Clubs: rich-poor gap is widening August 14, 2014 POLARISATION between English football’s rich and poor is worsening and the problem is being exacerbated by financial fair play (FFP) rules, according to a report published today. A survey of 67 finance chiefs from English and Scottish clubs conducted by accountant and advisory firm BDO found that 94 per cent believe the wealth gap between [...]
Dyke England plan pilloried August 14, 2014 PLANS to curb the prevalence of foreign players in English football would have no positive bearing on the results of the national team, but would harm domestic competitions, say researchers. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke proposes limiting imports to English leagues, arguing that more playing time for homegrown youngsters will improve England’s performance. But a [...]
Suarez cleared to cut his teeth at Barca August 14, 2014 CONTROVERSIAL Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is set to make his Barcelona debut within days after succeeding with an appeal against his total ban from football. Suarez, who left Liverpool for Spain in a £75m transfer, failed to overturn a four-month suspension from playing for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, but has been [...]
Football Comment: Title is Jose’s Blues’ to lose August 14, 2014 City A.M. columnist Trevor Steven casts his eye over the new Premier League season IT’S AN unwritten rule that winning a league title is hard, but retaining it is even harder, especially when you’ve got a top five who all harbour genuine aspirations of finishing first. For supporters, it should add up to another exciting [...]
Saints, Baggies and Clarets have most to fear in relegation tussle August 14, 2014 MANAGERIAL experience in the Premier League can be the difference between a club staying up or going down, and I fancy it to decide which of a clutch of relegation candidates survive the drop this season. Aston Villa, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Hull, Leicester, QPR, Southampton and West Brom look in most danger to me. QPR [...]
Sharman wins European silver as Britons surge to sprint finals August 14, 2014 Britain’s Will Sharman felt he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory despite picking up silver in the 110m hurdles final at the European Championships in Zurich last night. With the race in his grasp, the 29 year-old clipped the seventh hurdle with his trailing leg before his lead foot smashed into the next, with [...]
We’ve got the best new-ball duo in Test cricket, says Cook August 14, 2014 ENGLAND skipper Alastair Cook insists the expected availability of seamer Stuart Broad for the fifth Test against India at the Oval means he will again be able to call upon two of the best new-ball exponents in world cricket. Broad took part in England’s training session yesterday sporting a splint on his nose, which was [...]
Timing right for Tiger KO August 14, 2014 US CAPTAIN Tom Watson has welcomed the timing of Tiger Woods’s decision to declare himself unavailable for next month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. The 38-year-old failed to qualify for the team automatically and yesterday said he did not wish to be considered for one of the three remaining captain’s picks due to an ongoing back [...]
Mourinho can cast his spell at the Bridge again August 14, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON AND THE OPENING WEEKEND WHILE many of the major European leagues are uncompetitive from a betting perspective, this year’s Premier League looks to be one of the most open in recent years. As the reigning champions, Manchester City are the obvious place to start and they have held [...]
Stoke best bet on tricky opening weekend August 14, 2014 ONLY the top five sides in the Premier League last season lost fewer home games than Stoke and Mark Hughes’s men look a great price to beat Aston Villa tomorrow at the 10/11 generally available. Bojan Krkic has played for glamour teams Barcelona, Roma, AC Milan and Ajax in recent seasons, so it was surprising [...]