Hammers fined for selecting Sakho but avoid FA Cup ban February 4, 2015 WEST Ham have escaped disqualification from the FA Cup but been handed a £71,000 fine and a warning in relation to their dispute with Senegal over striker Diafra Sakho. Senegal complained to world governing body Fifa after the Hammers fielded Sakho in the fourth round, having informed them that he was not fit to take [...]
Lancaster backs new-look centre combination to stoke Wales win February 4, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed his untested centre combination to overcome their lack of international exposure and defy their more experienced opponents during tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against Wales. Lancaster has suffered chronic injury woe and Kyle Eastmond, Manu Tuilagi and Brad Barritt are all ruled out of the clash, so Bath’s Jonathan [...]
FA Cup: Upset fears allayed as late salvo saves Liverpool blushes February 4, 2015 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 LIVERPOOL 2 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers was relieved to escape unscathed after Championship side Bolton were moments away from ruining his side’s pursuit of silverware in their FA Cup fourth-round replay last night. An exquisite injury-time winner from Philippe Coutinho added to Raheem Sterling’s late leveller after former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen [...]
AC Milan unveil plans for Arsenal-inspired £240m stadium February 4, 2015 AC Milan have revealed plans for a new 48,000 capacity stadium to open for the 2018-19 season. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium has been named as one of the inspirations behind the design which will cost between €300m – €320m (£226m – £240m) and includes a retractable roof. Milan currently share tenancy of the San Siro, [...]
Redknapp: I quit QPR but won’t retire February 3, 2015 FORMER Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp insists he is not ready to retire from football despite his sudden decision to quit the Premier League strugglers, citing health grounds, yesterday. His departure saw ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood installed as the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite to succeed him last night, after coach Glenn Hoddle also left the [...]
Delay to Olympic Stadium naming rights kick-off February 3, 2015 REBRANDING of the Olympic Stadium has been delayed and a naming rights partner for the east London venue is now not expected to take effect until next year. A blue-chip company had been tipped to buy naming rights by the end of last year, but a spokesperson for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park said a [...]
In numbers: Football’s January transfer window trends February 3, 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE V EUROPE If there is one sector in which the Premier League continually crushes its competition, it is the capacity to spend, spend, spend. Even in a quiet window, the English top-flight still spent more than double that of its closest competitor Serie A, whose clubs spent £66m, while Chelsea and Manchester City [...]
FA Cup: Van Gaal plots tilt at FA Cup as upstarts stifled February 3, 2015 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal insists ending the club’s 11-year wait to lift the FA Cup is his priority this season after surviving an early scare to brush past League Two side Cambridge United last night. Goals from Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and substitute James Wilson sealed United’s [...]
Lancaster hails Easter’s experience ahead of international comeback February 3, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster insists the experience of veteran No8 Nick Easter could prove pivotal as his side bid to make the perfect Six Nations start in Friday’s opener with Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Easter is among 25 players recalled ahead of the clash in Cardiff and is set to be named on [...]
FA Cup: Symons rues missed chance as Fulham’s Wembley dream dies February 3, 2015 FULHAM………………………………..1 SUNDERLAND……………………….3 FULHAM boss Kit Symons cited a disproportionate number of substandard performances as the defining reason for his side’s second-half capitulation and FA Cup exit to Premier League strugglers Sunderland last night. The hosts struck first through striker Hugo Rodallega – his 10th goal of the season – and led until keeper Marcus Bettinelli [...]