Wenger issues call to arms as Arsenal eye title charge January 5, 2010 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has urged his side to seize the chance to turn up the heat in the title race tonight when Bolton visit the Emirates Stadium. Wenger’s men will climb to second in the Premier League and just one point behind leaders Chelsea if they continue their winning streak this evening. The Gunners’ [...]
Mourinho expects Vieira to make Man City switch January 5, 2010 MANCHESTER City are poised to land veteran France midfielder Patrick Vieira on loan after Inter Milan admitted he was likely to leave. The former Arsenal captain is set to return to England where he would join up with his former coach at Inter, Roberto Mancini, who was installed at Eastlands last month. It is thought [...]
Diaby ready to deputise for Song January 4, 2010 ARSENAL midfielder Abou Diaby insists he is ready to take on the role of enforcer while Alex Song is absent at the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon star Song has made the position his own this season but could be absent on international duty now until the end of January. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has [...]
Number of top officials is unhealthy, says ex-ref Poll January 4, 2010 FORMER referee Graham Poll has called for new refs’ chief Mike Riley to promote more officials to the Premier League’s roster. Top-light matches are currently allocated to a pool of 16 elite refs. But Poll believes that officials would be under less pressure if they did not come into contact with the same teams and [...]
United dumped out by Leeds January 4, 2010 MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson risked further punishment by criticising referee Chris Foy following his side’s shock FA Cup elimination by League One Leeds United. A first-half goal from Jermaine Beckford was enough to inflict Ferguson’s first FA Cup defeat to lower league opposition, and his maiden exit at this stage of the competition, [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF January 4, 2010 FOOTBALL: FA Boss: Capello going nowhere Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore insists Fabio Capello will see out his England contract. Rumours have emerged that the Italian may stand down after this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, with Fulham boss Roy Hodgson being touted as a possible successor. But Watmore said: “We expect Fabio [...]
Kroenke nears Arsenal threshold December 21, 2009 US sports and real estate entrepreneur Stan Kroenke has bought another 25 shares in Arsenal football club, taking him close to the threshold for a mandatory takeover offer. The Premier League club said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange yesterday that Kroenke bought the shares for £8,500 each on 17 December, giving him [...]
Bring on Man United, blasts boss Mancini December 21, 2009 NEW Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says is ready to do battle with city rivals United – with the aim of bringing the Premier League title to Eastlands within 18 months. Mancini won three successive titles with Inter Milan before resigning last summer, and is already comparing the City/United rivalry to that of his former [...]
Ferguson rejects plans to strengthen in January to ease defensive crisis December 21, 2009 SIR ALEX FERGUSON has ruled out the possibility of delving into the transfer market to ease Manchester United’s defensive crisis. Ferguson saw his United side slump to a fifth defeat of the campaign at Fulham on Saturday – one more that than the whole of last season. It left them four points behind Chelsea at [...]
Wigan and Bolton must wait December 21, 2009 FOOTBALL: No new date has yet been set for last night’s scheduled Premier League clash between Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers which was postponed on health and safety grounds. The DW Stadium pitch was playable but the freezing conditions made areas around the stadium unsafe for fans.