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      in Motorsport

      Ben Hunt: Max Verstappen’s rivals may have faltered… but he has been BRILLIANT on relentless charge to second F1 title

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN can wrap up the Formula One title this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix – and there would still be five races to go, plus a sprint race in Brazil.Sure, last year’s title was decided under a cloud in Abu Dhabi – the outcome we know was botched by the former race director, Michael Masi.
      Max Verstappen can win the F1 Championship in Singapore this weekendCredit: Splash
      But there is no disputing Verstappen’s second title, for there have been moments of brilliance and skill, while Red Bull have been faultless.
      To use a football analogy. If Verstappen’s win in Abu Dhabi was F1’s equivalent to the ‘Hand of God’ goal – when Diego Maradona punched the ball past Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter finals, then this year is surely like Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’ – his second goal where he dribbled past six England players, including Terry Butcher twice, before firing past Shilton for a second.
      Verstappen can win the title if he outscores Charles Leclerc by 22 points, Sergio Perez by 13 and George Russell by six in Singapore.
      If he were to do it there, it would be the earliest coronation in 20 years, and the second earliest in F1 history.
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      The biggest question is perhaps how has he managed to do so, in this new era with F1 cars supposed to be capable of racing much closer together.
      The answer is four-fold. Firstly, his rivals have all faltered, especially Ferrari who built the quickest car.
      Don’t agree? Well, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have taken 10 poles between them on the Saturday qualifying sessions when cars run at their top speeds.
      Verstappen ‘only’ has four and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez has just one. Mercedes’s George Russell also has one.
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      Secondly, Lewis Hamilton – the only driver able to match Verstappen for talent – has not been in the running.
      It is increasingly looking like the Brit will end the season winless for the first time in his 16-year F1 career and the forensic examination into this season will require time to establish what has gone wrong.
      Thirdly, and fourthly, Red Bull and Verstappen have both been excellent. Consistency, decision-making and hardly making any mistakes have been the key to the team’s success this year.
      While the moaning about Abu Dhabi continues (and it definitely does on Twitter), there can be no debate about the outcome of this year’s championship, Verstappen has been brilliant.

      Silverstone review
      British GP bosses have apologised for the ticketing fiasco for the 2023 race.
      Fans were faced with surge pricing when the new ticketing system went online, as prices increased with demand.
      Tickets shifted so quickly as the same volume that took five months to sell last year were sold in just two days.
      Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle, has promised “a root and branch review” but that is no comfort for those fans who look set to miss out.

      Big step for Asia
      Singapore’s return to the F1 schedule marks a crucial step for the sport in Asia.
      The night race at the Marina Bay Circuit is the first in Asia since the Covid-19 pandemic.
      And I am expecting plenty of business activity in the paddock while teams will be updating liveries and sponsors as the weekend progresses.

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      Quartararo concern
      Could Fabio Quartararo be having a wobble?
      The MotoGP champ has seen his advantage in the title race sliced to just 18 points.
      Perhaps more worrying for his Yamaha team is his comment that he says he’s “not enjoying riding a bike in a race for a long time”. More

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      in Soccer

      Jude Bellingham ready to take centre stage in Qatar as wonderkid shows England’s World Cup hopes rest on his shoulders

