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martedì 29 settembre 2015
Joe Johnson on Deron Williams's Nets buyout: 'It's not that bad here'
It's fair to say that Deron Williams's time with the Brooklyn Nets did not go nearly as well as planned. After joining the franchise for the final few months of the 2010-2011 season with the expectation of becoming the main attraction for the team's 2012 move from New Jersey to New York's hippest borough, Williams suffered a steep drop in form amid injuries and some disappointing finishes for one of the NBA's most expensive rosters. Those struggles became most egregious in each of the past two postseasons, when Williams could not come through in big spots and even went scoreless in an Eastern Conference Semifinals game against the Miami Heat. The successes were all too rare and drove the still only 31-year-old point guard to reach a buyout agreement this offseason that freed him to join his hometown Dallas Mavericks.
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Despite those struggles, one of Williams's former teammates does not understand why he was so intent on leaving Brooklyn. At Nets media day on Monday, Joe Johnson expressed confusion over the departure. From Roderick Boone for Newsday:
"What did he have, like two years left on his deal?" Johnson said Monday at Nets media day. "I don't know if he wanted the buyout, if they just bought him out. I don't know. I'm just saying if he wanted to get bought out, I don't think it was that big of a deal, that bad. That's just me."
Johnson said he hasn't spoken to Williams since he left, something that offered insight into their relationship. A moody Williams often alienated himself from his Nets teammates, including Johnson. [...]
"Honestly, I didn't know what was going to happen -- if I was going to get traded, if he was going to get traded," Johnson said. "I didn't really know. But I didn't see that coming. I didn't see that coming, him getting bought out. I don't think it was that bad. It's not that bad here, so to be wanting to get bought out, I couldn't really put my fingers around that one.
"But I hear that he's happy, so that's the most important thing for him. He's back at home. So good for him."
First, let's address Johnson's choice of words. Saying that the experience of playing with the Nets is "not that bad" suggests that it is in fact somewhat bad, albeit not terrible enough to give up millions of dollars for the sake of free agency. It's as if the Nets are the NBA equivalent of having to move in with your in-laws. Sure, it's nice to have a babysitter on hand whenever you need one, but does Lionel Hollins your father-in-law really have to question your career earning potential at every available opportunity?
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At any rate, Johnson is not exactly wrong here. The Williams buyout came as a surprise to outsiders — a high-profile deal to cut salary was very likely but it seemed as if Johnson would be the more movable player given his skillset and a contract that expires this offseason. Williams's decision made things much easier on the Nets, naturally, especially considering that his performance relative to expectations had the potential to turn into an ever-present issue and media distraction.
Ultimately, it's that context that makes Johnson seem not so much on target as experiencing a failure of empathy. Like Williams, he came to the Nets with several All-Star selections and a reputation as a productive player. Unlike his former backcourt partner, Johnson had already been tabbed as overpaid after signing a massive nine-figure deal with the Atlanta Hawks that became one of the league's worst contracts as soon as he signed it in July 2010. He was brought to Brooklyn to be a piece of an excellent starting lineup and not its leading star, a factor that by itself ensured that he would never receive the same amount of criticism as Williams. The Nets were a disappointment as a whole, but no one took as much of the blame as their point guard. It was deserved, to be sure, but it's also easy to understand why he would have been uncomfortable.
A quick glance at Williams's preseason comments from Dallas clarify the situation even more. From Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com:
"I want to prove myself wrong," Williams said Monday during the Mavericks' media day. "I started to doubt myself in the past. Mentally, it took a toll on me. I just got to get out of that rut that I was in the last couple years mentally, and I look forward to this situation. [...]
"Talking to [owner Mark Cuban] and talking to coach [Rick Carlisle], that's kind of the plan, just hitting that reset button, clearing my head and getting away from the situation that wasn't going well for me or the team in Brooklyn," said Williams, who cited having four head coaches in three and a half seasons as another factor in his underwhelming stint with the Nets. "It's a total change coming here.
"Let what happened in Brooklyn be in the past and move forward. It's over and done with. I'm a Maverick, and I'm excited to play with the group we have and for Coach Carlisle."
Whether Williams alienated himself from Johnson and other teammates or not, his desire to leave the Nets two years before the end of his contract is not a grand mystery. The reasoning should be evident to anyone willing to consider his point of view.
- - - - - - -
Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
- Sports & Recreation
- Basketball
- Deron Williams
- Brooklyn Nets
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Special night for d'Arnaud brothers in Phillies' win over Mets
Chase and Travis d'Arnaud will probably be talking for years to come about the breaking ball Chase struck out on in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday.
Chase d'Arnaud was pinch-hitting for the Phillies with Travis catching for the visiting Mets and Jonathon Niese on the mound. It was the first time the two brothers, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, played against each other in the major leagues.It also was the first time they had played against each other since both were in the minor leagues in 2009.
Chase d'Arnaud might howl for years that his brother didn't give him a fastball to hit during his at-bat. However, Chase d'Arnaud got the last laugh watching his brother strike out for the final out in the Phillies' 4-3 victory.
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Travis d'Arnaud is the younger brother at 26, but he is the more experienced at the major league level having played for the Mets in parts of the past three seasons, including much of the second half of this season. Chase d'Arnaud is a 28-year-old infielder for the Phillies who was called up earlier this month. He had played in the majors in parts of three previous seasons all for Pittsburgh but still hasn't reached the 100-game milestone. The Daily News talked with both before the game.
Travis seems well on his way to earning more time at the big league level behind the plate. It remains to be seen if he sticks for the longterm and if Chase can do the same. Tuesday's meeting might have been just the first of many more to come.
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Regardless of what the future holds for both, Tuesday's encounter in the seventh inning will at least be a special memory for them, even though it ended with Chase heading back to the dugout as the second out of the frame. He took a peek back at his brother and smiled.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
- - - - - - -
Kyle Ringo is a contributing writer to Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at kyle.ringo@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo
- Baseball
- Sports & Recreation
- Phillies
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FC Porto 2-1 Chelsea
FC Porto v Chelsea
Maicon headed in the winner for Porto
29 September 2015 Last updated at 22:27
By Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport
Chelsea's poor start to the season continued as they were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.
Andre Andre gave Porto the lead, volleying in after Asmir Begovic pushed away Yacine Brahimi's effort.
Midfielder Willian equalised on the stroke of half-time with a superb free-kick from the edge of the area.
Maicon put the home side ahead again with a flicked header at the front post, before Diego Costa rattled the bar with a curling shot.
Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas and Pedro both forced Spain team-mate Iker Casillas - making a record 152nd appearance in the competition - into saves early on.
But despite their early pressure, and a late penalty claim for a handball by Ivan Marcano, they came away from the Estadio do Dragao with nothing.
Problems at the back
Yacine Brahimi (8) caused Branislav Ivanovic (2) plenty of problems and skinned him for the first goal
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sprung a surprise before kick-off by leaving out last year's PFA player of the year Eden Hazard, who has struggled for form this season. On-loan striker Radamel Falcao failed to even make the bench against his old side.
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfield duo Willian and Ramires - who both came on and scored in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle at the weekend - were named in the starting side, as was striker Diego Costa, currently serving a domestic suspension.
But it was in defence that the Blues looked to have the biggest problems when the Portuguese league leaders went ahead six minutes before half-time. Full-back Branislav Ivanovic's problematic season continued when he was too easily beaten by Algerian Brahimi in the lead-up to Andre's goal.
Mourinho described his side's first-half performance against the Magpies as "minus one out of 10" and this tie looked to be heading the same away until Willian levelled with a curling free-kick.
Chelsea have conceded the second most goals (14) in the Premier League this season, and Jolen Lopetegui's Porto underlined the London club's problems at the back as Maicon lost his marker to reach a near-post corner and head past Begovic's front post. Danilo also hit the post from another set piece.
Mourinho magic wearing off?
Toiling in 15th place in the defence of their Premier League title, eight points behind leaders Manchester United, Mourinho's side have now suffered five defeats in 11 games across all competitions this season.
The Portuguese manager has had disagreements with the media and differences with his coaching staff as his team have stuttered so far domestically, and Mourinho's troubles appeared to have poured over into Europe.
Mourinho's side easily defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in their opening group game and Chelsea might have taken a point from a hardworking Porto side.
But they saw efforts either hit the woodwork or deflected wide, while Marcano appeared to handle the ball in the area, as Mourinho, who has won the competition with Porto and Inter Milan, saw his team defeated at his former club.
Man of the match - Yacine Brahimi
Algerian midfielder Yacine Brahimi gave Blues full-back Branislav Ivanovic a torrid evening with his pace and trickery. In defence, he also won the ball back nine times, the joint-most of any Porto player
'Two ridiculous moments cost us'
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "We watch dozens and dozens of repetitions of Porto taking corners. We were completely ready for that and in a moment when the game is under control we concede a goal that is ridiculous.
"They hit the post from a similar mistake. Apart from that, the game was balanced. Two ridiculous moments and we were punished."
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui: "The players attitude was amazing, spectacular. It was our best performance of the season. I have to congratulate my team. This three points are totally deserved. It was tough and unfair to go to the dressing room at half-time with a draw, but we reacted well."
The stats you need to know
- Chelsea have lost more games this season (5) than in the whole of last season
- The Blues suffered their first defeat in 10 European matches against Portuguese opposition, with their last defeat also against Porto
- Mourinho's side have conceded 18 goals this season - last season, they conceded their 18th goal on 10 December
- Midfielder Willian scored from a direct free-kick for the third game running
- Porto have scored in each of their past 12 Champions League games
What next?
Chelsea face a tricky home game against Southampton on Saturday, while they come up against Dynamo Kiev in their third Group F game in the Champions League on 20 October.
Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)
FC Porto
- 12 Casillas
- 02 Maxi Pereira
- 04 Maicon
- 05 Marcano Sierra Booked
- 03 Martins Indi Booked
- 20 Brás André (Layun - 80' )
- 22 Hélio Pereira Booked
- 06 da Silva Neves (Goebel - 78' )
- 25 Imbula Booked
- 08 Brahimi (Osvaldo - 87' )
- 09 Aboubakar
Substitutes
- 01 Helton
- 10 Osvaldo
- 11 Tello
- 15 Goebel
- 17 Corona
- 21 Layun
- 23 Bueno
Chelsea
- 01 Begovic
- 02 Ivanovic
- 05 Zouma
- 24 Cahill Booked
- 28 Azpilicueta Booked
- 07 Ramires (Matic - 73' Booked )
- 12 Mikel (Hazard - 62' )
- 17 Pedro (Nunes do Nascimento - 73' )
- 04 Fàbregas
- 22 Willian
- 19 Diego Costa
Substitutes
- 06 Baba
- 10 Hazard
- 16 Nunes do Nascimento
- 21 Matic
- 26 Terry
- 27 Blackman
- 36 Loftus-Cheek
Ref: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Att: 46,120
Live Text Commentary
Full time
Full Time Match ends, FC Porto 2, Chelsea 1.
90:00 +3:24 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, FC Porto 2, Chelsea 1.
90:00 +3:07Attempt blocked. Kenedy (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Diego Costa.
90:00 +0:53Attempt blocked. Willian (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
89:46Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Marcano.
88:27 BookingBooking Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
88:20Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:20Foul by Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto).
87:11Diego Costa (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87:11Foul by Evandro Goebel (FC Porto).
86:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, FC Porto. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo replaces Yacine Brahimi.
84:34Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.
81:13 BookingBooking Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81:03Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81:03Foul by Danilo Pereira (FC Porto).
80:29Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Miguel Layún with a cross following a corner.
79:57Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Gary Cahill.
79:38 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, FC Porto. Miguel Layún replaces André André.
78:48 BookingBooking Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
78:35Foul by Nemanja Matic (Chelsea).
78:35
Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
77:23 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, FC Porto. Evandro Goebel replaces Rúben Neves.
73:34Attempt missed. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Willian with a cross following a corner.
72:59Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Danilo Pereira.
72:30 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Chelsea. Nemanja Matic replaces Ramires.
72:21 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Chelsea. Kenedy replaces Pedro.
71:48Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (FC Porto) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right following a corner.
71:28Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Asmir Begovic.
71:24Attempt saved. Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
70:38Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Cesc Fàbregas.
70:37Attempt blocked. Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
70:34Attempt blocked. Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by André André.
70:23Attempt saved. Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Vincent Aboubakar.
69:32Attempt missed. Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Marcano.
66:54César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66:54Foul by André André (FC Porto).
65:45 BookingBooking César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
65:30Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
65:30André André (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
63:07Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pedro.
62:13Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Gary Cahill.
61:32 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Chelsea. Eden Hazard replaces John Obi Mikel.
59:18Delay over. They are ready to continue.
58:28Delay in match Maicon (FC Porto) because of an injury.
56:23Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
56:23Foul by Maxi Pereira (FC Porto).
