Summary

  • Van Gaal says criticisms are 'sticks and stones'

  • Mourinho can't promise top four finish

  • Villa need to pay to get Garde - MacDonald

  • RWC final: Australia v New Zealand (Sat, 16:00 GMT)

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2015

    #bbcsportsday

    After the Sydney Opera House was decked out in yellow and green to support the Australian rugby team, we're asking which landmarks you'd like to decorate with a sporting theme. And feel free to get creative by mocking up the picture yourself.

    Luke Yates: Might as well paint Manchester blue. After all, there is no red.

  2. football

    Manchester City news conferencepublished at 12:35

    Manchester City v Norwich (15:00 GMT)

    As they say, updates to follow...

  3. cricket

    Pakistan's injury worrypublished at 12:33

    Cricket

    Pakistan fast bowler Imran Khan has suffered a hand injury in fielding practice and will be assessed ahead of the third and final Test which starts on Sunday.

    The 28-year-old injured the webbing of his bowling hand while catching a ball in training at the Sharjah stadium. Team manager Intikhab Alam said Khan was taken to hospital for treatment.

    "Khan hurt his bowling hand and was sent to hospital, so he will be assessed before taking a final decision as we still have a day before the third Test," Alam told AFP. 

  4. hockey

    GB name squad for World League finalpublished at 12:25

    Hockey

    Great Britain men’s Coach Bobby Crutchley has named his squad for the World League final in Raipur, India. Crutchley has made eight changes to the group that competed in the semi-final of this competition in June of this year, a tournament where Great Britain secured their place at the Olympics in Rio.

    Full squad: James Bailey, Alastair Brogdon, Nick Catlin, David Condon, Alan Forsyth, Dan Fox, Harry Gibson, Chris Grassick, Michael Hoare, Simon Mantell, Harry Martin, Phil Roper, Dan Shingles, Ian Sloan, Sam Ward, Henry Weir, Tim Whiteman, Ollie Willars.

  5. football

    Footballpublished at 12:22

    Aston Villa defender Micah Richards admits to a Football Association charge of improper conduct following an incident in the tunnel after last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Swansea.

    Micah Richards in the tunnelImage source, Reuters
  6. football

    'Wenger unlikely to spend big'published at 12:18

    Swansea v Arsenal (15:00 GMT)

    Look away now Arsenal fans.

    Manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to spend big in January's transfer window, according to Gunners scout Brian McDermott.

    Wenger and Arsenal's board received heavy criticism for only signing Petr Cech during the summer, making Arsenal the only side in Europe’s top five leagues to not buy a single outfield player.  

    According to Friday's London Evening Standard,, external McDermott made clear that he does not expect any move for a striker during the window, despite the club having only Olivier Giroud fit during their current injury crisis.

  7. football

    'He's tall, dark and handsome'published at 12:11

    Football

    Micah RichardsImage source, BBC Sport

    Micah Richards has picked one of his Aston Villa team mates to play the next James Bond and described the man of mystery as having a "cool laid back personality"

    Find out who he is talking about here.

    Watch the full Micah Richards interview on Football Focus, Saturday 31 October, 12:10 GMT on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2015

    #bbcsportsday

    Matthew Moss: Easy - paint the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth red and white

    MJ Holmes: I'd make Stonehenge look like the Aussie batsmen's stumps after a Stuart Broad spell

    Great suggestions, all. Keep them coming using #bbcsportsday.

  9. football

    Elton calling...published at 11:51

    Football

    Elton JohnImage source, Getty Images

    What is the most surreal phone call you have ever received?

    Watford striker Troy Deeney says a congratulatory phone call from Hornets' legend Elton John was his.

    The singer-songwriter contacted Deeney after the forward scored his first Premier League goal for the club in a 2-0 win at Stoke.

    Watch the full Troy Deeney interview on Football Focus, Saturday 31 October, 12:10 GMT on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.  

  10. 'Emotional'published at 11:47

    Chelsea v Liverpool (12:45 GMT)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is asked about his relationship with Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho: "He's emotional, I'm emotional but we are professional enough to know after the whistle, normal life starts again. 

    "Everything is okay between us, no problem."

  11. football

    Aston Villa news conferencepublished at 11:43

    Football

    Mike Taylor
    BBC WM

    "One of Villa's most dependable employees for the best part of 20 years, Kevin MacDonald, will be caretaker interviewee at Villa's press conference at midday. 