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      BETWEEN them, they have just 51 caps — but in central midfield there is no doubt England’s World Cup hopes rest on the young shoulders of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.With few options at his disposal, apart from a half-fit Jordan Henderson and out-of-form James Ward-Prowse, Gareth Southgate has no choice but to stick with both Bellingham and Rice.
      Jude Bellingham is a key player in the England side and will start in QatarCredit: PA
      Even if Kalvin Phillips overcomes his latest shoulder issue to make the plane to Qatar, we are certain to see tonight’s midfield pairing start against Iran on November 21.
      During this breathless match against the Germans, Bellingham and Rice had some nice moments and protected the defence reasonably.
      And in fairness, both showed maturity beyond their years to keep cool when England were 2-0 down and facing yet another defeat.
      In the end Rice, 23, and Bellingham, 19 — along with most others at Wembley — will have left pretty happy, even though the Three Lions should have won this Nations League match.
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      Like Friday’s 1-0 loss in Italy Bellingham was guilty of dropping too deep but, when he did get forward, the teenager made a real difference.
      He played a part in England’s first goal and was fouled by Nico Schlotterbeck for Harry Kane’s penalty, so this will give him some belief.
      Yet Southgate would have been helped over these final two games before Qatar had we seen more from players such as Phil Foden, who has yet to really ignite his international career.
      And we also must hope that Jordan Pickford remains injury-free at the World Cup because if Nick Pope starts in goal, we are in real trouble.
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      At least Rice, with 34 caps, and Bellingham, with 17, appear dependable despite their obvious lack of experience.
      Ahead of linking up with the national team, Bellingham made his 100th appearance for Dortmund in the 1-0 win over local rivals Schalke.
      The midfield ace is not exactly short of confidence. Privately, he feels he should already have featured more in Southgate’s side and was frustrated at playing only a bit-part in Euro 2020.
      At Wembley last night, the Brummie also had a fascinating battle with Ilkay Gundogan — and the pair could be team-mates next season if Manchester City get their way.
      City’s problem is they face competition from Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and crucially, Real Madrid, who fancy their chances of landing £100million-rated whizkid.
      Bellingham, whose style has been likened to Bryan Robson by Gary Lineker, was aged 17 years, four months and 13 days when making his senior debut against Ireland in November 2020.
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      Still, this was only his eighth start — so in Qatar, he will have a lot of growing up to do in terms of international football.
      Against the Germans, Bellingham worked hard and made some crucial blocks while he also hooked the ball away from the boot of Gundogan who had clear sight of goal.
      Yet the problem was that with Germany having so much of the ball — they had 65 per cent possession in the first half — it was difficult for Bellingham to make much of a difference.
      He had his first chance after Gundogan scored Germany’s opener from the spot but blazed over and then delivered another long-range shot but it was an easy save for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
      He then got forward into the box ahead of Luke Shaw pulling one back for 2-1.
      Southgate, often criticised for not changing a game, then saw his subs make a real difference for the leveller with Bukayo Saka feeding Mason Mount for a brilliant goal.
      Bellingham played a part in another goal forcing a foul from Schlotterbeck to earn a penalty, even though he felt the full force of a nasty challenge, which resulted in a yellow card.
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      Kane showed a cool head to score what we thought was a winning penalty before a terrible error from Pope allowed Kai Havertz to score his second of the night and make it 3-3.
      In injury-time, Bellingham made way for Henderson. But the Liverpool captain knows he will have to get used to watching Bellingham take centre stage in midfield.
      Gareth Southgate knows he has a special talent in the form of BellinghamCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      in Soccer

      Give Gareth Southgate some slack, critics.. England were a penalty shootout away from being European champions under him

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      SOME of the flak being aimed at England manager Gareth Southgate has been unfair.After two shocking defeats to Hungary, some of it has also been fair.
      Flak aimed at Gareth Southgate has been ‘unfair’Credit: Getty
      England are without a win in five gamesCredit: Getty
      The Three Lions lost to Italy in Milan and have one game to go before QatarCredit: Getty
      But, whichever side of the Southgate fence you sit on, one fact is undeniable — the national team is in far better shape than it was six years ago when he took over.
      Rewind to 2016 and we had the shambles of a defeat to the might of Iceland, followed by the brief Sam Allardyce reign.
      Let’s face it, we were really the laughing stock of Europe.
      Southgate has transformed the fortunes of the Three Lions and, OK, we haven’t managed to win anything tangible — unlike the Lionesses — but at least we have been contenders, if not champions.
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      A World Cup semi-final, followed by a first appearance in a major final since the heady days of 1966, means progress has been made.
      Southgate doesn’t need me or anyone else to defend him, he is big enough to do that himself but some of the recent sniping has been below the belt.
      This England team may not be feared, but at least it is respected, and a lot of the credit for that must go to the manager.
      Football fans could say Southgate has been lucky in that a stack of talented youngsters are coming through on his watch, yet do you remember the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard?
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      Yes, I do too. And what exactly did we do back then? To borrow a phrase belonging to Norman Stanley Fletcher in Porridge, ‘Naff all Godber, naff all’.
      Jack Grealish has defended Southgate’s record — and who can blame him?
      But I don’t agree with Grealish’s “this is what you get if you’re English” comment.
      I think if any national side of reasonable stature lost 4-0 at home to Hungary then there would be some stick.
      Southgate is a well-balanced human being and he will know that the only guide to managerial success or failure is results.
      His results have been excellent, until recently. That doesn’t make him a bad manager, as his team has lost only 12 games out of 74.
      Southgate is a ‘well-balanced human being’Credit: Getty
      The players can use Southgate’s mangling as a motivator.
      Thumped in the Molineux mauling by the Magyars, they now have the perfect stage to come out fighting for their country and their manager.
      Only Harry Kane seems certain of his starting place when we kick off our World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21 — and the striker’s 50 goals in 73 international appearances suggests Southgate is right to ink his name in.
      As for the rest, places are up for grabs and surely that must create real competition?
      If we crash out early in Qatar, you can be sure Southgate’s contract until the end of 2024 won’t be worth much. But it is only right we wait to see how he does.
      We were a penalty shootout away from being crowned kings of Europe, so instead of the flak, give Southgate some slack. He earned that much at least.

