Chelsea end of season stats: How do Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa compare against each other? May 25, 2015 In the end, they made it look easy. Chelsea cantered to the Premier League title with three games of the season remaining and finished off with a 3-1 cruise against Sunderland. The successful season was defined by Jose Mourinho’s consistent selection policy that rendered the identity of the Blues’ starting XI on the Stamford Bridge [...]
Football League Championship attendance makes it the fourth most-watched league in Europe May 22, 2015 The Championship looks set to once again be named the fourth most-watched league in Europe, following a seven per cent increase in attendance. Read more: How Bournemouth's promotion push was funded by a Russian millionaire English football's second tier achieved a total audience of 9.9m, with an average attendance of 17,847. According to the Football League, [...]
Richest match is worth £130m May 21, 2015 MIDDLESBROUGH stand to bank £50m more than Norwich if they win football’s richest match, the Championship play-off final, at Wembley on Monday. Promotion to the Premier League is worth £130m in extra revenue and, in the event of relegation, guaranteed payouts to cope with readjusting to life outside the elite division. But, say Deloitte, Norwich [...]
Hodgson explains Austin and Vardy call-ups May 21, 2015 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he only called up former non-league pair Charlie Austin and Jamie Vardy because his best young strikers are on Under-21 duty. QPR target man Austin and versatile Leicester forward Vardy joined Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton among three uncapped call-ups for next month’s matches against the Republic of Ireland and [...]
Big Sam can come back to haunt Magpies May 21, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE FINAL WEEKEND OF PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION ST JAMES’ PARK will take centre-stage for a dramatic final day of the Premier League season on Sunday, with Newcastle needing all three points against West Ham to ensure their safety. After a sour sacking by the Magpies back in 2008, don’t expect Sam Allardyce [...]
Maximum excitement on the final day May 21, 2015 THE FINAL day of the Premier League season is often the most exciting, but with the title wrapped up weeks ago, and only two sides in danger of the drop, Sunday might not be as lively as normal. Unless you’re spread betting of course! Spread bettors need to make up their minds which teams and [...]
UK national rail strike: Trains not expected to run to Wembley for Norwich City v Middlesbrough Championship play-off final May 21, 2015 UPDATE 2.45pm: The RMT has followed the TSSA union in suspending strike action after an improved offer from Network Rail. Bad news, football fans. It looks like the national UK strike could derail plans to get to Wembley for the Championship play-off final on Monday. The unprecedented strike – which looks set to go ahead despite days [...]
Premier League: Wenger concern at limp end to campaign ahead of FA Cup final May 20, 2015 ARSENAL 0 SUNDERLAND 0 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admits he is worried at his team’s toothless and sluggish finish to the season after Sunderland kept them at bay to clinch Premier League survival last night. Wenger conceded his team never looked like scoring despite mustering 28 attempts on goal, which were either volleyed over, thwarted [...]
Ferdinand: Top-flight return is not priority May 19, 2015 QUEENS Park Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand has told Chris Ramsey to prioritise re-establishing club traditions over an immediate return to the Premier League after yesterday being handed the manager’s job on a permanent basis. Ramsey has signed a three-year contract having been in temporary charge since February after Harry Redknapp resigned, citing imminent [...]
FFP easing driven by Euro fears May 19, 2015 MOVES to relax controversial financial fair play rules (FFP) have been driven by pressure from European clubs fearful that English teams have become too strong, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Premier League sides account for 20 of the world’s 40 richest outfits, say Deloitte, and a bumper new £5bn television contract set to start [...]