55:36Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (FC Porto) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
55:26Attempt blocked. Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vincent Aboubakar.
54:41Pedro (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:41Foul by André André (FC Porto).
53:32Foul by Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea).
53:32Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53:16Diego Costa (Chelsea) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Pedro.
51:10 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! FC Porto 2, Chelsea 1. Maicon (FC Porto) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rúben Neves with a cross following a corner.
50:48Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Kurt Zouma.
49:45Foul by Maxi Pereira (FC Porto).
49:45Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48:57Foul by Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea).
48:57Rúben Neves (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
48:22Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (FC Porto) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Giannelli Imbula.
48:16Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).
48:16Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) wins a free kick on the left wing.
47:17Foul by Ramires (Chelsea).
47:17Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46:52Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Maicon.
46:49Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willian.
45:00Second Half begins FC Porto 1, Chelsea 1.
45:00 +1:54 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, FC Porto 1, Chelsea 1.
45:00 +1:08 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! FC Porto 1, Chelsea 1. Willian (Chelsea) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
44:44Foul by Danilo Pereira (FC Porto).
44:44Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
43:59Offside, Chelsea. Pedro tries a through ball, but Willian is caught offside.
43:57Attempt blocked. Pedro (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
43:30Hand ball by Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea).
42:43Foul by André André (FC Porto).
42:43John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:18André André (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
41:18Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
40:37Attempt missed. Maicon (FC Porto) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
40:12 BookingBooking Gary Cahill (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
40:03Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
40:03Foul by Gary Cahill (Chelsea).
38:13 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! FC Porto 1, Chelsea 0. André André (FC Porto) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
38:11Attempt saved. Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Giannelli Imbula.
35:32Attempt missed. Maxi Pereira (FC Porto) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
33:30Attempt missed. Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Yacine Brahimi.
32:25Foul by Ramires (Chelsea).
32:25André André (FC Porto) wins a free kick on the right wing.
31:47Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.
30:54Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:54Foul by Rúben Neves (FC Porto).
29:15Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
29:13Attempt blocked. Maxi Pereira (FC Porto) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rúben Neves.
29:02Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).
29:02Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) wins a free kick on the left wing.
24:11 BookingBooking Marcano (FC Porto) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
23:57Diego Costa (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
23:57Foul by Marcano (FC Porto).
23:05Attempt missed. Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
20:38Ramires (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
20:38Foul by Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto).
20:15Foul by Ramires (Chelsea).
20:15Giannelli Imbula (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
18:27 BookingBooking Martins Indi (FC Porto) is shown the yellow card.
18:18Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
18:18Foul by André André (FC Porto).
17:53Attempt blocked. Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giannelli Imbula.
15:09Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by Ramires.
15:07Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
14:26Corner, FC Porto. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
14:14Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
14:14André André (FC Porto) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:07Offside, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.
12:57Attempt saved. Pedro (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Willian.
11:11Attempt missed. Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
6:28Offside, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.
5:52Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Iker Casillas.
5:50Attempt saved. Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Diego Costa.
3:29Foul by Rúben Neves (FC Porto).
3:29Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
2:52Offside, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.
1:40Attempt saved. Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Danilo Pereira.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Live data and text provided by our data suppliers
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Arsenal 2-3 Olympiakos
Arsenal v Olympiakos
Olympiakos 3
Pardo 33′ Ospina 40′ (og) Finnbogason 66′
- FT 90 +5
- HT 1-2
David Ospina has yet to play in the Premier League for Arsenal this season
29 September 2015 Last updated at 22:24
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writerArsenal's hopes of Champions League progress are in serious jeopardy after they slumped to their second successive group stage loss at home to Olympiakos.
Arsene Wenger's side knew nothing other than victory would do after defeat by Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in their opening game - and with two meetings with group favourites Bayern Munich still to come.
Instead it was a dreadful night for Arsenal, who must now become the first team since Galatasaray in 2012-13 to lose their first two group games and still reach the knockout stage.
The Gunners' display was summed up by the wretched first-half own goal conceded by David Ospina - preferred to Petr Cech in goal - when he dropped Kostas Fortounis's corner into his own net after Theo Walcott equalised Felipe Pardo's deflected shot.
Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal hope with a 65th-minute header only for Alfred Finnbogason to restore Olympiakos's lead within a minute.
Reaction to the Champions League action here
The heat map above shows the attacking half of both teams in the second half. Arsenal (left) had most of the play in the final third while Olympiakos (right) rarely ventured forward
Wenger's keeper calamity
When Arsene Wenger persuaded Chelsea to sell them goalkeeper Petr Cech, the theory behind his arrival was that the 33-year-old's experience, wisdom and acquaintance with success would make the difference in the big games.
So what sense did it make for Wenger to leave Cech on the bench and select his deputy Ospina for a game where Arsenal simply could not risk any mistakes or the concession of cheap goals?
Forget talk about any slight injury to Cech. He was fit enough to take his place on the bench so surely fit enough to start a game of this significance.
Fate was tempted - and could not resist as the hapless Colombian dropped a harmless corner from Fortounis into his own net just before half-time after Walcott had brought Arsenal back into it with an equaliser.
Wenger's decision was laced with high-risk - and in the context of Arsenal's hopes of making progress in the Champions League a risk not worth taking, as well as a serious error of judgement.
Will Arsenal ever learn?
Arsenal's defensive naivety was best encapsulated by the manner they went out to a very average Monaco side in the last 16 of last season's Champions League.
The Gunners pulled a goal back to make the score 2-1 in injury time in the first leg - then promptly rushed forward like lemmings in search of an equaliser, only to concede the decisive third goal that effectively put them out.
The question now is will they ever learn? Will they ever cure the defensive frailty and general vulnerability that leaves them exposed at this level?
Arsenal were victims of a deflection and a crass goalkeeping error for Olympiakos's first two goals - but the soft underbelly was on show again for the third, so easily unpicked as Finnbogason steered in the winner.
They simply did not show the maturity or composure to settle themselves. And if they cannot do that by now you have to wonder when they ever will.
Sanchez and Walcott only bright sparks
Amid a night of unrelenting gloom, the only shafts of light for Arsenal and their supporters were Walcott and Sanchez.
The Englishman continued his development as a striker with another goal, his second in successive Champions League games after scoring his 12th in 13 Premier League matches at Leicester City on Saturday.
Sanchez scored a hat-trick at Leicester and he was lively throughout, heading the second equaliser only to see Olympiakos score their third almost immediately.
In reality, this is to clutch at straws because this was a desperate Arsenal display elsewhere.
