View from the Couch: John Terry is made of sterner stuff

By Henry Deedes

I have no idea what it must be like to dislocate an elbow. Like many fellow couch-ionistas, I am forever whacking my funny bone against the arm rest as I wrestle to locate the remote - which is usually buried beneath a cushion, keeping company with the tablets of Extra and the loose change that have been similarly gobbled up by a hungry sofa.

Football: Keep your dignity Sven - and let Thaksin have it

By Ian Herbert

Sven Goran Eriksson has shown the utmost dignity over these most trying past few months. His demeanour has been matched in salience only by his chairman’s utter lack of a handle on the club and complete ignorance to the notion of gradual progress in a sport which is a mystery to him. But here's an indignity too far for the outgoing City manager. Eriksson, we have learned, has been asked to keep shtum about his fate until City conclude their tour of Thailand – even though Thaksin Shinawatra might have sacked him by then.

Sailing: Clear pontoons in Plymouth

By Stuart Alexander

The world has moved on since the glorious days of 1976 when a bumper fleet gathered in Plymouth to race across the Atlantic and join the bi-centenary celebrations for American independence. Every sort and condition of man and his boats was assembled from giant to little more than dinghy and including both monohulls and multihulls.

Rugby League: Goodbye Cardiff?

By Dave Hadfield

After the steady success of the first two Millennium Magic weekends, it seems strange to think that we might not be there next year.

Football: Has the FA scored an own goal?

By Jason Burt

Ok, so the Football Association has set Fabio Capello the goal of getting England into the semi-finals of a major championships – the World Cup or Euros – by 2012. But what to make of such a target? In some ways it’s pretty ambitious as England have only gone this far once in the last 38 years – and that was when they hosted the European Championships in 1996 – and the next World Cup is in South Africa with the following Euros being held in Ukraine and Poland. Hardly, all-round, the easiest of places to go. Plus the fact that they didn’t even qualify for Euro 2008.

But in other ways it’s pretty defeatist...

Football: Brutality and respect on the Bridge

By Jason Burt

Avram Grant has finally won the right to be taken seriously. Whatever happens from today until the final match of his career, whether that is at Chelsea or elsewhere, he can look back at the events of the last eight days and show that he stepped up to the plate. In beating Manchester United in the Premier League and defeating Liverpool in the semi-final of the European Cup he has won the right to be included in the old adage that big managers win big matches.

Rugby League: Chambers circus should leave town

By Dave Hadfield

Castleford have promised a decision next week on whether they are going to keep Dwain Chambers on. If they do, it will not be a decision based on rugby considerations.

Football: Avram's unreciprocated love

By Jason Burt

Chelsea’s man of the moment, Michael Ballack, is also their man of the media. The German midfielder, partly because of his nature, his confidence, and also because of his ability, is by far the most articulate and honest member of the squad. He says it the way he sees it and can be refreshingly honest.

In a football world of anodyne comments and – let’s be honest – lies - Ballack is different...

Sailing: Fed up with the Cup

By Stuart Alexander

The fact that most visitors would not know the difference between computational fluid dynamics and a power shower is irrelevant in the buttoned up world of Alinghi and the America's Cup. Even though everyone in the room knows that under the 19th century deed of gift rules that govern the Cup, the defender has to be ready for a challenge with 10 months notice, the assertion that Alinghi would need a minimum of nine months to build a boat and a further two to work it up is delivered with deadpan confidence.

View from the Couch: Sorry for your loss Frank, but you're needed on the pitch

By Henry Deedes

Frank Lampard missed Saturday’s “six pointer” with Manchester United.  There is talk he may not make Wednesday’s (arguably) more crucial Champions League semi-final tie against Liverpool.

The reason for this is not some spurious injury claim so often trotted out by lesser players than this brilliant individual after a night on the sauce (how many “stomach upsets” can a player have in one season?) but because of the very tragic death of Lampard’s mother, Pat, who passed away this week after suffering from pneumonia.

I realise that what I am about to say will not chime with many. Some may even feel I am a heartless hack for even suggesting it...