      IT was a special moment on Thursday as we welcomed Mark Noble back to West Ham as our new sporting director.
      A true legend of the East End, Mark has always been and will always be part of the fabric at West Ham, having made 550 senior appearances across 18 incredible years of devoted service.
      Mark will start his important role in January — a new position which will see him work closely in support of manager David Moyes, as well as the board, providing input, advice and help across the football operation.
      In addition to the role he will play with the men’s and women’s teams, we’re delighted that his new position will see him continue his close affinity with the academy.
      Respected throughout the game, he is undoubtedly one of the crown jewels of our academy, a one-club man who gave his all for the shirt every time he stepped out on to the pitch.
      He will now work tirelessly to ensure the pipeline that has made West Ham renowned throughout the world continues and that we attract, develop and retain great players.
      And importantly, help us build great characters who understand what West Ham stand for.
      Mark Noble will become West Ham’s sporting director in January 2023Credit: Rex
      Anyone who saw Mark take a penalty knows he relishes responsibility and is never flustered under pressure.
      I know from my own dealings with Mark — particularly when we were going through the hugely challenging Covid-19 pandemic — he possesses all the skills, attributes and the right character, to be a huge success.
      Fans know Mark as the man who ran through brick walls for West Ham United and always put the club first.
      What many won’t know about Mark is his business acumen — he’s sharp, entrepreneurial, forward-thinking and knows his own mind.
      He also has that rare knack of being able to speak to anyone from royalty to the man on the street.
      We have huge ambition — on and off the pitch — and Mark will play a key role in helping us achieve great things.
      No one knows our philosophy and the things that make our great club truly special more than him.
      Read More on The Sun
      Mark once said West Ham is not just a football club, it’s a family.
      We are proud as punch that one of the club’s favourite sons is returning in such an important position.
      Noble ‘ran through brick walls’ for West Ham in his playing daysCredit: Rex More

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      in Soccer

      Ivan Toney would have been PERFECT for Man Utd… but if he carries on scoring Chelsea could come calling

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      IVAN TONEY is a good friend of mine so I am very chuffed and pleased he has got his England call-up.It has been a long journey and he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
      Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been called up to the England squad for the first timeCredit: Getty
      Toney has banged in five goals in six Premier League games this seasonCredit: Reuters
      He never made it in the England age groups but he has still played at a really good level for a really long time.
      He left Newcastle and dropped down divisions to prove he could deliver.