Man of the match: Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean was tireless, dangerous and deserved the goal he scored in the second half
Manager reaction
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "It is still possible of course to qualify but it is difficult to swallow losing a game like that. We lost it on a lack of defensive concentration and bad luck. They had four shots on goal and we conceded three goals.
"The turning point at 2-2 is we give them a goal again straight away. If it stays 2-2 for five minutes we win the game.
"A goalkeeper can make a mistake - that doesn't explain that we lose the game. It happened to Petr Cech already this season [against West Ham]."
The stats you need to know
- Olympiakos had lost their previous 12 away games against English teams in European competition, scoring only three goals and conceding 37
- Arsenal have lost six of their last 12 Champions League home games
- The Gunners have been knocked out at the last-16 stage in the last five campaigns
- Arsenal have lost their first two Champions League matches for the first time
- The last team to qualify from the Champions League group stage after losing their first two matches was Galatasaray in 2012-13. Only nine have done it in the competition history.
- Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League second stage in the past 15 seasons
- Between 2003-04 and 2011-12, the most English defeats in a CL group stage was five, which we have already seen this season
What next?
Arsenal face the visit of Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday. In the Champions League their next two matches are against Bayern Munich.
Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)
Arsenal
- 13 Ospina
- 24 Bellerín (Campbell - 86' )
- 05 Gabriel Booked
- 06 Koscielny (Mertesacker - 57' )
- 03 Gibbs
- 19 Cazorla
- 34 Coquelin (Ramsey - 60' )
- 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 11 Özil Booked
- 17 Sánchez Booked
- 14 Walcott
Substitutes
- 02 Debuchy
- 04 Mertesacker
- 16 Ramsey
- 18 Monreal
- 21 Chambers
- 28 Campbell
- 33 Cech
Olympiakos
- 16 Jimenez Gago Booked
- 14 Elabdellaoui
- 03 Botia
- 23 Siovas
- 30 Salino
- 91 Cambiasso Booked
- 11 Kasami
- 90 Pardo
- 07 Fortounis Booked (Vouros - 87' )
- 92 de Freita Couto Júnior (Santos Fortes - 73' )
- 99 Ideye (Finnbogason - 45' Booked )
Substitutes
- 09 Finnbogason
- 10 Dominguez
- 17 Pulido
- 26 Masuaku
- 29 Vouros
- 37 Kapino
- 77 Santos Fortes
Ref: Bas Nijhuis
Att: 59,428
Live Text Commentary
Full time
Full Time Match ends, Arsenal 2, Olympiakos 3.
90:00 +4:15 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Olympiakos 3.
90:00 +3:48Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
90:00 +3:43Attempt blocked. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey.
90:00 +2:50Joel Campbell (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90:00 +2:50Foul by Leandro Salino (Olympiakos).
90:00 +0:46Joel Campbell (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +0:46Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos).
90:00 +0:13Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kieran Gibbs.
89:38Attempt saved. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
89:11Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Leandro Salino.
87:27Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
87:09Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Roberto.
86:41Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
86:41Foul by Felipe Pardo (Olympiakos).
86:11 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Olympiakos. Praxitelis Vouros replaces Konstantinos Fortounis.
85:02 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Joel Campbell replaces Héctor Bellerín.
84:45Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Dimitrios Siovas.
84:37Attempt blocked. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Gibbs with a cross.
83:01Offside, Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey tries a through ball, but Mesut Özil is caught offside.
82:43
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Dimitrios Siovas.
82:39Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
81:56Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81:56Foul by Pajtim Kasami (Olympiakos).
79:41Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
79:19Mesut Özil (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79:19Foul by Dimitrios Siovas (Olympiakos).
78:26Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal).
78:26Omar Elabdellaoui (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76:59 BookingBooking Mesut Özil (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
76:35Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).
76:35Hernâni (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76:24Attempt saved. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
76:04 BookingBooking Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card.
75:12 BookingBooking Esteban Cambiasso (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
75:00Hand ball by Esteban Cambiasso (Olympiakos).
74:17 BookingBooking Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
74:12Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74:12Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos).
73:37Offside, Arsenal. Alexis Sánchez tries a through ball, but Mesut Özil is caught offside.
72:23 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Olympiakos. Hernâni replaces Sebá.
70:11Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:11Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos).
69:04Attempt saved. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey.
68:36Attempt saved. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Felipe Pardo with a cross.
67:41Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Héctor Bellerín.
65:54 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 2, Olympiakos 3. Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Felipe Pardo.
65:46Attempt blocked. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sebá.
64:53 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 2, Olympiakos 2. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Theo Walcott.
64:00 BookingBooking Roberto (Olympiakos) is shown the yellow card.
63:26Attempt missed. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
63:11Attempt saved. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
62:56Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Roberto.
60:06Attempt blocked. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
60:05Attempt saved. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
59:42Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Omar Elabdellaoui.
59:19 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey replaces Francis Coquelin.
59:08Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Esteban Cambiasso.
58:12Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).
58:12Pajtim Kasami (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:16 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Arsenal. Per Mertesacker replaces Laurent Koscielny because of an injury.
56:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
55:20Delay in match Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) because of an injury.
54:11Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Dimitrios Siovas.
53:21Attempt saved. Pajtim Kasami (Olympiakos) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Konstantinos Fortounis.
49:03Attempt missed. Alfred Finnbogason (Olympiakos) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sebá.
48:10Foul by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal).
48:10Leandro Salino (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:23Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:23Foul by Felipe Pardo (Olympiakos).
45:00Second Half begins Arsenal 1, Olympiakos 2.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Olympiakos. Alfred Finnbogason replaces Brown Ideye.
45:00 +2:03 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Arsenal 1, Olympiakos 2.
44:31 BookingBooking Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
44:19Foul by Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).
44:19Sebá (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
43:37Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
43:37Foul by Brown Ideye (Olympiakos).
43:05 BookingBooking Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
40:55Offside, Arsenal. Alexis Sánchez tries a through ball, but Kieran Gibbs is caught offside.
39:26 Goal scoredGoal! Own Goal by David Ospina, Arsenal. Arsenal 1, Olympiakos 2.
38:56Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Gabriel Paulista.
37:14Delay over. They are ready to continue.
36:28Delay in match Felipe Pardo (Olympiakos) because of an injury.
35:55Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).
35:55Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34:29 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 1, Olympiakos 1. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez with a through ball.
32:03 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Arsenal 0, Olympiakos 1. Felipe Pardo (Olympiakos) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Konstantinos Fortounis with a cross following a corner.
31:18Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Gabriel Paulista.
