City to stop Benitez beginning Bridge reign with a bang November 22, 2012 CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER CITY Sunday 4.00pm ROMAN Abramovich’s revolving door just keeps on revolving. Before Rafael Benitez had even been confirmed as his ninth appointment since 2003 than speculation began on Pep Guardiola replacing him next summer. Only a major trophy is likely to see Benitez remain in the hottest of hot seats beyond May, [...]
Springboks to rub salt in England’s wounds November 22, 2012 ENGLAND vs SOUTH AFRICA Tomorrow 2.30pm STUART Lancaster is calling on his England side to show greater resolve in their clash with South Africa, after slipping to a 20-14 defeat to Australia. As the fixtures were drawn for this autumn international series it was quite apparent that each side England met would be stronger than [...]
Long Run too short for testing reappearance in Betfair Chase November 22, 2012 ALL eyes will be on Haydock tomorrow for the three-mile Betfair Chase (3.05pm), the first Grade One of the National Hunt season. As well as being a brilliant contest in its own right, with a prize fund of £200,000, it serves as a starting point for the top chasers on the road to the Cheltenham [...]
Alan King’s Trade Fair all set for Ascot hurdling debut November 22, 2012 BOTH Ascot and Haydock gear up for big weekends with some decent cards today, although the racing does have a trappy feel to it. In the 1.20pm at Haydock, KUMBESHWAR has a big chance to continue Alan King’s hot streak. I wouldn’t normally put up a horse that has fallen on two of his last [...]
Chelsea risk wrath of fans with Benitez appointment November 21, 2012 CHELSEA last night turned to former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Blues favourite Didier Drogba to save their crumbling season, after sacking European Cup winner Roberto Di Matteo. Benitez has been appointed “interim first team manager” until the end of the season, after flying in from Abu Dhabi yesterday to tie up the shock move, [...]
Wenger not satisified after Wilshere sends Gunners into last 16 November 21, 2012 ARSENAL 2 vs MONTPELLIER 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger insists he will go all out to claim first place in Group B after seeing his side ensure passage to the Champions League knockout stage for the 13th successive season. Midfielder Jack Wilshere’s first goal for almost two years and a blistering volley from forward Lukas [...]
Euro exit won’t cost me job, says Mancini November 21, 2012 MANCHESTER CITY 1 vs REAL MADRID 1 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini does not fear the sack despite his side crashing out of the Champions League in the group stages last night for a second successive season. Sergio Aguero’s second-half penalty cancelled out Karim Benzema’s early tap-in but a draw was not enough for City. [...]
Rafa’s for five-year plans, not firefighting November 21, 2012 IN MOST football management jobs, if you have five or six weeks of poor results, you’re in trouble. If you’re at Chelsea and in freefall, as Roberto Di Matteo was, you know what comes next. The club are all about getting results, here and now. They are also one of the most ambitious in the [...]
Meyer wary of ferocious test for tiring Boks November 21, 2012 SOUTH Africa coach Heyneke Meyer believes England are now tough enough to compete with the brutality of the southern hemisphere sides, ahead of their clash at Twickenham on Saturday. Meyer, who spent six months as Leicester boss in 2008, admits he used to view England teams as soft but his preconceptions were changed by a [...]
Trott itching to find form in the middle November 21, 2012 BATSMAN Jonathan Trott admits he is relieved that he can immediately get back to the crease and help England respond after a heavy first Test defeat against India. The tourists stumbled to a nine-wicket loss in Ahmedabad on Monday, despite captain Alastair Cook’s fine second-innings 176, as the batting middle order collapsed in both sessions. [...]