Champions League play-off plan is ‘hare-brained’, says Ferguson February 21, 2010 MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has rubbished proposals to introduce a play-off for the final Champions League place. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez and Everton’s David Moyes have all criticised the plans, which would see teams finishing fourth to seventh in the Premier League battle it out for the spot. Aston Villa [...]
United won’t snatch Jack like Rooney, insists Moyes February 21, 2010 EVERTON manager David Moyes is confident he can keep his latest teenage prodigy, Jack Rodwell, out of the clutches of Manchester United. Rodwell, 18, boosted his burgeoning reputation by climbing off the bench to score a superb solo goal that capped a shock 3-1 win over the Premier League champions on Saturday. That will only [...]
Robinson wants a bolder England February 21, 2010 FORMER captain Jason Robinson has urged England to be braver when they host Ireland in a crunch Six Nations clash on Saturday. Wins over Wales and Italy have failed to quell criticism of England’s style, and Robinson said: “Most people say there’s a lack of vision and England are not really playing. In the last [...]
Al-Fahim facing dilemma over Pompey stake February 21, 2010 PORTSMOUTH non-executive chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim is weighing up whether to sever ties with the financially-stricken Premier League club or increase his shareholding. Bottom-of-the-table Pompey are around £60m in debt and could disappear altogether if they do not find fresh funds before they face a winding-up order on 1 March. Al-Fahim, who retained a 10 per [...]
Ice queen Amy cool on hero status February 21, 2010 SKELETON Olympic champion Amy Williams may have become a household name overnight but the unassuming 27-year-old insists she already cannot wait for the limelight to fade. Williams twice set new course records at Whistler, the fastest and most dangerous of all ice tracks, on her way to clinching Great Britain’s first individual Winter Games gold [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF February 21, 2010 Gallacher in warning to Tiger GOLF: Former Ryder Cup skipper Bernard Gallacher has urged Tiger Woods to ditch his current entourage following his fall from grace. Gallacher believes the American’s aides are partly responsible for the personal problems that continue to keep Woods away from the course. “He has been badly handled by his management,” [...]
Ngog spares Reds’ blushes February 18, 2010 LIVERPOOL (1) v/s UNIREA URZICENI (0) CAPTAIN Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool are still on course to win the Europa League despite struggling to a home leg victory over Romanian side Unirea Urziceni at Anfield. Rafael Benitez’s side enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to break down their defence-minded visitors until David Ngog struck with a [...]
Shakhtar are shaken by Zamora February 18, 2010 FULHAM (2) v/s SHAKHTAR DONETSK (1) BOBBY ZAMORA fired a brilliant winner as Fulham claimed a crucial home leg victory over holders Shakhtar Donetsk at Craven Cottage. The striker smashed home an unstoppable 25-yard drive to net his fifth goal of the Europa League campaign and give the Cottagers a vital lead going into the [...]
Pulis in foreign owners doubt February 18, 2010 STOKE manager Tony Pulis has questioned whether Portsmouth would still be on the brink of liquidation if they were not foreign-owned. Pompey, who are due in court on 1 March to face a winding-up order, are so desperate for cash they have asked the Premier League for special dispensation to sell players outside the transfer [...]
Fabregas vows Arsenal will rally round calamity keeper Fabianski February 18, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has leapt to the defence of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, insisting the Pole will bounce back. Fabianski was at the centre of two howlers as the Gunners slipped to a 2-1 first leg Champions League defeat at Porto on Wednesday night. But Fabregas said: “He is strong and we have to be [...]