Hammers pull off triple striker swoop February 1, 2010 WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola swooped for three forwards on deadline day in a desperate bid to bolster his strike-force for the relegation run-in. Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy, Middlesbrough’s Mido and little-known Brazilian Ilan all arrived at Upton Park as Zola waited until the last minute to do business. McCarthy, 32, signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after [...]
January Transfers | Key points February 1, 2010 HARD-UP top-flight clubs tightened their belts in the January transfer window, spending a fraction of what they have in previous years. Premier League outfits spent a total of £30m in January, compared to the downturn-defying £170m splashed out just a year earlier. To illustrate the dramatic change this year, in 2008 teams spent £150m. This [...]
Capello gets the call on future of Terry February 1, 2010 THE Football Association last night broke their silence on the John Terry scandal, insisting the future of the England captain rests solely on the shoulders of coach Fabio Capello. The Chelsea star is facing calls to be stripped of the England captaincy after reports of an alleged affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate [...]
Fabregas ignoring Gunners’ critics as Chelsea clash looms February 1, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas is refusing to accept their title challenge is over, and has urged his team-mates to prove the doubters wrong against Chelsea on Sunday. A crushing 3-1 loss at home to Manchester United at the weekend has left the Gunners five points behind the Blues, and feeling utterly deflated. Even Arsenal forward [...]
Dour Black Cats are foiled again in dismal stalemate February 1, 2010 SHAKY Sunderland extended their recent dismal run to just one league win in 14 matches after sharing a dour goalless draw with Stoke at the Stadium of Light. Chances were few and far between at either end as Steve Bruce’s men were frustrated by a resilient Potters side. In fact, it was the visitors who [...]
Silver lining among clouds for Murray February 1, 2010 THE ROAR is gone, replaced by tears and the self-deprecating humour of the beaten, while mutterings about being a perennial nearly-man, a true heir to Tim Henman, have resurfaced. But in the aftermath of Andy Murray’s latest failure to win the Grand Slam title he craves so much, there remains great cause for the Briton [...]
Care eyes an England recall February 1, 2010 DANNY CARE says he is desperate to reclaim the scrum-half berth for the Six Nations opener with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. The Harlequins lost the No9 shirt to Paul Hodgson in the autumn series after a disappointing performance against Australia. But Care has shone for the Quins in recent weeks and believes he merits [...]
Tickets on sale for O2 Golf Live February 1, 2010 GOLF: Tickets have gone on sale for O2 Golf Live, the exciting new interactive golf event, on 14-16 May. Held at Stoke Park, Stoke Poges, Bucks, the event will be attended by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, plus Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Retief Goosen and a series of top coaches. Tickets, at £45, include [...]
England trio net new Tigers deals February 1, 2010 RUGBY UNION: England trio Dan Hipkiss, Louis Deacon and Jordan Crane have all agreed new deals to stay with Premiership champions Leicester. The Tigers have also handed talented young England prop Dan Cole and scrum-half Ben Youngs extended contracts, along with centre Matt Smith and flanker Ben Woods.
Schumacher impresses in F1 test February 1, 2010 FORMULA ONE: Michael Schumacher beat team-mate Nico Rosberg as his Mercedes team put their new F1 car through its paces in Valencia yesterday. Rosberg set a time of 1.13.543 but 41-year-old Schumacher record a 1.12.947 within 20 laps to finish third overall behind Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, in an F1 car for the first time since [...]