31:17Attempt blocked. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Brown Ideye.
30:41Foul by Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal).
30:41Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:34Hand ball by Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).
22:08Attempt missed. Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pajtim Kasami.
18:16Foul by Francis Coquelin (Arsenal).
18:16Konstantinos Fortounis (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:18Foul by Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal).
13:18Felipe Pardo (Olympiakos) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:13Offside, Olympiakos. Dimitrios Siovas tries a through ball, but Brown Ideye is caught offside.
11:15Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
10:32Foul by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal).
10:32Pajtim Kasami (Olympiakos) wins a free kick on the left wing.
9:36Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez following a fast break.
8:47Corner, Olympiakos. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
8:43Attempt missed. Pajtim Kasami (Olympiakos) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sebá.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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'World Cup needs longer breaks'
Liam Williams will miss Wales' game with Fiji after suffering concussion against England
29 September 2015 Last updated at 15:05
By Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales Sport
Rugby World Cup: Wales v Fiji |
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Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: Thursday, 1 October Kick-off: 16:45 BST |
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Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC local radio, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website. |
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Further coverage: BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru |
World Cup organisers should address the short turnaround between some matches, says Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
Wales face Fiji on Thursday having had only four days to recover from their bruising win against England.
Gatland will not use it as an excuse during this World Cup but believes it is an issue which needs to be addressed in the long term.
"It's something we all need to be aware of because it's a pretty brutal game at the moment," he said.
"It's important we consider and look after the welfare of our players as well.
More from BBC Wales Sport: |
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"I'm not complaining about the short turnaround because we've known about that for a long time. We've had to prepare for that."
Wales are second in Pool A having beaten Uruguay and England in their opening two matches of the World Cup.
After playing Fiji at the Millennium Stadium, their final group game on 10 October is at Twickenham against current leaders Australia, who face England on Saturday.
Japan had to play Scotland with three days recovery after beating South Africa
The short turnaround between fixtures has been an issue for other teams at the World Cup, with Japan given only three days' rest after their historic win against South Africa before they were soundly beaten by Scotland.
Gatland believes rugby's increasing physical impact means the sport's governing body, World Rugby, should consider extending the break between World Cup matches.
"We've still got guys who are battered and bruised this morning and we've got a game in two days," the New Zealander added.
"I don't know whether four or five-day turnarounds in World Cups are too short.
"When you're involved all the time you don't see the changes but the only gauge I have as a coach is my involvement with the Lions in 2009 (South Africa) and 2013 (Australia).
"South Africa is one of the most physical countries to go and play and then, from South Africa to Australia, the step-up in physicality and intensity increased massively."
More from rugby: |
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For the latest rugby union news, follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter |
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Tonga 35-21 Namibia
Tonga have never made it past the pool phase at a World Cup
29 September 2015 Last updated at 19:49
By Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Sandy Park, Exeter
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Tonga (22) 35 |
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Tries: Veainu 2, Ram 2, Fosita Cons: Lilo 2 Pens: Lilo, Morath |
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Namibia (7) 21 |
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Tries: Tromp, Burger 2 Cons: Kotze 3 |
Tonga scored five tries to beat Namibia in a thrilling match at Sandy Park.
Telusa Veainu and Jack Ram crossed for Tonga, but Namibia's Johan Tromp pulled a try back, before Latiume Fosita's try helped Tonga into a 22-7 lead.
Ram got his second score soon after the break to secure Tonga's bonus point, although Namibia captain Jacques Burger was then forced over to keep it close.
But Veainu's second try secured Tonga's first win of this World Cup, despite a late consolation score from Burger.
Following a shock 17-10 loss to Georgia in their opening game, the win lifts Tonga to second place in Pool C, although their meeting with Argentina on Sunday is a must-win if they are to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals.
A first ever World Cup win still eludes Namibia, but they scored three tries in a match at the tournament for the first time.
Tonga too strong in first half
In front of a capacity crowd at Exeter's Sandy Park, it was clear that neither side wanted a narrow, forward-orientated game, and the outcome was a thrilling clash.
Namibia's Danie van Wyk got the crowd going with a dangerous run before Tonga hit back a minute later with the first try.
Veainu broke from midfield and surged through the Namibian defence before going over despite some desperate last-ditch defending.
Flanker Ram showed a great turn of pace six minutes later as he skipped through the Namibian line to score after breaking down the blindside.
But the African underdogs ensured they would not go down without a fight as Tromp got his first try of the World Cup following an excellent run through Tonga's defence by second-row Tjiuee Uanivi.
Johan Tromp became only the 17th man to score a try for Namibia with his first-half score
A try from Fosita and a penalty from Lilo increased the lead before Veainu had a try chalked off by the TMO after he dived over in the corner, having just put a foot into touch.
Burger inspires Namibian fightback
Tonga might have had the game wrapped up at half-time, but inspirational Namibia skipper Burger ensured they would not go down without a fight.
After Ram had extended Tonga's lead soon after the break with his second try, the Saracens flanker was forced over the line by his Namibian pack to score the first of two tries.
Namibia changed their attacking impetus, trying to play the game more through the forwards, and to an extent it worked, but Tonga looked dangerous whenever they had ball in hand.
Veainu illustrated that danger as he got Tonga's final try with 26 minutes left, going over in the left corner.
But the inspirational Burger went over for his second try after another strong maul from the Africans. Kurt Morath added a late penalty for Tonga, becoming his country's all-time record points scorer in the process.
As Tonga face a potentially decisive clash with Argentina, Namibia will look to next Wednesday's clash with Georgia as their best chance to break their 17-game winless run at World Cups, stretching back to 1999.
As it stands
Reaction
Tonga head coach Mana Otai said: "It was hugely important, just to get the victory, but also the five points - we wanted to win and get maximum points.
"There are two more games to go, we're getting the calculators out and working out points. We're second in our pool and we could easily go into Argentina with an advantage points-wise."
Tonga captain Siale Piutau, comparing the last World Cup to this World Cup, said: "We lost to Canada in the last one and it's the same feeling we had this week after losing to Georgia.
"We got the win but we know we're going to have to play a lot better against Argentina."
Namibia coach Phil Davies said: "I'm proud of the way we tried to play rugby. In parts of the first half we moved the ball well, but that last pass was poor at times.
"The players put a huge effort in against a pretty big and physical Tongan side, they were hard to stop when they were carrying the ball."
Namibia's Jacques Burger told BBC Sport: "I don't score many so when I did score it was a good feeling.
