Saints, Baggies and Clarets have most to fear in relegation tussle August 14, 2014 MANAGERIAL experience in the Premier League can be the difference between a club staying up or going down, and I fancy it to decide which of a clutch of relegation candidates survive the drop this season. Aston Villa, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Hull, Leicester, QPR, Southampton and West Brom look in most danger to me. QPR [...]
Sharman wins European silver as Britons surge to sprint finals August 14, 2014 Britain’s Will Sharman felt he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory despite picking up silver in the 110m hurdles final at the European Championships in Zurich last night. With the race in his grasp, the 29 year-old clipped the seventh hurdle with his trailing leg before his lead foot smashed into the next, with [...]
We’ve got the best new-ball duo in Test cricket, says Cook August 14, 2014 ENGLAND skipper Alastair Cook insists the expected availability of seamer Stuart Broad for the fifth Test against India at the Oval means he will again be able to call upon two of the best new-ball exponents in world cricket. Broad took part in England’s training session yesterday sporting a splint on his nose, which was [...]
Timing right for Tiger KO August 14, 2014 US CAPTAIN Tom Watson has welcomed the timing of Tiger Woods’s decision to declare himself unavailable for next month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. The 38-year-old failed to qualify for the team automatically and yesterday said he did not wish to be considered for one of the three remaining captain’s picks due to an ongoing back [...]
Mourinho can cast his spell at the Bridge again August 14, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON AND THE OPENING WEEKEND WHILE many of the major European leagues are uncompetitive from a betting perspective, this year’s Premier League looks to be one of the most open in recent years. As the reigning champions, Manchester City are the obvious place to start and they have held [...]
Stoke best bet on tricky opening weekend August 14, 2014 ONLY the top five sides in the Premier League last season lost fewer home games than Stoke and Mark Hughes’s men look a great price to beat Aston Villa tomorrow at the 10/11 generally available. Bojan Krkic has played for glamour teams Barcelona, Roma, AC Milan and Ajax in recent seasons, so it was surprising [...]
Season points trading on Manchester United August 14, 2014 IT IS possible bookmakers have over-reacted to the appointment of Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford and his new club’s pre-season form. Sporting Index traders have made Manchester United joint-third favourites with Arsenal on the Championship 60 Index and have pitched their season points at 75.5-77 – despite the team picking up just 64 last [...]
Tottenham Hotspur pushed to top of House Price Premier League by spunky property market August 13, 2014 For those of you chomping at the bit for the Premier League to start this weekend, Nationwide has got a present for you. It’s an especially good gift if you’re also obsessed with house prices (come on, most of us are). Yes, it’s the House Price Premier League! The league is based on percentage [...]
39th game sure to happen, says Premier League chief Richard Scudamore August 13, 2014 Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has breathed fresh life into plans for top flight fixtures to be played overseas, insisting it is a matter of when, not if, the so-called 39th game is introduced. The Football Association on Sunday lent fresh momentum to an idea pilloried when first floated, hinting that the Community Shield [...]
England have to be ruthless now, demands Root August 13, 2014 RUN-MACHINE Joe Root insists England must show a ruthless streak and ram home their advantage during the fifth and final Test against India, which starts at the Oval on Friday. The Yorkshireman top-scored with 77 as England flexed their muscle at Old Trafford last week to brush aside the tourists by an innings and 54 [...]