Scorelines didn’t do justice to Bayern and Barca’s dominance against Arsenal and Man City, but these charts do February 20, 2014 English clubs came off a resounding second best in the Champions League this week, even if the 2-0 defeats suffered by the 10 men of Arsenal and Manchester City barely did justice to the dominance of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. But where the scoreline, and the shooting boots of Mario Mandzukic, failed, these passing [...]
Champions League: Wenger vents anger toward Robben after Bayern defeat February 19, 2014 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 0 vs BAYERN MUNICH 2 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger accused Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben of getting Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny sent off after the holders nudged his 10 men to the brink of Champions League elimination. A Toni Kroos strike and Thomas Muller’s late header punished the home side’s failure to [...]
Football Comment: English teams are too tired to cut it in Europe February 19, 2014 WHEN Arsene Wenger woke up this morning I hope he was thinking about the Premier League rather than the Champions League. Because it’s time for him to change his priorities this season. Arsenal are not going to come back and win in Munich. For a team who has spent so much of this season at [...]
Spurs change ticket process February 19, 2014 TOTTENHAM have bowed to supporter pressure and announced a crackdown to “prevent and prohibit” the practice of ticket “flipping” which currently occurs on exchange website StubHub. Season ticket holders who cannot attend a match at White Hart Lane are able to list their tickets for resale at any price. But, as reported earlier this month [...]
Team GB close in on historic gold after curling success for Murdoch February 19, 2014 TRIUMPHANT British skip David Murdoch is targeting a history-making gold medal in tomorrow’s curling final with reigning Olympic champions Canada. Murdoch scored two points with the final stone of yesterday’s semi-final against Sweden to seal a 6-5 victory and at least a silver medal. Britain have never won more than one gold medal at a [...]
Adebayor left behind by Tottenham February 19, 2014 FOOTBALL: In-form Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has not travelled to Ukraine for tonight’s Europa League last-32 first leg tie with Dnipro. Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Younes Kaboul and Aaron Lennon have also been left at home.
First round exits for English trio February 19, 2014 GOLF: English trio Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter suffered first round exits at the WGC World Match Play yesterday. But former world No1 Rory McIlroy beat Boo Weekley and will meet Westwood’s conqueror Harris English.
Mullins: a man on a mission February 19, 2014 LAST year’s visit to Ballydoyle remains one of the highlights of my journalistic career, but yesterday’s return to the Emerald Isle may just have shaded it when it comes to my racing bucket list. Since a young age I’ve wanted to visit the corner of County Carlow that Willie Mullins calls home – and a [...]
Swedes, you are not a race of refereeing incompetents – and the stats prove it February 19, 2014 If Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini thinks his team got a raw deal in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona because the referee was Swedish he may want to think again, and consider this: at least the pesky whistler wasn’t Croatian. Or Portuguese. Analysis of all referees in the Champions League’s 22-year history shows [...]
Champions League: Ref accused by Pellegrini of Barcelona favouritism February 18, 2014 MANCHESTER CITY 0 vs FC BARCELONA 2 MANCHESTER CITY manager Manuel Pellegrini launched an astonishing tirade at referee Jonas Eriksson last night, believing the official had favoured Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie. Barcelona took the lead early in the second half with a contentious penalty after defender Martin Demichelis was shown [...]