"They were forwards' tries, I was just at the back of it. It was great to get those tries, but I'd swap them any time to get a win."
Teams
Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo, David Halaifuna, Siale Piutau (co-captain), Sione Piukala, Telusa Veainu, Latiume Fosita, Sonatane Takulua; Viliami Ma'afu (co-captain), Jack Ram, Sione Kalamafoni, Joseph Tu'ineau, Hale T Pole, Sila Puafisi, Aleki Lutui, Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: William Helu for Lilo (64), Kurt Morath for Piutau (60), Samisoni Fisilau for Takulua (58), Tevita Mailau for Tonga'uiha (63), Paula Ngauamo for Lutui (47), Halani Aulika for Puafisi (63), Tukulua Lokotui for T-Pole (44), Fonua for Kalamafoni (33).
Namibia: Janco Venter, Johan Tromp, Danie van Wyk, Johan Deysel, Russel van Wyk, Theuns Kotze, Eneill Buitendag; Renaldo Bothma, Rohan Kitshoff, Jacques Burger (captain), Tjiuee Uanivi, Janco Venter, Johannes Coetzee, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Casper Viviers.
Replacements: Damian Stevens for Tromp (67), Darryl de la Harpe for Deysel (72), David Philander for Buitendag (72), Johnny Redelinghuys for Viviers (41), Louis van der Westhuizen for van Jaarsveld (74), AJ de Klerk for Coetzee (72), PJ van Lill for Venter (42), Tinus du Plessis for Bothma (71).
For the latest rugby union news, follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.
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'Man Utd can win Champions League'
Manchester United last won the Champions League in 2008
29 September 2015 Last updated at 17:34
Manchester United have a "realistic" chance of winning the Champions League by 2017, says manager Louis van Gaal.
Dutchman Van Gaal, 64, replaced David Moyes as manager on a three-year deal in 2014, and finished fourth in the Premier League last season.
United last won the Champions League in 2008, and lost in the final in 2009 and 2011.
"Reaching the final is also an aim and winning the final, you need a little bit of luck," said Van Gaal.
Van Gaal, who won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and came runner-up with Bayern Munich in 2010, added: "It is not only quality [but luck, too], and I think Manchester United knows and remembers that fantastically when they won the Champions League in 1999.
"When you reach the final, it is a fantastic but in the media it is nothing. For me as a manager, when you reach the final, you have done fantastically and to win the final, of course, all the honours are going to your team and yourself but I know better."
When asked if United can improve enough to win the Champions League by 2017, he said: "I hope so. That is realistic.
Asked for his reasons why, he replied: "Because I did it everywhere."
United progressing under Van Gaal
Morgan Schneiderlin (left), Bastian Schweinsteiger and Matteo Darmian all joined Man Utd this summer
Wednesday's game against Wolfsburg marks the return of Champions League football at Old Trafford after the Premier League leaders failed to qualify for last season's competition.
Under Scot Moyes, the side finished seventh and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
The Red Devils have slowly made progress under former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Van Gaal, who has spent more than £200m on new signings since taking over.
After returning to Europe's elite club competition with a top-four finish in 2014-15, they have lost just once this campaign to go top of the league, one point ahead of rivals Manchester City.
United signings in 2015-16 |
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Player |
Signed from |
Fee |
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Anthony Martial |
Monaco |
£36m |
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Memphis Depay |
PSV Eindhoven |
£31m |
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Morgan Schneiderlin |
Southampton |
£25m |
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Matteo Darmian |
Torino |
£12.7m |
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Bastian Schweinsteiger |
Bayern Munich |
£6.3m |
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Sergio Romero |
Sampdoria |
Free transfer |
"We have made progressions in the maturity of the team and the balance of the team," said van Gaal. "We have improved when we compare with the team of last year.
"We have to improve to win the Premier League title or a tournament like the Champions League. We are still improving and I can see that every week."
Asked if could stay at the club beyond his current contract which ends in 2017, van Gaal replied: "Normally I shall leave after next year but what is normal in our football world?
"You never know so I cannot answer that question but I promised my wife to go with her to our paradise [villa in Portugal] so it shall be very hard for me to deny that promise.
"I was 55 and I go to Bayern Munich and next year I am 65 and say I stay a year longer, it shall be very hard to my wife."
'Wolfsburg a big challenge'
Louis van Gaal and Bastian Schweinsteiger were together in their time at Bayern Munich
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger joined United from Bayern Munich in the summer, having won eight Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown with the side.
The German feels "comfortable" at Old Trafford and says it is "an honour" to play for the side but has urged caution against opposition he is familiar with.
"I scored my first goal away in Wolfsburg so I have my good memories," said Schweinsteiger, 31.
"They are not easy to play against, they are always tough matches. They have a good team and in the last three of four years have improved a lot. It's a big challenge for us."
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Romain Grosjean to drive for Haas F1 in 2016
Haas F1's inaugural effort will have an experienced Formula 1 driver behind the wheel.
The team said Tuesday that Romain Grosjean will be one of its two drivers. Haas F1, owned by Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Gene Haas, is entering Formula 1 in 2016. The team will have Ferrari engines.
“What Gene Haas and everyone at Haas F1 Team is building is impressive, and I’m very proud to be a part of it,” Grosjean said in a statement. “Formula One is incredibly competitive and the only way to succeed is by finding new ways of doing things. This is a new opportunity with a new team that is taking a very different approach to Formula One. I believe in their approach and they believe in me. While I am committed to giving my absolute best to my current team in these last five races, I am very excited for what the future holds at Haas F1 Team.”
Grosjean, 29, currently drives for Lotus, which is in the midst of financial turmoil at the moment. Grosjean had six podium finishes and finished seventh in the 2013 standings. He was 14th in 2014 as the team struggled with reliability issues and is ninth in the 2015 standings. His only podium finish this season came at Spa where he finished third.
“We wanted an experienced driver capable of developing our car and our race team into one that can score points and better itself each race and each season. We found him in Romain Grosjean,” Haas said in a statement. “I’ve been involved in motorsports for a long time and learned early on the most crucial component is the driver. Romain has strong credentials and he will be an important asset to Haas F1 Team.”
A second driver is to be announced for the team. Many believe it will be Esteban Gutierrez, who is currently a Ferrari reserve driver. Gutierrez drove for Sauber in 2013 and 2014.
Haas F1 will be the first U.S.-based team to race in F1 since Haas Lola in 1985 and 1986 (Note: Haas Lola was owned by Carl Haas of open-wheel's Newman-Haas Racing).
