Six Nations 2017 stats preview: Why England’s back row needs an improved performance against Wales February 9, 2017 Even Eddie Jones admitted that England weren’t at their best in a sluggish, narrow victory over France on Saturday. England displayed little of the vigour and verve that swept them to a grand slam last year and it was in an inexperienced new-look back row of Maro Itoje, Tom Wood and Nathan Hughes that was [...]
Great Britain urged to maintain Fed Cup promotion bandwagon after thrashing Latvia February 9, 2017 Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong has urged her side to keep the promotion bandwagon rolling after maintaining their bid to escape the anonymity of the Fed Cup third tier with victory over Latvia. World No10 Johanna Konta and Heather Watson led the British charge in their latest Europe-Africa Zone I clash in Tallinn against lower-ranked [...]
We can still catch Chelsea in Premier League title race, says Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino February 9, 2017 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists his team can still make up a nine-point deficit and snatch the Premier League title from the clutches of Chelsea. Second-placed Spurs head a pack of five teams left trailing by the Blues but Pochettino believes that, with more than a third of the season remaining, Antonio Conte’s men can [...]
Manchester United plan to wind down transfer activity as Jose Mourinho is content with his squad, says Ed Woodward February 9, 2017 Manchester United plan to curb their activity in future transfer windows after executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said manager Jose Mourinho was content with his current squad. The Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann as part of another big spending summer to mirror last year’s capture of [...]
West Ham striker Andy Carroll could face West Brom despite missing training all week, says Slaven Bilic February 9, 2017 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits he has had to take extraordinary measures to keep injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll in contention to continue his scoring streak. Bilic has kept Carroll out of training every day this week due to a groin problem but still hopes to pick him for Saturday’s Premier League visit of in-form [...]
Arsenal fans can lift team in “sensitive” moment after back-to-back defeats, says Arsene Wenger February 9, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for the club’s supporters to rally round the team as they look to bounce back from damaging consecutive Premier League defeats. The Gunners host relegation-threatened yet resurgent Hull on Saturday lunchtime, eager to reverse their momentum following two losses in the space of five days to Chelsea and Watford. [...]
Manchester United finances: Plunge in value of pound post-Brexit sees club’s debt hit record levels February 9, 2017 Manchester United blamed the post-Brexit weak pound for a large increase in the club's debt, revealed in the club's second quarter accounts. The richest club in the world's net debt increased by £87.2m last year – just shy of the £89m the club paid for midfielder Paul Pogba in the summer – to £409.3m by [...]
Leicester City 3, Derby County 1: Relief for Claudio Ranieri as Foxes ease pressure on under-fire boss with FA Cup victory February 9, 2017 Under-fire Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists the gloom engulfing the club has started to lift after his side navigated their potentially treacherous FA Cup fourth round replay with Championship side Derby. Extra-time was needed after Derby’s Abdoul Camara cancelled out Andy King’s opener, but substitute Wilfred Ndidi, with his first goal for the Foxes, and [...]
There will no tension, only productivity, between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes in 2017, says team boss Toto Wolff February 8, 2017 Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and new team-mate Valtteri Bottas have the necessary chemistry to form a highly successful pairing during 2017. Former Williams driver Bottas is set for his maiden campaign with Mercedes having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired in December a matter of days after sealing his first [...]
Alastair Cook was a nice, reliable England Test captain but not a great one February 8, 2017 Alastair Cook will not be remembered as one of England’s great Test captains. He will be recalled as a nice, reliable and uncontroversial skipper who over the last couple of years has taken a young England side to pretty good heights and laid the foundations for that team to achieve more in the future. Others [...]