'A fiery type' and 'a fantastic goalscorer' - Sunderland's most underrated players
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Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tom Brady hits out at Wayne Rooney's 'work ethic' in stunning behind-the-scenes footage as NFL icon shares 'lackadaisical' fear during Man United legend's doomed spell at Birmingham City
Wayne Rooney 's work ethic and 'lackadaisical' approach was of concern to Birmingham City chiefs including minority owner Tom Brady. The remarkable admission from the NFL legend has been revealed in an upcoming five-part Amazon Prime series 'Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues'. In it, Brady admits to being worried about the dedication of the Manchester United legend during his disastrous spell at St Andrews. Rooney was sacked in January last year, lasting just 15 matches in the Blues' dugout. Under his management, the Blues took 10 points from a possible 45, losing nine and winning just two. The fly-on-the-wall documentary, being released on Friday, shows Brady visiting the Birmingham training ground to observe Rooney's team meeting and training session. While driving away, he tells his business manager Ben Rawitz: 'I'm a little worried about our head coach's work ethic.' Rawitz replies: 'Comes across as lackadaisical.' Rooney began in management immediately after his playing days were over, hanging up his boots while playing in the Championship for Derby to take the reins at Pride Park. Manchester United's all-time leading scorer received plaudits for the work he did in extremely challenging circumstances, with the club struggling to compete amid their mountain of financial issues. The 39-year-old then made the surprise move to MLS and coached another of his former sides, DC United. But he lasted just 12 months Stateside - half the time he spent in charge of the Rams - as interest in his services came from the newly minted Blues. Birmingham - backed by the riches of Knighthead Capital and boasting Brady as an investor - replaced the beloved John Eustace with the former England hero, even though the club was pushing for a play-off spot. Rather predictably, this proved to be a massive mistake. The documentary also sees Brady admit his error in replacing Eustace with the former England international and reveal that he was warned against making 'sweeping changes' so early in his time with the club. 'I had good advice, "Don't go in there and make sweeping changes. You guys have time",' said Brady. 'But we made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing.' The former quarterback, famed for putting his American football career above all else in his life, did not spare Birmingham's players from his wrath as they suffered relegation from the Championship in Knighthead Capital's first season in the Midlands. Brady also admitted his error in replacing John Eustace and revealed that he was warned against making 'sweeping changes' 'We were trying to make Birmingham a world-class team - but it's been a s*** year,' added Brady. 'They were lazy and entitled, which doesn't give you much chance to succeed.' Following his miserable Birmingham experience, Rooney threw himself into another managerial gig, this time with struggling second-tier outfit Plymouth Argyle. He fared slightly better on the south coast but that only proves to reinforce how bad his time in the west Midlands was. Rooney managed five wins in 25 matches and all but condemned the Pilgrims to relegation last season. After his St Andrews exit in 2024, Rooney put forward a reason for his poor managerial record, highlighting just how little time he had in the hotseat. 'Football is a results business - and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be,' he wrote in a statement. 'However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.'
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan to start in final Lions Test against Australia
Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan have been named to start for the British & Irish Lions in their third Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday as Andy Farrell's side seek to wrap up a series whitewash. Kinghorn is selected on the left wing with James Lowe dropping out of the 23 while Ryan replaces Ollie Chessum, who has been named on the bench. Kinghorn impressed as a replacement in the last-gasp victory in Melbourne last week and though he is a fullback by trade, he often appears on the wing for Toulouse. Ryan also caught the eye off the bench at the MCG and comes into the starting XV alongside Maro Itoje, who continues as captain. Ryan is one of nine Ireland players selected along with Tadhg Furlong who will equal Alun Wyn Jones in starting nine consecutive Tests for the Lions. Itoje will also appear in his ninth straight Lions Test, having made his debut off the bench in New Zealand in 2017. Lowe pays the price for indifferent form in the first two Tests but Farrell has resisted making wholesale changes to his side which will bid to become the first to complete a series whitewash since 1927 and the first to go unbeaten since 1974. It means that Sione Tuipulotu again misses out with Bundee Aki and Huw Jones keeping their places in midfield. It is unclear whether Joe McCarthy was deemed fit to play, having missed the second Test with a foot injury, but Ryan is rewarded for his form of late after a slow start to the tour. On the bench, Owen Farrell is again selected as part of a 6-2 split with Ben Earl also recalled, having missed out in Melbourne. Up front Furlong is joined by Leinster teammates Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter again while Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan keep their places in the back-row. Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell are again the halfbacks while Tommy Freeman stays on the right wing and Hugo Keenan is once more named at fullback after his last-minute try sealed the series win last week. On the bench, Ellis Genge, Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart again provide front-row cover while Chessum, Jac Morgan and Earl complete the forwards contingent. Joining Farrell among the backs is Alex Mitchell, who has now been named in every squad on the tour. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'We have put ourselves in a great position to finish this Tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history,' Andy Farrell said. 'Last weekend's Test match in Melbourne was an incredible spectacle and illustrated how special Lions Tours are and what they mean to both the players and the supporters. We are expecting another epic battle this weekend against a Wallaby side that showed their quality last week.'
