Sports Calendar

Johnson and Dann put case for the defence

Polished young Birmingham City duo deserve to be acclaimed the best players of the Premier League so far this season

Liverpool should take chance to cash in on Gerrard

Anfield club can no longer afford prima donna captain whose brilliance constrains some of those around him, says Patrick Barclay

Liverpool miss Europe's big business

Rafael Benitez's struggling side have been supplanted by the likes of Chelsea and Inter Milan in European competition

Idea of British players cheating is foreign

Just as the war criminals are always on the losing side, the cheats are always foreigners as far as the fans are concerned

Indian summer lets Giggs bask in respect

Manchester United player, who has an air of eternal youth, is in the best form of his career, says his manager

Clubs must tackle curse of agents

The revelation that agents were paid £71m is scandalous and the FA should do its duty and banish them, says Patrick Barclay

Can Beckham succeed where Moore failed?

The modern icon of the English game has made his way to South Africa and is sprinkling his stardust on the World Cup bid

English thread informs story of Capello's successor

Italian has improved England’s World Cup prospects but, Patrick Barclay writes, he is not the only manager who could lead the team

Football must go back to the future

As Michael Knighton wooed the crowd, the Manchester United board of the day found its salvation in tradition

Gibbs qualities are clear before setback

Arsenal manager was furious when asked about Theo Walcott’s World Cup chances, so mention full back’s England potential quietly

Priorities wrong when tackling diving debate

No-one can deny that simulation is a curse on the game of football, but how can it be compared to serious foul play?

Kneejerk reactions to mode of defeat shameful

For Irish to react to an unlucky defeat by falsely accusing it is to make a bad situation worse and sets bad example to children

Video replays a must for World Cup

Patrick Barclay says there can be no debate now – technology will have to be brought in for the 2010 finals in South Africa

Shadow team eases Capello dilemma

No wonder England manager looked relieved after Brazil defeat: his task of picking 23 players for the World Cup is now much easier

Brazil? England v Qatar in World Cup is harder

The FA could be up against new wealth and ambition in the fight to stage the World Cup. It would be an unequal battle

Grounds for appeal against name game fans hate

Mike Ashley's decision to rename St James' Park is an issue that deserves our attention and condemnation

Defeat at arch-rivals hits Ferguson hard

Manchester United’s title hopes suffer big blow despite playing well at Stamford Bridge, says Patrick Barclay