Champions to protect home record against Liverpool May 7, 2015 IF FOOTBALL was politics, then Chelsea have won by a landslide. Jose Mourinho’s side did all that they needed last week to confirm the Premier League title with a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace. They’ve shown mental strength throughout the year and don’t expect them to take their eye off the ball against Liverpool at [...]
Chil the kite could soar above rivals in Victoria Cup May 7, 2015 ASCOT’S card tomorrow looks tricky as it is without the imponderables of whether the rain will come and how many non-runners there could be consequently . The big betting heat is the Victoria Cup (3.45pm) and my two against the field are ZARWAAN and CHIL THE KITE. Zarwaan would be a really confident selection at [...]
Ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams “eyeing up” Aston Villa takeover bid May 7, 2015 Ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams is said to eyeing up a £150m takeover bid for Premier League club Aston Villa, it has been reported. Adams has apparently joined forces with former Chelsea executive Paul Smith and they have approached City investors over backing a potential bid according to Sky News. The pair are said to have approached private [...]
Champions League: Guardiola’s homecoming ruined by mesmeric Messi May 6, 2015 BARCELONA 3 BAYERN MUNICH 0 BARCELONA boss Luis Enrique revelled in the unique talent of Lionel Messi after the mesmeric forward’s stunning double fired his side into a commanding first-leg lead in their Champions League semi-final clash at Camp Nou last night. The hosts endured a frustrating evening against a stubborn Bayern Munich outfit until [...]
New Zealand reveal plan to target England skipper Cook May 6, 2015 NEW Zealand head coach Mike Hesson has promised that his side will target England skipper Alastair Cook in the two-Test series between the two sides, which starts on 21 May at Lord’s. Cook’s form was a major positive for England during their drawn series against the West Indies in the Caribbean, the captain amassing 268 [...]
I’m being denied top-level rugby, says Abendanon May 6, 2015 NEWLY-CROWNED European player of the year Nick Abendanon has complained that England’s policy of not selecting overseas-based players is depriving him of the chance to compete at the highest level. The 28-year-old full-back joined Toulon back-row forward Steffon Armitage in the international wilderness when he signed for Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne in February 2014, [...]
How the 2015 General Election could affect the way sport is run May 6, 2015 As the General Election campaign and football season both draw to a climax it seems pertinent to look at how the beautiful game might be affected by a change in government. Of the proposals which could directly influence football, the most significant come from the Labour Party, which has outlined two areas in its [...]
Chris Tremlett: Restructuring might spell end for under-fire Moores May 6, 2015 I wouldn't be surprised if there were to be changes within the England set-up and a change in the head coach. By all accounts the mood in the camp is good and the players are training well. That’s great, but at the end of the day it’s about results and it has been a poor [...]
Real, Barca and United lead way in club value list May 6, 2015 EUROPEAN champions Real Madrid are the world’s most valuable football club, with Manchester United the highest placed English team, according to a new ranking compiled by magazine Forbes. Real are estimated to be worth £2.13bn, marginally more than their bitter rivals Barcelona (£2.07bn) and fellow global powerhouse United (£2.03bn). All three are valued £500m higher [...]
Brentford out for Middlesbrough play-off revenge May 6, 2015 BRENTFORD manager Mark Warburton believes his team have “unfinished business” with Middlesbrough ahead of their Championship first leg play-off encounter at Griffin Park tomorrow. The west London club were thrashed 4-0 by Aitor Karanka’s side at Riverside Stadium last September in what Warburton describes as their worst performance of the campaign. That was followed by [...]