Early hurdles cleared just September 16, 2009 IT’S crucially important to get a good start in the Champions League group stages, but it is also devilishly difficult – as English teams ably demonstrated this week. All won, but by a single goal, and all made heavy weather of games that, on paper at least, looked straightforward. Arsenal particularly will analyse their poor [...]
ADEBAYOR ACCEPTS CHARGE September 16, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY will be without Emmanuel Adebayor for Sunday’s local derby against United after the striker accepted a charge of violent conduct. Adebayor is set to be handed a three-match ban for kicking Robin van Persie’s head during Saturday’s 4-2 victory over former club Arsenal. The Togo international is also facing a separate ban for [...]
Flintoff given a thumbs-up September 16, 2009 ANDREW FLINTOFF’S decision to refuse an England contract was yesterday defended by the Professional Cricketers’ Association. The injury-plagued all-rounder turned down an incremental one-day contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday – a decision which effectively offers himself as a freelance player in Twenty20 competitions across the world. The decision came as [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF September 16, 2009 Brady and Sullivan seek Brum exit FOOTBALL: Birmingham City chief executive Karren Brady and PLC chairman David Sullivan will leave the club if Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung completes his takeover of the club as expected. Yeung’s company Grandtop International Holdings have formally lodged a takeover bid after sending out official offer documents to shareholders. [...]
Kuyt shows his off-target Reds the way September 16, 2009 LIVERPOOL (1) vs DEBRECEN (0) LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez insisted he was happy with his team’s effort despite struggling to a narrow victory over Champions League minnows Debrecen. Dirk Kuyt’s winner on the stroke of half time proved the difference between the two sides in Benitez’s 300th match in charge. Five-time champions Liverpool were expected [...]
Eduardo rescues lax Arsenal September 16, 2009 STANDARD LIEGE (2) vs ARSENAL (3) ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger hailed Eduardo after the striker celebrated the scrapping of his European ban by sealing a sensational comeback victory in Belgium. Wenger’s sloppy Gunners suffered a cataclysmic start to their opening Champions League group game, falling two goals behind inside the first five minutes. Forward Nicklas [...]
Blues chief exec Kenyon to leave role next month September 16, 2009 CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon will leave his full-time role at the end of October, after six years at the forefront of the most successful spell in the club’s history. The Blues said yesterday that Kenyon, 55, would retain a role as non-executive director and continue to represent the Premier League leaders on European committees. [...]
Boss Briatore quits amid Renault race-fixing row September 16, 2009 RENAULT’S future in Formula One was left hanging by a thread last night after boss Flavio Briatore left the team to face the music on charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Briatore quit along with executive director of engineering Pat Symonds after the French team decided not to contest the charges ahead of [...]
Future looks bright for ace Del Potro September 15, 2009 JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO has been touted as a future world No1 following his epic US Open victory on Monday night. The 20-year-old Argentine claimed his maiden Grand Slam after completing an 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over top seed Roger Federer in a four-hour slugfest at Flushing Meadows. The result ended Federer’s record-breaking [...]
Australia and Flintoff hike September 15, 2009 ANDREW FLINTOFF last night threw his international future into doubt after turning down a central contract. The injury-plagued all-rounder retired from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes series but stressed he still wanted to continue in the limited-overs formats. As a result, Flintoff was awarded a lower-tier incremental contract by the England and [...]