Five from West Ham and three from Sunderland: my alternative team of the season May 18, 2016 You could make a case for including every Leicester player in a Premier League team of the year but away from them – and other stars who have also already been recognised – other less celebrated figures have made significant contributions too. Here is my unsung XI. Goalkeeper: Adrian, West Ham Fraser Forster had a [...]
Manchester United 3, Bournemouth 1: Rooney backs Rashford for England before admitting his days as an Old Trafford striker are numbered May 17, 2016 Manchester United and England skipper Wayne Rooney has backed rookie striker Marcus Rashford to prove his worth and snatch a place in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad after chalking up another goal in Tuesday's demolition of Bournemouth. Rearranged after Sunday’s fake bomb fiasco, United rounded off their league campaign with a comfortable win as Rooney, Rashford [...]
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shrugs off chronic failure record in finals as Reds plot Europa League glory bid against Sevilla May 17, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of his recurring tendency to lose major finals as the Reds prepare to derail Sevilla’s bid to win an unprecedented third successive Europa League crown in Basel on Wednesday. Klopp’s respective sides have fallen at the final hurdle four times in succession since he guided Borussia Dortmund [...]
Aston Villa exodus continues: Former FA director Adrian Bevington leaves club after less than two months May 17, 2016 Former FA director Adrian Bevington has become the latest high-profile figure to leave Aston Villa after less than two months with the club. Bevington's departure from his advisory role follows the resignations of former Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King and ex-FA chief David Bernstein from the board. The relegated club, who suffered the worst Premier League [...]
Chelsea and Tottenham hit with record fine by the FA, beating record held by Arsenal for 13 years May 17, 2016 Chelsea and Tottenham's ill-tempered clash at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago has prompted the FA to issue a combined £600,000 fine — a record for a single Premier League match. Both clubs have been warned about their future conduct following the game in which Chelsea overturned a two-goal deficit to end Spurs' title hopes. Chelsea have [...]
England manager Roy Hodgson urges rookie striker Marcus Rashford to “knock someone off their perch” and force his way to Euro 2016 May 16, 2016 England boss Roy Hodgson has challenged uncapped Manchester Untied striker Marcus Rashford to knock a member of the Three Lions’ established order “off their perch” after calling the teenager into his expanded 26-man squad for Euro 2016. Rashford, who has never played for England’s Under-21 side, only made his United debut in February following an [...]
Boss of security firm at heart of Old Trafford fake bomb gaffe hits back as United stand firm on need for abandonment May 16, 2016 The boss of the security firm at the centre of the fake bomb saga which forced the abandonment of Manchester United’s clash with Bournemouth has hit back by saying there was no need to evacuate the stadium. Old Trafford was emptied 20 minutes prior to kick-off on Sunday after a suspect package, which transpired to be a mobile [...]
Italy boss Antonio Conte set to assume Chelsea reins free from sporting fraud shadow May 16, 2016 Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been acquitted of charges relating to sporting fraud and cleared of any involvement in a 2011 match-fixing scandal by an Italian court. Italy boss Conte, who will lead the Azzurri at this summer’s European Championship which starts on 10 June, stood accused of failing to report his knowledge of [...]
Townsend, Rashford and Wilshere named in expanded England Euro 2016 squad May 16, 2016 Newcastle winger Andros Townsend is the surprise name in England provisional squad for this summer's European Championship in France. Teenage Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and injury-plagued Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere are also in the 26-man party, which will be cut to 23. Wilshere's Gunners colleague Theo Walcott and Everton defenders Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka miss out, while [...]
Bomb gaffe as item at centre of Old Trafford terrorist scare found to be training device May 15, 2016 The suspicious item which sparked fears of a terrorist attack and forced the cancellation of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth has been identified as a training device mistakenly left behind by a private company. Old Trafford was evacuated 20 minutes prior to kick-off, while army bomb disposal experts later carried out a controlled [...]