Return of our Germans will be just the Teutonic, says Wilshere August 20, 2014 ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere expects the imminent return of the club’s World Cup-winning Germany stars to boost the Gunners as they approach a testing spell. Playmaker Mesut Ozil, vice-captain Per Mertesacker and forward Lukas Podolski are all set to be named in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Everton, having been given an extended holiday [...]
The game that matters… BT Sport reaches for the Sky – Brand Index August 19, 2014 Following on from my column last week covering the home broadband market, I analyse another area in which BT has expanded in to – live broadcasts of Premier League matches. Clubs are making the most of the massive money they receive from TV in order to bolster their squads. The two main domestic football broadcasters, [...]
Football Comment: Man Utd at risk of another European failure August 19, 2014 IF PROOF were ever needed that pre-season results have little bearing once the real business of the Premier League season starts, then Manchester United are surely it. All clubs just want to get the first 90 minutes out of the way and leave with three points, and United looked in a good position to do [...]
Harry eyes fourth deal for Kranjcar August 19, 2014 QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he wants to sign Croatia playmaker Niko Kranjcar for a fourth time as he also closes in on deals for striker Eduardo Vargas and Norwich City midfielder Leroy Fer. Chile World Cup forward Vargas is set for a medical today ahead of a season-long loan from Italian side Napoli [...]
Mackay poised to succeed Pulis and take the Crystal Palace reins August 19, 2014 CRYSTAL PALACE were last night poised to resolve their managerial situation by appointing former Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay as the successor to Tony Pulis. Mackay looks set to beat off competition from Tim Sherwood, who was dismissed by Tottenham at the end of last season, and ex-England chief Glenn Hoddle, who emerged as a [...]
Premier League: Chelsea new boys show their quality August 18, 2014 BURNLEY 1 CHELSEA 3 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho is confident new recruits Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas will prove the missing pieces of his jigsaw as the title favourites lived up to their billing by cruising to victory over top-flight new boys Burnley at Turf Moor last night. Both debutants played a starring role with [...]
Premier League fine Palace over team info leak August 18, 2014 CRYSTAL PALACE’S turbulent start to the new season continued yesterday after the club were fined by the Premier League following the leaking of team information prior to the vital relegation battle with Cardiff City in April. Top-flight chiefs upheld a complaint from the Welsh club, who argued Palace officials were in possession of their line-up [...]
More pubs than ever are picking BT Sport over rival Sky Sports August 17, 2014 More pubs now subscribe to BT Sport than Sky Sports, according to the former state monopoly, as its £2bn investment in building a sports TV empire continues. In May, BT said more than 19,000 pubs, clubs and commercial properties had signed up for its sports service, putting BT neck-and-neck with Sky Sports, BT’s consumer division [...]
Premier League: City boss on trophy trail after victory August 17, 2014 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 MANCHESTER CITY 2 MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists his side have the appetite for more silverware after starting their title defence with victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park yesterday – a result which sent the reigning champions to the Premier League summit. City were made to work by the Magpies [...]
Premier League: Sturridge backs Reds to improve without Suarez August 17, 2014 LIVERPOOL 2 SOUTHAMPTON 1 LIVERPOOL striker Daniel Sturridge believes the Reds can improve this season despite losing £75m star Luis Suarez after they started their Premier League campaign with a nervy win over Southampton. Sturridge pounced to score a 79th-minute winner, after Nathaniel Clyne’s rasping strike for the visitors had negated Raheem Sterling’s opener, as [...]