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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Buffalo Sabres, make ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ your goal song
[embedded content]
The Buffalo Sabres are holding a fan vote to determine what their goal song for the 2015-16 season.
“Let Me Clear My Throat” by D.J. Kool is in the final four.
And it has to win.
Look, I know your first inkling is that this is, at best, some “Vote For Rory” irony or, at worst, my alleged hatred of the Buffalo Sabres allegedly manifesting itself in an alleged plot to stick them with a stupid goal song. And roughly 83-percent of the time you’d be right.
But I swear to Mogilny’s Deke Move that my intentions are true here: “Let Me Clear My Throat” needs to do this team’s goal song.
[Yahoo Fantasy Hockey: Sign up for a league today]
It’s not even a debate. Every other song is Weather Channel smooth jazz in comparison.
Watch the video. Tyler Ennis scores. Huge horn blows. And then the “Let Me Clear My Throat” horns kick in, and any time you hear horns like that on a goal song you’re evoking the classics – like “Brass Bonanza,” the “Citizen Kane” of goal songs. (Spoiler: Rosebud was Kevin Dineen.)
Then we get to that sax loop, and it’s just a party. I want to see 18,000 fans doing the Ed Lover Dance:
[embedded content]
And I want to see Tim Murray doing the white-man’s overbite in the GM box.
Another thing about the sax loop: It’s unique and just annoying enough that the opponents will be sick of hearing it in a blowout, “Chelsea Dagger” style.
Here’s the cherry on the sundae: The way the bracket is set up, half the songs were chosen by local radio stations and the other half by the players. And “Let Me Clear My Throat” was selected by the players. GIVE THE BOYS THEIR FLIPPIN’ SONG.
Vote early, vote often Sabres fans. I swear, if you make this happen, I’ll buy an Eichel jersey. Hell, I’ll buy a Kaleta jersey.
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NCAA suspends Larry Brown, bans SMU from the postseason
Larry Brown's third foray into college basketball is following the exact same pattern as the first two did more than a quarter century ago.
Spectacular success, followed quickly by severe NCAA violations.
The NCAA announced Tuesday that it has banned SMU from the 2016 postseason, suspended Brown for 30 percent of the upcoming season and stripped the Mustangs of nine scholarships over the next three seasons. Brown also received a two-year show-cause penalty for failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance.
The penalties stem from an NCAA investigation into whether former SMU assistant Ulric Maligi and a former basketball administrator helped ex-McDonald's All-American Keith Frazier with the coursework he needed to become eligible to play for the Mustangs.
The NCAA found that an SMU assistant encouraged Frazier to enroll in an online course necessary for him to meet initial eligibility standards to be admitted to the university. Then the administrative assistant obtained Frazier's username and password and completed his coursework, enabling him to play for the Mustangs as a freshman during the 2013-14 season.
What also contributed to the severity of SMU's punishment is that Brown and his staff were allegedly not forthright when approached by NCAA investigators.
The NCAA accused the administrative assistant of initially providing false information during her interviews and later refusing to interview again or provide documents requested by enforcement staffers. Brown did not learn of the misconduct until 2014, according to the NCAA, but he did not report it to SMU's compliance staff for more than a month and he initially denied having any information to NCAA investigators.
All that was clearly enough to make the NCAA feel comfortable wielding a sledge hammer to punish SMU because these penalties are no slap on the wrist.
The postseason ban is the most painful in the short term because SMU returns three starters from last year's 27-win team and had been expected to spar with UConn and Cincinnati for first place in the American Athletic Conference. The scholarship penalties could be crippling in the long term as the Mustangs won't be allowed to have more than 10 scholarship players for three straight seasons.
SMU's administrators have to shoulder some of the responsibility for this mess because they knew the risks when they hired Brown three years ago.
Brown led UCLA to the 1980 national title game, but the Bruins were put on probation for two years after the NCAA found players had received impermissible benefits. Brown led Kansas to a national title in 1988, but the Jayhawks were banned from postseason play the following year due to recruiting violations.
When SMU hired Brown in April 2012, school officials were eager to bring in a splashy name capable of raising the basketball program's profile in time for its move to the higher-profile American Athletic Conference the following year. SMU attempted and failed to land the likes of Buzz Williams, Tommy Amaker and Rick Majerus during an overly ambitious coaching search before settling on Brown as its leading candidate.
The boom-or-bust gamble paid off in some respects as SMU instantly became a factor for recruits it once couldn't get to return phone calls, reached the NIT title game in Brown's second year and ended a 23-year NCAA tournament drought last March.
But success under Brown has always led to NCAA investigators poking around on campus. And this time, the NCAA wasn't gentle either.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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Warner banned from football for life
Jack Warner has not been involved in football since 2011 when he left Fifa following a bribery scandal
29 September 2015 Last updated at 14:57
Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has been banned from football for life.
The 72-year-old Trinidadian is the former head of Caribbean and North and Central American football (Concacaf), but quit Fifa in 2011.
He is fighting extradition to the US on corruption charges and denies accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
Warner committed "many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly" said the football world governing body's ethics committee.
Fifa's ruling follows its own investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which began looking at Warner's activities in January 2015.
On Tuesday, Fifa said Warner had been found guilty of violating the organisation's code of ethics several times.
A statement read: "In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes."
More on Fifa's corruption crisis |
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Last week, Swiss prosecutors started criminal proceedings against Fifa president Sepp Blatter over an "unfavourable" contract - thought to refer to a 2005 TV rights deal between Fifa and Warner.
On Tuesday, Warner emailed the Press Association saying: "I do not believe however that this will serve as the distraction to Fifa's present problems as Fifa wishes it to be.
"Given what is happening in Zurich with Blatter I wish to say that there is no such thing as coincidence."
Meanwhile, Eduardo Li - one of the seven officials arrested in Zurich in May - has had his extradition to the United States approved.
The US wants to try Warner and 13 other current or former Fifa officials and associates who were indicted in May.
Prosecutors allege that Warner - who was one of football's most powerful figures whose support was seen as crucial for any World Cup host bid - has been involved in criminal corrupt practices for more than two decades.
In June 2015, a BBC investigation found evidence of bribes paid to Warner.
Jack Warner: The US charge sheet
- Accused of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering and bribery
- From the early 1990s, he allegedly "began to leverage his influence and exploit his official positions for personal gain"
- Allegedly accepted a $10m (£6.6m) bribe from South African officials in return for voting to award them the 2010 World Cup
- Allegedly bribed officials with envelopes each containing $40,000 (£26,000) in cash; when one demurred, he allegedly said: "There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou. If you're pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business"
What next for Fifa? Analysis by BBC sports news reporter Alex Capstick
"This lifetime ban won't come as a big surprise football fans around the world because he is already a discredited man within football.
