270,000 people across the four days that is a mix of pure motorsport and party.

08.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarke’s lean run is captain’s lot

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

MICHAEL Clarke is going through a rite of passage experienced by every modern Australian captain, a lean trot.

More than 30 years ago Greg Chappell publicly pleaded with the selectors not to drop him after a string of ducks against the then mighty West Indies pace attack.

Clarke walks off the ground at St George's Park after yet another failure. Source: AFP

One of Australia's finest batsman and captains, Chappell is part of an unbroken line which currently sees Clarke experiencing his own barren streak. He has gone 11 innings with a top score of 24 after centuries in the opening two Tests of the Ashes series earlier this summer.

Clarke is well aware that as a captain and senior player he is letting the team down. What six wins on the trot may have papered over, an embarrassing 231-run loss in the second Test at Port Elizabeth could not.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

But as one of just six Australians with more than 8000 Test runs, at an average of 51, Clarke has been on enough swings and roundabouts during a decade of international cricket to know that with hard work these troughs tend to right themselves.

And hard work it was on what should have been the fifth and final day of the second Test, joining those members of the squad who did not play the Test in a solid net session. The only other player from the team who fronted was Alex Doolan.

The unscheduled practice also doubted as a continuing fitness test for Shane Watson, who bowled off his full run for the first time since suffering a calf problem doing fitness work early in the tour.

Shane Watson training in the nets in South Africa. Source: News Corp Australia

Watson felt no discomfort but must prove to coach and selector Darren Lehmann that the all-rounder is capable of bowling a reasonable quota of strong overs.

The players were relaxed and upbeat despite the heavy loss, knowing it had only been a week earlier that they had a big win at Centurion Park.

Clarke was annoyed with his shot selection during the first innings of both Tests, an attempted guided hook in Pretoria which was skied to fine leg and a bunt to cover at St Georges Park.

"When you get in you've got to cash in," Clarke said.

It may be some consolation to know that there are an impressive line of players behind him who have been through the same thing. His run drought is but a blip on the captaincy radar.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Allan Border, who dragged Australia from the depths during the mid '80s, went four years late in his career without a century, due in part because as the team improved he increasingly declared on himself.

He passed 50 regularly and no one mentioned the lack of hundreds because of the endearment a grateful nation felt for him single-handedly carrying Australian cricket through its worst period.

Mark Taylor and Clarke have something in common, their flat spot average is 18. It's just that Clarke's has gone for two months and Taylor's lasted a year and a half.

Steve Waugh went 16 innings without a hundred as captain and later his career Ricky Ponting spent two years and 33 innings searching for triple figures.

08.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Inside NSW’s new Origin base

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

IT'S a sight that has become all too familiar and one we NSW folk are sick and tired of.

But it's all about to change.

Queensland's State of Origin stranglehold over NSW is about to come to an end.

And this is where it all starts for NSW.

And ends for Queensland.

Laurie Daley at the site of this year's NSW State of Origin camp at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

Right here in Coffs Harbour, 530 kilometres north of Sydney.

Welcome to Camp Laurie.

The Daily Telegraph was yesterday given a full tour of NSW's new training facilities inside the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, 10 minutes north of Coffs Harbour.

The Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

It is from within the bowels of this delightful haven on the NSW north coast that the underdog Blues will attempt to dismantle Queensland's iron-like grip on State of Origin.

The Blues will enter camp here at Coffs six days before both Suncorp Stadium matches. They will fly straight to Brisbane from Coffs Harbour on a charter flight.

This serene setting is strikingly different to NSW's previous camps in downtown Coogee, in Sydney's east.

The Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

The 40 hectare resort - split by the Pacific Highway - offers tranquility and, most importantly, privacy. The training field is pristine, nestled below rolling hills and hundreds of massive gum trees.

Adjacent is a gymnasium, hydrotherapy rooms, meetings rooms, ice baths and full recovery facilities. There are also hot and cold spas and a 25 metre lap pool.

The gym was specifically built for the Wallabies, who used Coffs Harbour as a base for nine years. Sporting clubs to recently use the facility include Geelong, Sydney Roosters, Canberra Raiders and Sydney Swans.

Laurie Daley inspects the gym at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

The training fields are set on one side of the Pacific Highway. A two-minute drive through a small tunnel under the highway brings you to the western side of the resort which offers a nine-hole par three golf course, three pools, five tennis courts and a nine-floor, four-star hotel.

A boom gate splits the two sections - meaning training will be private, and away from the media.

One of the swimming pools at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

"We are trying to get an advantage and trying to improve by five to 10 per cent,'' said NSW coach Laurie Daley.

"This is a great venue - it is isolated and will give us the best chance to focus and win games of football.

"We are under no illusions - we are up against a mighty side and will have to be at our best to win.''

Golf course at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

As much as the players enjoyed camp at the Crowne Plaza in Coogee, Daley felt a change was important.

"When we train up here we can train on our own," Daley said. "Everything is in the one venue.

"We are trying to do something a little different. Here we can totally focus on football.''

The conference centre is also impressive.

It offers meeting rooms for the team and a restaurant which overlooks a self-made lake and golf course.

A small, quiet beach, which isn't patrolled, is a six-minute walk from reception.

Team rooms at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

One source close to the NSW camp said: "Coogee was very cosmopolitan. It was hard to leave.

"But we had a five to ten minute walk to Coogee Oval where we trained. Players could be stopped every 20 metres for autographs and photographs.

"Players love the fans but there were a lot of distractions. But in Coffs, everyone will be together and fully focused.''

NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden reiterated why the Blues would be heading out of Sydney.

"This is the best elite training facility in NSW. It makes sense to come here,'' Trodden said.

"The players can avoid distractions and concentrate on their performance.''

Laurie Daley at the team rooms. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

08.57 | 0 komentar | Read More