    "The affable Scot has usually been one to keep a low profile, but his work for the club in developing generations of younger players is widely respected. 

    "MacDonald oversaw seven Villa games in 2010 after Martin O'Neill left abruptly, and returned to the club earlier this year, having had a brief spell as a manager at Swindon.

    "He will no doubt answer questions in his usual thoughtful manner, but it would be surprising if he was able to shed much light on whether Villa are much nearer to appointing Remi Garde, or anyone else, as manager."

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2015

    #bbcsportsday

    If you could take any monument in the world and adorn it with a sporting theme, what would it be?  

    Kick off with a controversial one, shall we?

    James Wall: Just to annoy the locals - Mike Ashley's head on the Angel of the North?

  13. Postpublished at 11:40

    Everton v Sunderland (13:30

    Nick Barnes
    BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

    Fabio BoriniImage source, Getty Images

    "Sam Allardyce says he hopes one or two of his injured quartet of players could be fit to face Everton on Sunday. The Sunderland manager told BBC Newcastle he hopes to find out later today who is likely to be available as he assesses the injuries to Younes Kaboul, John O'Shea, Ola Toivonen and Fabio Borini.

    "Borini has had a small injection in his ankle and Allardyce will see if he trains today. The Sunderland manager says he’s only too aware that Sunderland have, over the past few seasons, lost their next match following a derby win and hopes to bring that run to an end at Goodison Park."

  14. LvG analysispublished at 11:38

    Crystal Palace v Man Utd (15:00 GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    "Louis van Gaal was a man on a mission at the Aon Training Complex.

    "The Manchester United manager knew criticism would follow his side’s Capital One Cup exit to Championship side Middlesbrough and Paul Scholes did not disappoint.

    "He had his answers ready, even if he had to be reminded of the correct way to complete the ‘sticks and stones’ English proverb he said was fantastic.

    "Interestingly though, he dropped the name of his assistant, Ryan Giggs, into the list of people to whom Scholes’ criticism of United’s style of play should be addressed.

    "Scholes and Giggs were team-mates for almost two decades and are part of a the tight-knit ‘Class of 92’ shown in the early days of their Salford City ownership on BBC One in the first part of a two-part documentary last night."

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:33

    Earlier, we posted a picture of the Sydney Opera House lit up in support of the Wallabies.

    But... if you could take any monument in the world and adorn it with a sporting theme, what would it be?

    We're thinking of things like Big Sam's face on Sunderland town hall after that derby win last weekend etc. Feel free to make your own mock-ups and we'll use the best - #bbcsportsday., external

    Go!

    Opera HouseImage source, Wallabies
  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2015

    #bbcsportsday

    Thanks for all your sporting horror stories. We've had a giggle at a few of your tales of woe...

    Colin Gibson: Scored an own goal with the game at 1-1, went on to lost 5-1. My OG won their goal of the season award.

    Simon Vickers: Horror story? Leeds United right now

    Matt Claypole: Luke Shaw's broken leg. It was bone-chilling. I mean bone-smashing. Oh never mind...   

  17. 'Ban for Scholes?'published at 11:25

    Paul Scholes in the crowd at Old TraffordImage source, Getty Images

    After Louis van Gaal spent a chunk of his news conference responding to criticism from former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, here's a thought from a former Norwich and Leicester striker...

  18. football

    Liverpool news conferencepublished at 11:16

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Sat, 12:45 GMT)

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is asked whether now is a good time to be facing Chelsea.

    "Ramires, Matic are great players. Cahill and Terry from set-plays are big guys. I'm not sure it's easier now to play Chelsea," he says.

    "You think Tottenham was easy? Southampton was not easy! Do Chelsea players still know how to play football? Of course they do."  

  19. football

    Liverpool news conferencepublished at 11:12

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Sat, 12:45 GMT)

    Jurgen KloppImage source, Getty Images

    Jurgen Klopp talking up Chelsea against Liverpool: "It's 9th against 15th. We have the chance to improve our situation. We have to look at how they play, how we can close spaces.

    "I'm not close enough to Chelsea to know the reasons for their form. We have to respect the quality of Chelsea."

  20. football

    'Mourinho's nice - if you're not a ref'published at 11:08

    Chelsea v Liverpool (Sat, 12:45 GMT)

    Jose MourinhoImage source, PA

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is full of respect for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

    "When I was in Germany, Mourinho and I sometimes sent messages. I have respect for his work. He's a nice guy," he adds.

    "If you're not a journalist or a referee he can be a nice guy."