"Sepp Blatter at Fifa headquarters. He arrived early on Tuesday morning as he did on Monday - business as usual. He has told staff that he has done absolutely nothing wrong.
"He may become the subject of an ethics committee investigation himself - they are deciding on their next course of action.
"If they do investigate him and they do find him guilty of any wrongdoing they will suspend him. But that could take days, it could take weeks."
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Rooney admits rift with Ferguson
Wayne Rooney went back to the Croxteth housing estate in Liverpool where he was raised as part of the programme
29 September 2015 Last updated at 11:52
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has admitted falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson during his final season but denies putting in a transfer request.
Rooney says he went to see Ferguson, who was United manager for 26 years, after being dropped in 2013.
"It's not just me who's had a fall-out with him," added the forward, 29, in Rooney - The Man Behind The Goals, to be shown on BBC One on 5 October.
"I don't know what happened or why that came out that way."
The England captain added: "I went in to see him and just said if you're not going to play me it might be better if I moved on - then all of a sudden it's all over the press I put in a transfer request, which I never did."
More on Wayne Rooney from BBC Sport |
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Rooney did ask to leave United in October 2010 when the former Everton player pulled out of contract talks, saying he had not received "any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad".
Ferguson said at the time he was "dumbfounded" by Rooney's desire to leave but, 48 hours later, Rooney signed a new five-year deal.
United went on to win the title that season, and Rooney later said staying at the club was the best decision of his career.
Wayne Rooney is England's all-time record scorer with 50 goals
Rooney served Ferguson for nine years, and the Liverpool-born player says that despite the rift in 2013, Ferguson was "the best manager of all time".
"He was the reason why I wanted to join Manchester United, to work with him," added Rooney on how hard it was to leave boyhood heroes Everton for United in 2004.
"For him to be interested in me and want me to come and play under him, there was nowhere else I was going to go."
England - Capello era biggest disappointment
Rooney has played under four permanent England managers - Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and current boss Roy Hodgson.
Wayne Rooney scored 14 goals during Fabio Capello's England reign
"The one I've been most excited about was Fabio Capello with his record," said Rooney.
Capello was in charge of the national team for just over four years and took England to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, where the Three Lions won just one of their four games.
Asked if that period was a disappointment, he added: "It was. I just expected more.
"The time I've enjoyed playing for England most was under Sven and now under Roy.
"Times in between that I wasn't enjoying it as much as I should've."
A revolution in England if I didn't pick Rooney - Sven
Before the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Rooney fractured a metatarsal bone in his right foot and was close to missing the tournament.
Eriksson, England's manager at the time, reveals in the documentary that he fought with Ferguson over selecting the injured forward.
Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge of England for 67 matches
"It became a fight between Ferguson and myself," said the Swede.
"He just said 'don't dare to take him to the World Cup, that's it Sven... you don't take him'.
"But there would have been a revolution in England if I didn't pick him. They would have thrown me into the sea."
Rooney added: "Looking back, if I was to go back in time, I probably would have sat out the World Cup because it was a big ask to get fit after six weeks out."
Talking further about his England career, Rooney recalled watching England's 2004 European Championship quarter-final penalty shootout defeat by hosts Portugal from a wheelchair in a local hospital after being injured in the match.
"At the time, I felt like I was going to score in every game and help us win the tournament," he said.
Steven Gerrard on Rooney
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard reveals he went to watch Rooney play before meeting his former England team-mate for the first time.
Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard were England team-mates before Gerrard retired from international football in July 2014
"There was a video going round of him playing for Everton's academy," said Gerrard, now at Los Angeles Galaxy.
"His name kept coming up to me - 'Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney, have you seen anything of him? Have you heard of him?'
"He won't know this but, I went to watch him in a game and he scored a couple of goals. He had the Scouse swagger and the Scouse attitude - I quite liked what I saw."
'I used to love writing poetry'
Rooney reveals his love of poetry before meeting his future wife Coleen.
"I used to love writing poems. Before I was with Coleen, just normal poems," he said.
Wayne and Coleen married in Italy in 2008
Wayne Rooney relaxing playing snooker
"I don't know why, I used to like writing little stories when I first got with Coleen. I used to write a lot of poems."
Gary Lineker's hour-long documentary, Rooney - The Man Behind The Goals, will be shown on BBC1 on Monday 5 October at 21:00 BST.
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Wales make three changes for Fiji
Saturday's try-scorer Gareth Davies will continue his half-back partnership with man-of-the-match Dan Biggar.
29 September 2015 Last updated at 11:02
Rugby World Cup: Wales v Fiji |
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Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Dates: Thursday, 1 October Kick-off: 16:45 BST |
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Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 live and sports extra, BBC local radio, plus live text commentary on every match on the BBC Sport website. |
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Further coverage: BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru |
Matthew Morgan will start at full-back in one of three enforced changes for Wales' World Cup game against Fiji.
Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Tyler Morgan also come into the side after Saturday's 28-25 win over England.
Matthew Morgan replaces Liam Williams, who has concussion, while Tyler Morgan and Cuthbert are in for Scott Williams and Hallam Amos, who have been ruled out of the tournament with injury.
James Hook, called up with Gareth Anscombe as cover, is on the bench.
Anscombe does not figure with head coach Warren Gatland saying he was "not 100%".
Wales' pack remains unchanged and back-rowers Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau will win their 50th caps.
"We have made three changes through injury but go into this game with a strong side," Gatland said.
"It is important we build on the success and momentum from last weekend and take that into Thursday."
Bristol's Matthew Morgan and Newport Gwent Dragons' Tyler Morgan, who was called into the squad as a replacement for the injured Cory Allen, will make their first starts of the tournament.
If Wales, who are second in Pool A behind Australia, beat Fiji they will top the group. England, in third, play the Wallabies on Saturday.
Although Fiji have lost their opening two games to England and Australia, the Pacific Islanders caused problems for their rivals and remain a powerful side.
"Fiji have performed very well in their opening two games and they will be coming to Cardiff looking to build on that themselves," Gatland added.
More from BBC Wales Sport: |
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Wales team to face Fiji
Matthew Morgan (Bristol Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Capt - Cardiff Blues), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), James Hook (Gloucester Rugby).
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