Villas-Boas: I won’t be sacked December 1, 2011 FOOTBALL: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he does not fear the sack even if his side are knocked out of Europe against Valencia next week. The Blues have lost three in five Premier League games to slip 10 points behind leaders Manchester City and suffered back to back defeats in the Champions League and Carling [...]
Bresnan undergoes elbow op December 1, 2011 CRICKET: England bowler Tim Bresnan hopes to be fit for the Test series against Pakistan in the new year despite undergoing elbow surgery yesterday. Yorkshire paceman Bresnan had a fragment of bone removed that irritated him in last month’s one-day series defeat in India, but is expected to be included next week when selectors name [...]
Chelsea’s problems set to increase December 1, 2011 ANDRE Villas-Boas is a man under pressure. Following a decent start to the season, Chelsea have now lost three of their last four games across all competitions and their confidence appears to be shot to pieces. I haven’t seen such a disorganised Blues defence for years and Liverpool made them pay again on Tuesday night. [...]
Wishfull Thinking looks a Champion bet in the Tingle Creek December 1, 2011 NATIONAL Hunt racing fans are in for a real treat tomorrow with high quality televised action from both Sandown and Aintree, with two races over the historic National fences. Sizing Europe, the reigning Champion Chaser, is a warm order for the Sportingbet Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (3.05pm) and is now as short as 13/8 [...]
Golden Eagles: Palace stun lacklustre United November 30, 2011 Freedman’s side 180 minutes from Wembley thanks to Murray magic MAN UNITED 1 vs CRYSTAL PALACE 2 CRYSTAL PALACE manager Dougie Freedman hailed one of the greatest nights in the club’s history after an extra-time header from Glenn Murray secured the Eagles’ first win at Old Trafford since 1989. Sir Alex Ferguson rested the majority [...]
Gutted Redknapp laments Tottenham’s Greek tragedy November 30, 2011 Spurs boss admits defeat signals end of his side’s run in Europe this season TOTTENHAM 1 vs PAOK SALONIKA 2 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp admits he has given up hope of progressing from the Europa League group stage after a shock home defeat to 10-man PAOK that leaves his side’s hopes hanging from the finest of [...]
RFU reshuffle paves the way for Mallett November 30, 2011 THE RUGBY Football Union yesterday confirmed their intention to appoint an interim manager ahead of February’s Six Nations, but hope to have named Martin Johnson’s full-time successor before next summer’s tour of South Africa. Following yesterday’s meeting of the Professional Game Board, it was also revealed that embattled elite director of rugby Rob Andrew will [...]
Analysis: Should Blues ditch Villas-Boas? November 30, 2011 ANDRE Villas-Boas (right) is odds-on to be fired by Chelsea this season, despite only arriving in June. His record after 21 games compares badly with those of others in the Roman Abramovich era – except Claudio Ranieri, who began before the Russian bought the club. However, were he to be sacked today, Villas-Boas would have [...]
Sunderlandmake Bruce first boss to be sacked November 30, 2011 FORMER Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill last night emerged as the early hot favourite for the Sunderland job after the Premier League strugglers sacked Steve Bruce. Ex-Wigan boss Bruce became the first top-flight casualty of the season after winning just twice in the first 13 games of the season – a run that left the [...]
City spend most on agents’ fees November 30, 2011 FOOTBALL: Premier League clubs spent a record £71.8m on agents’ fees last year, according to figures revealed yesterday. Free-spending Manchester City topped the list with a total of £9.7m paid to agents followed by Spurs on £7.6m, then Liverpool on £7m. The combined spend eclipses the previous record of £70.7m in 2009.