Hoddle in QPR coaching role August 12, 2014 FORMER England boss Glenn Hoddle has targeted Premier League survival after agreeing to join Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff at top-flight newcomers QPR. Hoddle, who has also led Tottenham, Southampton and Chelsea, has been out of management since quitting Wolves eight years ago but is eager to lend his expertise at Rangers, who begin the new [...]
Pavey rewrites history aged 40 with Euro gold August 12, 2014 EVERGREEN Jo Pavey proved age really is no barrier after becoming the oldest female to win gold at the European Championships by storming home in the 10,000m in Zurich last night. The 40-year-old took the lead with one lap remaining before holding off the challenge of France’s Clemence Calvin, an athlete 16 years her junior, [...]
Ronaldo out-guns Bale in Wales as Madrid claim Super Cup glory August 12, 2014 STAR-TURN Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to overshadow Gareth Bale’s homecoming as the headline acts of Real Madrid dispatched Sevilla to lift the European Super Cup at the Cardiff City Stadium last night. The Champions League winners dominated the all-Spanish tie with Ronaldo netting a goal in each half, taking his personal tally against Sevilla to [...]
Premier League 2014-15 Preview: Part two August 12, 2014 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LAST SEASON The £100m post-Gareth Bale spend resulted in instability and the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, with straight-talking Tim Sherwood guiding Spurs to sixth despite knowing he was gone irrespective of results TRANSFERS Key ins: Ben Davies, Michel Vorm, Eric Dier. Key outs: Heurelho Gomes, Jake Livermore, Gylfi Sigurdsson BIG [...]
Could the Community Shield go abroad? FA inspired by Manchester United success in USA August 12, 2014 In 2008 Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore announced to the world his plans to introduce “Game 39” into the league’s season – a single fixture to be played between all 20 teams at 10 separate locations around the world. The plan was met with near universal derision with opponents ranging from the Football [...]
McGinley: McIlroy ready to be Ryder marked man August 11, 2014 EUROPE’S captain Paul McGinley is adamant that world No1 Rory McIlroy has the talent and temperament to cope with being the prize scalp for United States stars at next month’s Ryder Cup, following his US PGA Championship triumph. The 25-year-old became the first man to win back-to-back Majors since Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in 2008 on [...]
Golf Comment: Swing perfection, a cool head, hunger to win: why Rory’s the best by miles August 11, 2014 WHEN Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the 1990s, the American was the best player that we had ever seen. It’s no exaggeration to say Rory McIlroy, following successive Major wins and his return to world No1 ranking, has hit those same heights. There’s no limit to what he could achieve over the next [...]
Reigning champions City edge towards FFP transfer limit with Mangala capture August 11, 2014 REIGNING Premier League champions Manchester City have taken their net summer spend within range of the maximum stipulated under sanctions imposed by European governing body Uefa after splashing out £32m on defender Eliaquim Mangala from Porto. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year-deal at the Etihad Stadium and joins fellow new recruits Willy Caballero, Fernando, Bacary [...]
Community Shield: Wenger issues title warning as Arsenal defeat below par City August 10, 2014 ARSENAL 3 MANCHESTER CITY 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes the dominance shown by his side in yesterday’s FA Community Shield hammering of Manchester City proves the Gunners can turn the tables on the Premier League’s elite this season. Substitute Olivier Giroud scored the pick of the goals in the second period after Spanish international [...]
Sport Comment: Hail Harry, back in the top flight like a returning Mitchell brother August 10, 2014 IT IS one of the inexplicable inexplicablenesses of modern life that it’s far easier to ask a politician a difficult question about multiple deaths in Gaza or Iraq than it is to ask a Premier League football manager about an injured player or a disappointing performance. They intimidate their inquisitors with steely, dismissive or just [...]