Hodgson denies Reds dispute over Sturridge October 2, 2014 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has played down talk of friction with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers over Daniel Sturridge’s fitness after bowing to pressure to leave the striker out of his squad. Sturridge was a notable absentee from Hodgson’s 21-man party for Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia – which includes uncapped right-back Nathaniel [...]
Fillies look to hold all the aces in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe October 2, 2014 BILL ESDAILE WITH HIS BEST BETS AT ASCOT AND LONGCHAMP THIS WEEKEND EEKEND SUNDAY’S Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.30pm) looks one of the most open renewals in a long time. Ante-post favourites have flip-flopped as often as pancakes on Shrove Tuesday in recent months, and it’s no certainty Taghrooda will start as the jolly [...]
Fabregas to come back and haunt former club in London derby clash October 2, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS SUNDAY’S BIG PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION ARSENE Wenger is said to have turned down the opportunity to take Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates this summer following a rather ill-fated spell at Barcelona, paving the way for the Spaniard to join Chelsea. It’s proved a shrewd bit of business from Jose Mourinho, as [...]
Everton can heap further frustration on Man United October 2, 2014 FIRST up on Sunday is Manchester United against Everton at home, where the visitors must think they can win. Louis van Gaal’s spending splurge looks misguided when you compare the attacking riches he’s brought in to the inexperienced backline that has shipped nine goals. The club managed only a second win of the campaign against [...]
Spread betting on team/player performance October 2, 2014 BOTH Team Performance and Player Performance markets offer an exciting way to support or oppose a team or player in a match. For example, you may fancy an underdog to perform better than supremacy quotes suggest. You could therefore sell the Team Performance of the favourites at 65. The market is settled as follows: Win: [...]
Champions League: Electric Welbeck sparks Arsenal blitz with classy European treble October 1, 2014 ARSENAL 4 GALATASARAY 1 IMPRESSED Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed “electric” Danny Welbeck last night after the £16m striker conjured a dazzling hat-trick to get the Gunners’ Champions League campaign back on track. Welbeck’s first career treble and Alexis Sanchez’s fifth goal of the season left Galatasaray reeling until Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s red card [...]
Poch ready to juggle Spurs’ player power October 1, 2014 SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino admits he is mindful of the need to juggle his resources when Spurs host Turkish side Besiktas tonight as he bids to avoid the post-Europa League hangover which hindered the club’s prospects last season. Tottenham dropped 20 points from the 12 matches directly after Europa League ties during the previous campaign, [...]
Champions League: Gerrard accuses Reds of lacking bottle after tame Basel defeat October 1, 2014 FC BASEL 1 LIVERPOOL 0 BLUNT Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard accused his side of lacking the necessary fight and desire as their bid to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage stuttered against Swiss champions Basel last night. St Jakob Park has been a graveyard for English clubs in recent years as Manchester United, Spurs [...]
Record six-year Lancaster contract is entirely right, insist rugby chiefs October 1, 2014 ENGLAND rugby chiefs have defended the decision to hand head coach Stuart Lancaster and his staff bumper new contracts lasting for two World Cups and into the next decade. The deals until 2020 indicate that Lancaster and assistants Graham Rowntree, Mike Catt and Andy Farrell are likely to keep their jobs regardless of how England [...]
Rio’s blast at England policy October 1, 2014 FORMER England captain Rio Ferdinand has criticised national team bosses for treating players “like babies” at major international tournaments. QPR defender Ferdinand compares England’s policy unfavourably with that of Holland, whose players were allowed to go to bars during the World Cup in Brazil this summer, yet reached the semi-finals. “Our players are treated like [...]