      And with the way the England set-up is now, I think his story could become even rarer in years to come so, when we see a story like Ivan’s, we have to champion it.
      There were even a lot of question marks when Brentford bought him from Peterborough but he is a proper finisher and an all-round No 9.
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      Aside from blistering pace, he is good at everything, including his insane penalty record, which Gareth Southgate would have had on his mind after how the Euros ended.
      His Brentford boss Thomas Frank has even said in the past that Ivan should be in the squad purely based on that alone — but he has so many other strings to his bow.
      If he was doing what he is doing now at a more glamorous club we would be waxing lyrical about him.
      But because he is at Brentford, it is a bit more unfashionable.
      Toney scored a hat-trick in Brentford’s 5-2 win over Leeds last time outCredit: Reuters
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      This guy has proven for a few years now that he can do it on the next level.
      I remember Ivan was linked with Arsenal and Manchester United  previously and he would have shone there.
      He would have been a perfect fit for United in terms of what they currently need up front, as well as Arsenal until Gabriel Jesus redefined that role for them.
      If he has the year he will likely have, even Chelsea will be keeping an eye on him.
      He could go there long-term and be a real success under Graham Potter.
      You look at the certain type of striker nowadays, your Darwin Nunez or Erling Haaland who are 6ft-plus and are mobile and can score all different types of goals, you have to put Ivan in that category.
      He has always been a humble kid but he is very confident in his ability and when you score the amount he has over the past two years, you would back yourself.
      And he will certainly back himself to impose his character and personality on this current England squad and training camp under Southgate ahead of the World Cup.
      Troy Deeney believes Chelsea could look to sign Toney at the end of the campaignCredit: Reuters
      If he was doing what he is doing now at a more glamorous club we would be waxing lyrical about him.”Troy Deeney
      What makes me say that is how his game evolved massively simply by playing briefly with Christian Eriksen last season at Brentford.
      He used to come deep a lot and yet a few months with Eriksen saw him stay high on the defender’s shoulder and he grabbed more goals.
      When he is around better players he lifts and raises his own game and being at England will only see him kick on and do more.
      Ivan won’t get intimidated and he will take his game to a whole new level.
      He really will flourish if he is given the time on the pitch by Southgate.
      You’d like to think Southgate is seriously considering Ivan for the World Cup, alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham.
      We all know Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane are already going.
      He has seen enough of them already. So, in these upcoming fixtures you have to give Ivan and Tammy that chance and experience.
      Toney fired in 12 top-flight goals last campaign to help the Bees finish in 13th spotCredit: Getty
      If he has the year he will likely have, Chelsea will be keeping an eye on him.Troy Deeney
      Give them a full game each and see how they do, rather than bringing either on for 20 minutes.
      Give the pair of them a proper challenge and see if they can sustain their club form at international level against two of the very best in Italy and Germany.
      Also, Southgate will be arguably more interested to see how Ivan fits in around this group off the pitch.
      At World Cups, it is more about the culture and how you mix with the lads socially in a different country for almost a month.
      Elsewhere in the squad, there has been a lot of talk about the inclusion of some names who either aren’t in form or haven’t played much this season.
      I am talking of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kalvin Phillips and Ben Chilwell.
      No English player has scored more than Toney in the Premier League this termCredit: Reuters
      But put yourself in the shoes of Southgate. He has never been let down by these players in an England shirt.
      Last time they were in a tournament they lost a final on penalties.
      Why would you now say someone like Maguire needs to be dropped because of some recent poor form for Manchester United, who aren’t playing well themselves?
      If he was at Manchester City and not playing well, when the team was flying, perhaps he needs to be dropped but it is not like that.
      It is fans getting too caught up in the short-term. I can see why Southgate has picked the players he has but he can never win.
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      Even if he picked his squad based on a poll on Twitter, there would still be complaints.
      He will live and die by his decisions but he knows that all too well by now. More

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      in Soccer

      Karren Brady: Graham Potter may be unassuming and understated… but new Chelsea boss’ football will never be boring

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      THE managerial roundabout is swishing around as early as ever with Graham Potter’s appointment at Chelsea the first of the headline hitters.Rob Page jumped on to the moving twirler some while ago but his job as Wales boss has been confirmed with a four-year contract that all but kicks off with the World Cup in November.
      Chelsea have taken a risk by appointing Graham PotterCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Rob Page was recently handed a new Wales contractCredit: Alamy
      For both, those are quite some leaps.
      The actual difference in what they do is enormous — although nothing like as much as that in salaries.
      Page’s £350,000-a-year or so is dwarfed by Potter’s who will be reportedly paid at least that for each FORTNIGHT at Stamford Bridge.
      Neither has ever been a big name, either as a player or a previous managerial job.
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      Page, 48, was a centre-back tough enough to clamber to a season in the Premier League with Watford but generally a sterling member of the lower divisions.
      And 47-year-old Potter’s playing past was not a lot different.

