EFL Cup round-up: Slaven Bilic urges West Ham to use last-gasp win as leverage to escape wretched start to season September 21, 2016 West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has urged his side to use their last-gasp 1-0 victory over League Two Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup third round as leverage to escape their wretched start to the campaign. The clash looked certain to end goalless and head into extra-time before substitute Dimitri Payet curled home a sumptuous 25-yard [...]
Tough on counties but ECB right to rest England players for final Championship fixtures September 21, 2016 I fully appreciate how disappointing it must be for counties and their supporters that their international players are not playing in the final round of Championship fixtures but on balance I believe the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are right. Of the eight Division One teams in action this week, six have something to [...]
From virtual reality to socks to the “Netflix of sports” — these nine companies are changing football through technology and innovation September 21, 2016 Modern football has become a magnet for cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas. The ever-increasing sums of money sloshing around in the sport have raised the stakes, forcing clubs to seek out the next marginal gain through state of the art software and brilliant minds, as well as providing ample business opportunities for enterprising fans. These [...]
Jose Mourinho is in a crisis at Manchester United and he has brought it on himself September 20, 2016 Let’s be brutally honest: three defeats in a row mean that Jose Mourinho is already in crisis just a few weeks into his reign as manager of Manchester United. I know what it’s like at a team where you’re expected to win every game. When I played at Rangers one defeat was a crisis; two was a [...]
Liverpool named as biggest selling club of the decade in new study — with arch rivals Manchester United 29th September 20, 2016 Liverpool have been named as football's biggest selling club this decade in a new study of the transfer market since 2010. The Premier League club has taken in more money from selling players than anyone else since 2010, raising €442m (£515.7m) — over £70m more than any other English team. Figures compiled by the CIES Football Observatory, an [...]
Ugo Monye: I know how exhausting the 10 match Lions tour of New Zealand will be for players — but none will turn down the chance to go September 20, 2016 Former British and Irish Lions tourist Ugo Monye insists the pride will overwhelm the pain for players selected in Warren Gatland’s squad for next summer’s gruelling tour of New Zealand. Leading figures of the club game have warned that the month-long trip will take its toll on players’ bodies and lead to injuries in the [...]
Tottenham rocked as ankle ligament damage set to sideline striker Harry Kane for up to two months September 19, 2016 TottenhamT striker Harry Kane is set to sidelined for the next two months with the ankle injury picked up during his side’s Premier League victory over Sunderland on Sunday. Kane underwent two scans yesterday, which showed that the 23-year-old had escaped a fracture but had sustained ligament damage during a collision with Black Cats defender [...]
Crystal Palace 4, Stoke City 1: Eagles boss Alan Pardew insists victory vindicates his summer changes September 18, 2016 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew insists his side's hammering of winless Stoke City is a vindication of the tactical and personnel changes he implemented during the summer. The Eagles have now won-back-to-back matches for the first time this year as strikes from James Tomkins, Scott Dann, James McArthur and Andros Townsend consigned Stoke, who replied late [...]
Watford 3, Manchester United 1: Some players are not coping with pressure of representing United, fumes Jose Mourinho September 18, 2016 Furious Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has accused some of his players of failing to deal with the pressure of playing for the club after slumping to a third straight defeat against Watford. United had hauled themselves level through Marcus Rashford after Etienne Capoue’s first-half opener, only for substitute Juan Zuniga to restore Watford’s lead [...]
Return of £34m maverick David Luiz can shore up Chelsea defence against Liverpool, says Antonio Conte September 15, 2016 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has backed a retrained David Luiz to cope with Liverpool’s in-form strikeforce when the Brazil defender makes his second Blues debut on Friday night. The Reds visit Stamford Bridge six days after they hit four past Premier League champions Leicester and having done the same on their last visit to London [...]