Uefa relents: Manchester City escape punishment for fans booing Champions League anthem November 20, 2015 Manchester City have escaped punishment after Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings into their fans booing the Champions League anthem. A match delegate reported the crowd's hostile response to Uefa for review following their match with Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium last month. Disciplinary proceedings were subsequently opened, triggering much derision and condemnation including from captain Vincent [...]
Arsene Wenger considers dropping Laurent Koscielny from Arsenal team because France defender was “deeply affected” by Paris terror attacks November 19, 2015 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fears that defender Laurent Koscielny has been so deeply affected by the Paris terrorist attacks that he may need time away from the team. Koscielny was in the France side whose friendly with Germany was targeted, largely unsuccessfully, by suicide bombers last Friday night, when 129 people were killed across the [...]
Depleted England call-up Manchester United rookie Jesse Lingard for France friendly November 15, 2015 Injury-hit England have called up Manchester United rookie Jesse Lingard for tomorrow’s friendly against France at Wembley despite him clocking up just 193 minutes of Premier League action for the Old Trafford club. Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson opted to swell his already depleted England party after Lingard’s club-mate Michael Carrick and top-flight leading scorer [...]
Josh Harris: What can Crystal Palace fans expect from the next American billionaire to invest in the Premier League? November 13, 2015 Crystal Palace look set to be the next Premier League club to welcome foreign investment, with American private equity tycoons Josh Harris and David Blitzer on the cusp of buying an 18 per cent stake each in the Croydon club. The pair co-own National Hockey League franchise the New Jersey Devils, while Harris' interest in sport [...]
Manchester United reveal record revenue as Adidas kit deal triggers 186 per cent rise in merchandise income November 12, 2015 Manchester United's earnings rocketed over 100 per cent to a new record thanks to its lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with Adidas and a return to the Champions League. The figures Revenues at Old Trafford hit £123.6m in the quarter ended 30 September – a 39.3 per cent rise from £88.7m a year ago. Earnings before [...]
How bad is Manchester United’s attacking under Louis van Gaal? Fewer chances, shrinking shots and less goals – the numbers don’t look good for the Old Trafford boss November 11, 2015 Commands of “Attack! Attack! Attack!” have become noticeable in their regularity and forcefulness in recent Manchester United games. Manager Louis van Gaal has been criticised for appearing to force functionality into United’s cavalier DNA, as attacking moves become more synonymous with sideways passing than ferocious forays into the final third. But is the suggestion United [...]
Tottenham named Premier League’s best team for club-trained players amid new low in the division November 10, 2015 Premier League clubs are giving fewer chances to their young players than ever before, a new study has found. This season just 11.7 per cent of players in the league play for the club that trained them – down from 13.8 per cent last year. Tottenham are currently the most effective club at blooding academy [...]
Under-fire Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho needs to show more humility, says ex-Stamford Bridge boss Ruud Gullit November 8, 2015 Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit insists a show of humility would be the first step in under-fire Blues boss Jose Mourinho arresting the tidal of wave of despair engulfing the Stamford Bridge club this season. Mourinho put speculation over his job security to one side yesterday as he watched Chelsea’s under-21 side defeat their Liverpool [...]
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defends training regime as injury-hit Gunners fail to hit Premier League summit after drawn north London derby November 8, 2015 Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger defended the club’s regime after his injury-ravaged side missed the chance to hit the Premier League summit by drawing with rivals Tottenham in yesterday’s north London derby. Substitute Kieran Gibbs rescued a point for the Gunners in the final quarter of an hour after Harry Kane’s first-half strike had put Tottenham [...]
Alan Pardew urges Crystal Palace to use Liverpool win as springboard after Scott Dann’s late header ends Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield honeymoon November 8, 2015 Liverpool 1, Crystal Palace 2 Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew urged his team to draw belief from their latest notable scalp after the Eagles brought an abrupt end to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool honeymoon. Defender Scott Dann’s 81st-minute header lifted Palace to seventh in the Premier League, two points off the top four, after Reds midfielder [...]