      His career in the Premier League was even briefer than Page’s, a mere now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t eight matches with Southampton and plenty in the hinterland.
      And these fast stats stress the simple truth that you don’t have to be an outstanding player or, for that matter much of a player at all (witness Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and many more) to be a top manager.
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      Indeed, the better the player the harder it becomes.
      Expectations are greater and I must say I also wonder whether many of those possessing God-given, sublime skills are sympathetic enough with the struggles of journeymen pros.
      Potter must be among the most unemotional of coaches.
      By comparison, say, Gareth Southgate is a spitfire and Wenger a dervish.
      Meanwhile, Potter may be boiling or bubbling inside but merely strokes his beard.
      He and Page are successful representatives of those un-managers (unassertive, unassuming, understated and understanding) upon whom so many clubs depend.
      For all their low-key backgrounds, though, the football they promote is anything but boring.
      At Stamford Bridge, for the first time in his career, Potter will be working with superstars while Page, for all that he is an international team boss, has had only limited experience of high-octane performers.
      These include Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for whom he has succeeded in providing a relaxed atmosphere away from sometimes stormy club life.
      Wales’ recent achievements suggest Ryan Giggs has not been missed at all.
      No doubt Potter’s people, fans at Brighton, players and employers, would say something similar.
      Technically, he remains an innovator.
      His approval here comes from Pep Guardiola, who commented: “Brighton are a joy to watch, a joy to analyse… his players move with freedom and everyone knows what they have to do.
      “They have the courage to play everywhere.”
      There are, I suspect, challenging times ahead for Potter and Chelsea.
      To be honest, I can’t really wish them particular luck.
      But I can Page and Wales.
      They took Giggs’ absence in their stride, reached the Euro 2020 knockout phase and then qualified for the Qatar World Cup.
      For a country of rugby obsession, Wales have an exceptional record of good footballers, admittedly a few of whom qualified because grandpa passed through Cardiff one day.
      Not Page, though.
      Read More on The Sun
      He comes from the coalfield village of Tylorstown, once the home of world flyweight champ Jimmy Wilde, famous as ‘the ghost with the hammer in his hand’.
      The Rhondda will ring to Page’s name, too, should Wales wield the hammer to England in Qatar. More

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      in Soccer

      Dave Kidd: There’s NO chance Southgate will drop Maguire for World Cup opener… Slabhead’s England spot is concrete

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      WHEN England face Iran in their World Cup opener in Qatar, just ten weeks from now, the smart money is on Harry Maguire being in the starting line-up.Such a decision might be met with howls of derision across the land.
      Harry Maguire is in line to keep his England spot, despite being dropped at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      It will doubtless be regarded as a sign that Gareth Southgate is pig-headed, out-of-touch and past his sell-by date as England manager.
      But Southgate’s loyalty towards Maguire is cast-iron.
      The England boss has been licking his wounds for three months since the 4-0 humiliation by Hungary at Molineux capped a miserable winless four-match Nations League run in June.
      This Thursday, he will name his squad for clashes with Italy, on Friday week, and Germany, the following Monday, which represent England’s final matches before the weird, disorientating and utterly corrupt mid-season World Cup.
      Read More In Football
      And Manchester United’s troubled captain seems certain to be included — despite his axing by club boss Erik ten Hag.
      When Maguire has started this season, United’s record reads played three, lost three.
      When he has been excluded, Ten Hag’s men have played four, won four.
      Yet for Southgate, old Slabhead remains untouchable.­
      Most read in Football
      That defeat by Hungary was England’s biggest home defeat in 94 years and easily the worst night of Southgate’s six-year reign.
      And one of the loudest groans came when he introduced Maguire as a late sub, after John Stones had been sent off and Hungary had scored their third goal.
      Maguire, once a man-of-the-people cult hero among England fans, is now treated with extraordinary levels of contempt.
      He was booed by large sections of the Wembley crowd before the friendly against Ivory Coast in March and even as far away as Melbourne, during a United pre-season friendly in July.
      So why is Maguire afforded apparently special treatment by Southgate, who has previously claimed he would only choose those playing regularly for their clubs?
      Well, it’s not as if there are a whole host of in-form English central defenders.
      Eric Dier, who has been consistently excellent in Spurs’ back three, will receive a long overdue recall.
      Maguire, once a man-of-the-people cult hero among England fans, is now treated with extraordinary levels of contempt.
      Especially as Southgate may revert to a back three for Qatar.
      And Stones, suspended for next week’s trip to Milan, is being included more frequently in Manchester City’s starting line-up.
      But beyond those two, Ben White is playing for Arsenal at right-back — the one position in which Southgate is already famously well-stocked.
      And the other two centre-backs in the Euros squad last year were Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady.
      Mings has been stripped of the Aston Villa captaincy, while Wolves’ Coady has been loaned to Everton.
      Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace and AC Milan’s Italian title-winner Fikayo Tomori are both in the mix but neither were particularly impressive for England in June, when Southgate rightly claimed Maguire had been his best centre-half.
      Apart from this scarcity of potential replacements, Southgate has always remained remarkably loyal to those who started regularly during the 2018 World Cup.
      Seven of his Russian starting XI lined up against Germany in Munich in June and Jordan Henderson might have been an eighth, if available.
      Maguire was also included in Uefa’s Team of the Tournament for last summer’s Euros — despite missing the opening two matches through injury.
      Many of us had questioned Southgate’s decision to name an unfit player — a failing of previous overly loyal England managers — but Maguire proved his boss spectacularly right.
      It isn’t true that Maguire has never let England down — his early sending-off in a Nations League home defeat by Denmark came just weeks after he was arrested on holiday in Greece, causing him to be axed from Southgate’s squad.
      But by and large, Maguire has been excellent for his country.
      And however badly England ended last season, Southgate is easily his nation’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.
      He has fully earned the right to do things his way in Qatar.
      And that will mean a prominent role for Maguire, despite the booing mob.
      Southgate is a long-term manager with a long memory, in an age of knee-jerk short-termism.
      If he fails in Qatar, he will fail on his own terms — with Maguire in his team.

