I’d rather be us than Man City, says Wenger December 3, 2012 UNDER-FIRE Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he would not swap places with high-flying Manchester City, despite the Gunners suffering their worst ever start to a Premier League season. Wenger has the distraction of a Champions League trip to Olympiacos tonight, but knows his team will progress to the last 16 regardless of the result, while [...]
Pardew fearing Ba departure as striker ends Magpies losing run December 3, 2012 NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew insists that striker Demba Ba wants to stay at the club after his brace helped the Magpies end a run of four Premier League defeats and beat 10-man Wigan. Ba struck from the spot in the 12th minute after Maynor Figueroa was sent off for [...]
Mancini wants Europa place December 3, 2012 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has promised that his side are motivated to beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League tonight, despite already being eliminated. Mancini’s side will qualify for the Europa League if they win in Germany and Ajax fail to beat Real Madrid, but have the distraction of Sunday’s pivotal Premier League clash [...]
Oaks and Derby comeback on cards for Dettori after six-month drug ban December 3, 2012 JOCKEY Frankie Dettori is hoping to receive a backdated six-month ban that will allow him to ride in the Derby and the Oaks after he appears before French horse racing chiefs today regarding his failed drug test. It is understood that Dettori is pleading guilty to taking a banned, non-performance-enhancing substance, believed to be cocaine, [...]
Wales launch audacious bid to switch 2015 World Cup clash with England to Cardiff December 3, 2012 WELSH rugby chiefs hope to persuade World Cup hosts England to stage the group game between the Six Nations rivals at the Millennium Stadium, after they were both drawn in the same pool for the 2015 tournament yesterday. A challenging group also includes Australia and is likely to feature Fiji in one of two unconfirmed [...]
How England’s pool measures up December 3, 2012 ENGLAND World ranking: 5 World Cup appearances: 7 Best result: Winners (2003) Head coach: Stuart Lancaster Star man: Manu Tuilagi has the explosive power and speed to break any international defence and has become an integral part of the side. With nine tries in 17 England caps, the 21-year-old centre will be essential come 2015 [...]
All Blacks win trio of awards December 3, 2012 NEW Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has been named the International Rugby Board’s player of the year for the second time after the All Blacks swept the board. Steve Hansen won coach of the year award while New Zealand predictably won team of the year, after going 20 Tests unbeaten before losing 38-21 to England on [...]
G-Mac and Kaymer profit from Ryder effect December 3, 2012 CHRISTMAS dinner will taste all the sweeter now for two of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, after they claimed their first individual titles of the year at the weekend. McDowell broke his duck for 2012 with an excellent victory at the World Challenge in California, where his extraordinary chip out of [...]
Finn desperate to gatecrash England party December 3, 2012 ENGLAND fast bowler Steven Finn is determined to not miss out on another famous victory after declaring himself fit for the third Test against India, which starts tomorrow in Kolkata. A thigh injury ruled Finn out of the first two Tests, including England’s impressive 10 wicket win last week, but he is in contention to [...]
Hammers stadium bid verdict likely to be delayed until 2013 December 3, 2012 WEST Ham’s hopes of this week clinching a deal to move into the Olympic Stadium look to be fading, raising the likelihood that a decision will not be made until 2013. The Hammers have long been favourites to be the main users of the arena, but remain at odds with the London Legacy Development Corporation [...]