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
British athletes battle for Worlds places at trials
Britain's top athletes will compete in Birmingham this weekend for a place at the World nation's stars will target a top-two finish at the UK Athletics Championships which, combined with a World Athletics entry standard, will guarantee a place in the squad for medallists Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Georgia Hunter Bell are among those in action on Saturday and Sunday, but are each assured of selection by virtue of their achievements last 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is among the notable absentees as she continues her recovery from injury, and faces a race against time to prove her fitness for the championships which take place in Japan's capital from 13-21 live coverage of the UK Athletics Championships on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, and the BBC Sport website and app on Saturday and Sunday. How athletes qualify for Tokyo - and what about Hodgkinson? For most athletes competing at this weekend's British trials, the equation is simple.A top-two finish in their respective event in Birmingham, accompanied by a World Athletics entry standard achieved since 1 August 2024, will confirm their place in is guaranteed for individual medallists from the 2024 Olympics and 2023 World Championships, and those who have been awarded a World Athletics wildcard - providing they have demonstrated "current form that gives confidence in their ability to fulfil the performance objectives of the championships".According to UK Athletics, this involves "an assessment of the athlete's performances and performance consistency during the 2025 outdoor season". Hodgkinson has not competed since winning gold at Paris 2024 almost 12 months having achieved the World Athletics entry standard with her performance at last summer's Games, the 23-year-old will focus on proving her fitness in the final weeks before the British squad is announced on 27 two-time world silver medallist suffered a hamstring tear in February and setbacks have further delayed her return in a frustrating start to her reign as Olympic Hudson-Smith and George Mills also miss the trials, where permission to not compete is only granted in the case of illness or an those who fail to finish inside the top two this weekend, and a maximum of three athletes per nation permitted to contest each individual event, remaining places may be awarded to those with a World Athletics entry standard, UKA Consideration Standard, or based on performances in designated competitions. Athletes and events to watch out for in Birmingham In Hodgkinson's absence, training partner Hunter Bell is entered in both the 800m and 1500m as she considers which event to target in Olympic 1500m bronze medallist is joined by Jemma Reekie in the 800m, while the 1500m also features Laura Muir, Revee Walcott-Nolan and Katie is also fierce in the men's middle-distance events, with Max Burgin and Ben Pattison headlining the men's 800m, and Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley among the 1500m 1500m champion Kerr takes the opportunity to race over 5,000m, with teenage star Innes FitzGerald in the women's race. In the sprints, Dina Asher-Smith contests the women's 200m, with Daryll Neita and Amy Hunt doubling up by adding the Azu and Zharnel Hughes are among those aiming for glory in the men's events, with Louie Hinchliffe focusing his attention on retaining his 100m Dobson is favourite to retain his 400m title in the absence of Hudson-Smith, as is world indoor champion Amber Anning in the women's the field events, high jumper Morgan Lake will seek to continue her good form following her London Diamond League victory, while Molly Caudery is in pole vault is entered in the 100m hurdles, javelin and shot put as she builds towards her bid for a third world the World Para Athletics Championships taking place in New Delhi, India, from 26 September, Kare Adenegan, Zachary Shaw and Sophie Hahn are among the British stars also in action. How to watch UK Athletics Championships on the BBC All times BSTSaturday, 2 August11:20 - 19:30 Uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app11:20 - 14:50 & 17:00 - 19:30 Live coverage on Red ButtonSunday, 3 August11:20 - 17:00 Uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app11:20 - 16:45 Live coverage on Red ButtonView the full entry lists here [external]., external