      VAR FROM OK ABROAD TOO
      JUST as VAR-devotees will tell you the system is not to blame, only the people who operate it, they will back up their claim by insisting it is only a shambles in England.
      So they’ll be hoping you haven’t seen the injury-time chaos in Sunday’s Serie A clash between Juventus and Salernitana.
      A 96th-minute ‘winner’ by Juve’s Arkadiusz Milik was incorrectly ruled out for offside by VAR, when a defender lurking by the corner flag, clearly playing everyone on, was somehow not spotted by the remote official.
      In the ensuing furore, Juve boss Max Allegri and three players were sent off.
      So, yeah, the system is fine, it’s just our incompetent muppets to blame — there’s nothing to see elsewhere.

      B&B A 5-STAR
      IT’S difficult to recall any change of management of any team, in any sport, having such a dramatically positive effect as Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as coach and captain of England’s Test cricketers.
      After one victory in 17 matches under the old regime, England have won six out of seven this summer — many in thrilling, record-breaking style.
      It was ludicrous that moderately bad light stopped play on Sunday, with England 33 runs short of victory against South Africa.
      Yet several thousand still turned out on a Monday morning to watch 25 minutes of cricket — testament to the public appreciation of this team and Test cricket itself.
      Perhaps the ECB can now stop obsessing about The Hundred and start prioritising the sport’s original, and best, format.

      NO PREM NET GAIN
      AS Premier League clubs had a larger net summer spend than the other four major European leagues put together, they should be dominating continental club competitions.
      Yet English teams have lifted only one of the last seven major trophies and, in last week’s openers, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all lost.
      Spanish clubs won nine trophies out of ten between 2014-18, without enjoying overall financial dominance.
      It would be unspeakably dull if Premier League sides lived up to their financial might — but they are falling way, way short.

      FA OFF ON ONE
      AFTER being widely panned for calling off all football at the weekend, while other sports carried on, the FA are sticking to their guns.
      So, while Gareth Southgate will still name his England squad on Thursday for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany, he will not hold his usual media interviews.
      Some of the decisions over what is or isn’t ‘disrespectful’ during the period of national mourning for the Queen have been farcical — such as the closing of a bicycle rack in Norwich.
      But the FA’s paranoia is extreme.
      Read More on The Sun
      NEXT week marks the first anniversary of Jimmy Greaves’ death.
      And if you’d like to read about English football’s greatest scorer’s life by those who knew him best, then I’d heartily recommend The Jimmy Greaves We Knew, collated by Mike Donovan. More

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      in Motorsport

      Ben Hunt: Rift between F1 and sport’s governing body getting wider and wider… and Monza shambles won’t help

