Premier League 2014-15 Preview: Part three August 13, 2014 LAST SEASON: Defied doomsayers and opening-day defeat to spend more days at top of table than any other team, without ever really looking like winning the title. Embarrassed by top four rivals, but overall a year of improvement crowned by FA Cup win TRANSFERS: Key ins: Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina. Key [...]
Spurs reinforce defensive ranks with Yedlin deal August 13, 2014 TOTTENHAM Hotspur have reinforced their future defensive ranks by sealing the transfer of United States international right-back DeAndre Yedlin from Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders, for a fee said to be £2.5m. The 21-year-old has signed a four-year contract at White Hart Lane but will continue to play in America before linking up with [...]
Defiant Roy: I did not think of quitting job August 12, 2014 STEADFAST England manager Roy Hodgson has insisted the thought of quitting never entered his head despite the Three Lions enduring their most miserable World Cup for half a century in Brazil. Hodgson oversaw the national team’s worst World Cup campaign since 1958 with defeats to Italy and Uruguay preceding a goalless draw with Costa Rica [...]
Cricket Comment: Reaching Ashes without loss is England target August 12, 2014 A THIRD successive Test victory this week to round off the series and beat India 3-1 at the Oval would be a terrific way for England to cap a transformative few weeks, but it’s not vital. Defeat would puncture a fragile feel-good factor that has developed, but a draw would still be enough to take [...]
Costa at the double as Stamford Bridge welcomes prolific hitman August 12, 2014 SPANISH striker Diego Costa introduced himself to the Chelsea faithful with two goals as Jose Mourinho’s side rounded off their pre-season campaign with victory over La Liga side Real Sociedad last night. Costa took his goalscoring tally to four in Chelsea colours since a £32m summer move from Atletico Madrid, with two early strikes ensuring [...]
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 [...]