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      THE FIA’s handling of the Italian Grand Prix can only have driven a bigger wedge between Formula One and the sport’s governing body.It is a curious relationship where they both currently need each other to function — but there is a growing feeling that a divorce is on the cards.
      F1 and the FIA are heading in different directions and the Monza GP won’t helpCredit: Getty
      A little bit of background: the FIA were founded in 1904 and have their headquarters in Paris.
      And unlike Fifa, who oversee just football, the FIA are responsible for all motorsport categories.
      They ensure the rules are in place and adhered to, issue racing licences and are responsible for the safety of drivers and spectators.
      F1, meanwhile, are owned by American company Liberty Media, who own the licence to stage the championship, generating profit from deals with circuits, sponsors and TV companies.
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      They are responsible for paying the teams their prize money.
      However, the relationship between F 1 and the FIA has become increasingly strained, despite being bound together in a deal that was struck with their previous chiefs.
      In 1995, ex-F 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone agreed a 100-year contract with then FIA president Max Mosley to acquire the F 1 commercial rights from the FIA.
      Those rights have since been sold to Liberty Media, who are now bound by those same legal terms agreed by Ecclestone and Mosley.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Yet it is not currently a happy marriage.
      The stench from the end of the 2021 season and the FIA’s bungling of the outcome to the championship in Abu Dhabi was embarrassing for F 1.
      Liberty have worked hard to encourage new fans to follow the sport but the poor handling harmed the sport’s reputation.
      The weak result of the FIA’s own investigation — published on the eve of the Bahrain GP — was equally unhelpful, despite replacing Michael Masi as race director.
      There is also the curious relationship between the F 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
      The latter has put himself on the podium more times than Lewis Hamilton this season and is always front and centre of every presentation, unlike predecessor Jean Todt.
      His tough stance on banning jewellery threatened to overshadow F 1’s new Miami Grand Prix earlier in the season.
      Even more annoying for F 1 was his resistance to their proposal to introduce sprint qualifying races.
      The short-race format on Saturday’s to determine the grid is a hit with fans and promoters, while the teams are supportive, too.
      But the president has dug his heels in over the matter and is widely believed to be seeking compensation from F 1.
      For the time being, F 1 have not found an exit in their legal contract with the FIA but with teams now adding their weight to the strained relationship, maybe Liberty Media will be forced to start rethinking their options.
      In their defence, the FIA have been trying to apply the rules as they see fit, using a book of regulations that have been amended and changed over the years to suit.
      The best thing they could do now would be to rip up the old rulebook and come up with a new one in time for next season.
      As for Ben Sulayem — who insists on being called ‘Mr President’ — he is obviously enjoying himself and the associated power.
      He surely needs to put the vanity aside and focus on getting his house in order.
      Otherwise, there could be no other option but for teams to force a breakaway series under a new name.

      BRIT KID BEARS SCARS
      BRIT whizkid Oliver Bearman was denied a Formula Three title shot in Monza because stewards stopped the finale with under five laps to go.
      Bearman, 17, had battled into second when the red flag came out — and the race never resumed due to scheduling.
      Ironically, the stewards could have allowed it to play out in the time they decided the outcome of the championship, which eventually went to Victor Martins.
      The Frenchman was crowned, despite a five-second time penalty for four track limits violations in Italy.
      Prema Racing hotshot Bearman had been chasing Zane Maloney for the victory, which would have secured him the title but the  premature end to the race saw him end the season in third place.

      NAKED TRUTH
       POOR Sky F 1 Germany presenter Sandra Baumgartner stumbled into a naked Dutchman in Monza.
      A group of Max Verstappen fans had built a makeshift grandstand out of some scaffolding.
      But circuit chiefs moved in to confiscate the structure and, when Baumgartner arrived on the scene, she was greeted by a man in the nude and his inflatable bath.

      ROSSI SEES RED
       ALPINE chief executive Laurent Rossi is fuming at missing out on signing Oscar Piastri — despite admitting his team bungled his contract.
      The Aussie joined McLaren for next season after Rossi revealed he was “leaving the door ajar for him”, which Piastri walked through and negotiated a better deal.

      REMEMBERING HER MAJESTY
      THE MotoGP World Championship will observe a minute of silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II during the Aragon Grand Prix in Spain on Sunday.
      The race at the Motorland circuit takes place the day before Her Majesty’s state funeral in London from 11am. More

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      in Soccer

      Troy Deeney: Players are gossips… the Chelsea lads will be grilling Cucurella to find out exactly what Potter is like

      by

      HOWEVER many times a footballer has seen a change of manager, it is always a period of confusion, uncertainty and excitement.I obviously experienced plenty of managerial changes at Watford and Chelsea’s longer-serving players will be exactly the same.
      Chelsea stars will be asking Cucurella what new boss Potter is likeCredit: PA
      The Englishman has signed a five-year deal at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA
      Troy Deeney gives the lowdown on how Chelsea’s squad will get to grips with their new bossCredit: Getty
      When Graham Potter was appointed as Chelsea boss this week, players’ phones will have been going crazy.
      The players’ WhatsApp group will have been buzzing and there will have been calls and messages from friends, family, agents and others in the game.
      Everyone just wants to know what the new man is like and every player will know others who have played under their new boss and they will be mining them for information.
      Players talk and message all the time. We’re gossips. You can bet everyone at Chelsea will have been asking Marc Cucurella about Potter, as he played for their new manager at Brighton last season.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      There are also former Chelsea players at Brighton, such as Tariq Lamptey and on-loan Levi Colwill. They will be inundated with messages.
      More than anything, the players will have been desperate to meet the new manager and find out what he is all about — to get rid of that feeling of uncertainty.
      And the first two weeks are always crucial.
      That’s the length of time a group of players will need to know whether they rate their new boss.
      Most read in Football
       So a win or two in that time is always massive because winning disguises any problems that might exist.
      There will be a lot of new information about patterns of play, about new training routines.
      Players will always want to know their timetables, whether they will have more or less time off — not that those in the Champions League will have much time at all, especially this season.
      But if Potter told them to arrive at 9am on his first morning, you can bet that every one of them will be at the training ground by 8.30am.
      There’s always a team meeting where the new boss will lay out his philosophy, his rules, the way he will run things — and even if you’ve been through a dozen managers, they are all different.
       Potter is bringing his Brighton backroom staff with him, so that’s another four or five individuals for all the Chelsea players to get to know, as they are also key to the mood of a training ground.
      Players who haven’t been in the team will see it as a fresh start, a clean slate.
      The players’ WhatsApp group will have been buzzing and there will have been calls and messages from friends, family, agents and others in the game.Troy Deeney
      While others will be wondering whether they fit into the new man’s way of playing. Potter is such an interesting appointment for Chelsea.
      It is a really promising one for English coaches, a lot of whom will have imagined that a job managing one of the ‘Big Six’ would always be beyond them.
      Some of the players will feel confused because I don’t think they will have been expecting Thomas Tuchel to be sacked so soon in the new season.
      But even those who liked and respected Tuchel will quickly forget about him.
      People often don’t like to hear it but football is a cut-throat business and even a manager who has won a European Cup, like Tuchel, is yesterday’s man already.
      Football is a cut-throat business and can even see European Cup winners like Thomas Tuchel get the axeCredit: Alamy
      Deeney hopes Todd Boehly is patient with his managersCredit: Rex
      Potter is inheriting Tuchel’s squad which has seen huge investment on the likes of Wesley FofanaCredit: Rex
      Some will be sceptical of Potter because he hasn’t got the elite-level CV that most Chelsea managers arrived with at Stamford Bridge.
      And Potter will be dealing with a different level of egos to what he has experienced at Brighton and before.
      Others will know a lot about his time at Brighton and I think Chelsea’s England players — like Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell and Reece James — will recognise a manager with similar methods to Gareth Southgate.
      Potter was talked about as Southgate’s natural successor before he got the Chelsea job.
      But that will be the last thing on his mind now he has got this amazing opportunity.
      He has inherited a squad of players he could only have dreamt about at Brighton and he will be pinching himself, I’m sure.
      But he deserves this crack at a big job. I just hope the new ownership, under Todd Boehly, will be a lot more patient with their managers than Roman Abramovich often was.
      He has inherited a squad of players he could only have dreamt about at Brighton and he will be pinching himself, I’m sure.Troy Deeney
      The fact that Potter has been given a five-year contract is a good indication that they intend to be.
      And it helps Potter that Chelsea made so many summer signings.
      I think the timing is good for him because he won’t feel like he is inheriting ‘Tuchel’s team’ as such.
      There are six new signings who had hardly got used to his predecessor.
      Yet it is all about results at a big club.
      Potter had some poor runs at Brighton but because expectations were lower, he was able to ride those out.
      Supporters may be more difficult to win over than players.
       It’s fair to say that Chelsea’s fanbase isn’t the easiest to convince.
      Many fans may feel Potter is ‘beneath’ them.

      Players are less likely than supporters to turn their noses up at a manager because he isn’t a ‘celebrity’ name.
      But they will make their minds up about Potter soon, so those early impressions count — big time. More